ALL I WANT FOR XMAS

Dan "HENDO" Henderson

March 3, 2011 in Temecula, California

How did I get Dan Henderson to take his teeth out and smile?

I just asked,

He resisted at first but I told him that everyone always sees you as nice but a little brooding and this was a throwback to a toothless 6 year old that visited the gym a few years back, who was actually my inspiration for this shot.

One evening as Dan was training to fight Anderson Silva for the Middleweight Title at UFC 82, there was a kid, no more than 6 years old that was watching every move Dan made in training. When the training was over the kid had the biggest gummy smile on his face as he was watching his hero. Dan saw that he had no teeth, so he popped his teeth out and smiled at the little boy. 

The little boys eyes got big as saucers and he jumped off of the boxing ring, and ran over to his mom and said “Mommy, Mommy. That man has no teeth, just like me.

It was a perfect moment where that kid saw someone, that made him feel great about himself, so when I got the opportunity, I knew I had to capture Dan’s inner child.

This is a Limited Edition Giclée on cotton fiber paper. /  Edition Size is limited to 72 pieces.

The image Size is "16x20" / Approximate framed size “24 x 28”

Artwork will be signed by photographer Eric Williams.