Apart from holding two belts simultaneously in two different weight divisions, Dan Henderson has acquired wins over a who’s who of Mixed Martial Arts including Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Kazuo Misaki, Renzo Gracie and the more recent Rich Franklin.

Congratulations on your win against Rich Franklin at UFC 93. What are your thoughts on the fight?
I feel like I controlled Rich pretty well for the first two rounds, but I could have done a better job in the third. I wasn’t really pleased with myself after the fight.

Come decision time, you had one apiece, what went through your mind waiting for the last score?
I hoped I wasn’t going to get robbed. One judge was apparently watching a different fight!

Were you surprised it was a split decision?
Yes. I just thought that I had easily won the first two rounds. I didn’t think it was even a question. The only question in my mind was whether I had done enough to win the third round.

Did the fight go as planned?
It went fairly close to plan, but I would have liked to beat him up more on my feet. He’s a tough guy, and I enjoyed the experience.

Tell us a little about the training and the team that prepared you for the fight?
Training went well. Krzysztof Soszynski helped me quite a bit. He is strong and left-handed, so he was a great training partner. Cyrille Diabate was also a great help, as he is also left-handed and was training with me for a fight of his own the following week. He is an amazing fighter and an equally amazing human being—I really enjoy the vibe that Cyrille brings to the room. As usual, I also had the help of all my guys at Team Quest, such as Heath Sims, Jesse Taylor, Lew Polley, Tarec Saffiedine and Carlo la Torre.

You’re now the coach on the Ultimate Fighter season 9 against Michael Bisping, how do you feel about being the coach?
I’m excited for the opportunity, especially with the USA versus UK format. My Olympic background makes me more excited to be a part of it, and I look forward to representing my country on the show.

At the end of the season, you fight Michael Bisping, your predictions on that fight?
I’m going to beat him up for three rounds... if I don’t stop him earlier.

Do you want another shot at Anderson Silva?
Absolutely.

What would you do differently this time?
Win. (he laughs). My goal is to stick to the game plan better, impose my will and not get caught.

What are your predictions on a rematch?
A long, drawn-out fight. Maybe I’ll heel hook him in the third round. (he laughs).

Is there anyone else out there that you are looking forward to fighting?
I’m just staying focused on Bisping now that I got past Rich Franklin. I’m formulating my game plan and training to beat him.

You are featured in this MMA Sports issue in a photo shoot with MMA Sports Knockout Babe Sarafina, how was that?
I felt a lot better about it than my wife did. (he laughs). The photo shoot was fun. It was the first time I ever did a shoot like that, with a girl for a cover. Sarafina is obviously quite attractive, so I don’t mind sharing the cover with her. Maybe it will make me look a bit better.

Will you be staying at middleweight or are there any thoughts of moving back to light heavyweight?
I’ve got plans to knock some people around at both weight classes.

You fought a lot over in Japan being in a ring, did it take much to adapt to the cage when you started fighting again in the UFC?
I guess it took a little bit to get used to again. It would have been nice to have an easier fight coming out of the gate, but it was what it was. I’m definitely accustomed to the cage now.

Do you train differently when you fight in the cage as opposed to fighting in the ring?
There are certain things that I definitely do different, but most of the training is the same.

You have a great wrestling background; tell us a little about that?
Well, I was a two-time Olympian for the United States in Greco Roman wrestling, and I think that style in particular transfers well to MMA.

You’ve had a huge MMA career, what made you want to step into Mixed Martial Arts competition?
I was broke and I wanted to earn enough money to continue to pursue my goal of making a third consecutive Olympic team in 2000. So, I basically fought in one tournament per year for the first few years and earned enough to pay the rent.

Tell us a little about your first MMA fight?
I wasn’t really nervous at all. I began traveling internationally at a young age to compete in wrestling tournaments, and those experiences helped me learn to control and compartmentalize my emotions. I tend to focus on the things I can control rather than worry about things I can’t, and that approach is a big advantage in any competitive environment. Fear and nervousness can literally paralyze an athlete, and fortunately, I don’t have that problem.

So what do you do when you’re not fighting or training?
Like any parent, I enjoy spending time with my family. My kids have really active extracurricular schedules, and its fun to watch them compete in sports and participate in activities. I also enjoy riding my horses and working around my property. We have five acres, so there is always something to keep me busy.