When asked about the hardest hitter he ever faced, Daniel Cormier recently provided a surprising initial response.
Considering his career included bouts against fearsome strikers like Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and knockout king Derrick Lewis, ‘DC’ is well-acquainted with powerful punchers.
Although Stipe Miocic is the only fighter to stop Cormier in a fight, Miocic was not the name that immediately came to Cormier`s mind.
During an episode of ESPN MMA’s ‘Good Guy / Bad Guy’ show, Cormier specifically highlighted the incredible impact of Dan Henderson`s strikes when they met at UFC 173.
Cormier`s co-host on the show, Chael Sonnen, who also faced Henderson during his career, was not the only former fighter to second this opinion based on personal experience.
Fellow Fighter Chris Leben Recounts Brutal Injuries Suffered Training with Henderson
With 17 knockouts among his 32 professional victories, Dan Henderson established himself as one of the most dangerous punchers ever seen inside the Octagon.
His notorious ‘H-Bomb’ right hand left many of his opponents dazed and confused, but even his training partners occasionally felt the brunt of this powerful weapon.
Chael Sonnen supported Daniel Cormier’s comments during the ‘Good Guy / Bad Guy’ episode by recalling an instance during training with Henderson where he was hit so hard he was unable to respond.
Following Sonnen’s repost of a clip from the episode on Instagram, another fighter who trained with Henderson came forward to share a similar story.
Chris Leben, a fixture in the middleweight division from 2005 to 2013, was part of Team Quest alongside ‘Hendo’.
In a comment under Sonnen’s Instagram post, Leben detailed his own experiences training with the former two-division PRIDE champion, describing the significant damage he took from Henderson’s power.
“100%. I’ve been on the receiving end of that punch. No fun. Broke my nose, black and both my eyes in practice lol.”
Recalling Dan Henderson`s Most Memorable Knockout
As expected from someone widely regarded as one of the heaviest hitters of all time, Dan Henderson compiled a spectacular highlight reel throughout his career.
While his victory over Wanderlei Silva in PRIDE made him the promotion`s first two-weight champion, another finish stands out as a prime example of the ‘H-Bomb’s’ destructive force.
At UFC 100 on July 11, 2009, Henderson faced Michael Bisping in a highly anticipated grudge match stemming from their rivalry as coaches on the ninth season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.
Henderson famously landed a massive right hand in the second round, knocking Bisping unconscious instantly, and added a controversial follow-up punch to the downed fighter.
Seven years later, Henderson challenged Bisping again for the middleweight title at UFC 204. After losing a close, controversial unanimous decision, ‘Hendo’ announced his retirement from the sport.
