Henderson assesses fight performance, says he was completely satisfied with his performance but not outcome (w/Cervantes Analysis)

By Jonathan Cervantes, MMATorch contributor

Dan Henderson (photo credit Per Haljestam © USA Today Sports)
Dan Henderson fought his last bout last night and lost a close and highly controversial decision to Michael Bisping last night.

After the fight, reporters asked Henderson about what he thought about the decision and he admitted he thought the fight was close. “The first round was… real close,” he said. “I thought I won the first two rounds and he won the third and fourth so I wanted to make sure I won the fifth.”

Although he wasn’t happy with the decision, Henderson said he was happy with his performance and gave it his all. “It is what it is now and there no changing it and I just gotta live with it,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed, not in myself, but how it went. I felt like I spent every bit of energy I had and left everything in there. I’m completely satisfied with what I did tonight.”
Though he didn’t accomplish what he hoped, Henderson did not feel that winning or losing would define his career. “Before this fight I felt like I had accomplished enough in this sport,” he said.
He wasn’t ready to reflect on his career and pick a favorite moment. “I feel like you’d have to ask me that in a few days,” he said.
Cervantes Analysis: The fight was very close and I can’t imagine what Henderson felt like after coming so close to stopping the fight in the first round. In spite of having lost, I still feel like Henderson accomplished so much last night in making the most of the opportunity and being able to compete at that level at his age and against a solid fighter in Michael Bisping. I have always loved watching Dan Henderson perform and, though I’ll miss seeing that H-bomb in the Octagon, I’m grateful for the classic fight he gave us last night and I know we’ll be seeing him in the UFC Hall of Fame soon enough.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*