Benson Henderson News

Josh Evanoff - March 9, 2023

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson is planning on ending his career soon. ‘Smooth’ has been out of action since his win over Peter Queally last September. That victory was a big one for the former champion, as it was his second in a row. Henderson had previously upset the massively favored Islam Mamedov earlier in the year.

Josh Evanoff - January 11, 2023

Bellator president Scott Coker has revealed some big plans for this year. The Showtime-based promotion is prone to doing some ideas that are a bit outside the box. Recently, the promotion traveled to Japan to send five of their best fighters against five of RIZIN’s best. Bellator wound up sweeping the matchups, with names like A.J. McKee and Patricio Pitbull picking up big wins.

Chris Taylor - September 23, 2022

Tonight’s Bellator 285 event is headlined by a key lightweight contest featuring Benson Henderson taking on Peter Queally. Henderson (30-11 MMA), a former UFC lightweight champion, most recently competed back in January where he earned a split decision victory over Islam Mamedov. That win had snapped a three-fight losing skid for ‘Smooth’, as he had previously suffered defeats to Michael Chandler, Jason Jackson and Brent Primus.

Chris Taylor - February 5, 2022

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has named BJ Penn as the greatest lightweight fighter of all time. Penn, a former two-division UFC champion, is best known for his 27-month reign atop the UFC’s lightweight division. ‘The Prodigy’ captured the strap with a submission win over Joe Stevenson in 2008 and went on to defend the 155lbs title on three occasions, scoring finishes of Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez.

Chris Taylor - January 29, 2022

Tonight’s Bellator 273 event is co-headlined by a lightweight bout featuring former UFC champion Benson Henderson taking on Islam Mamedov. Henderson (28-11 MMA) will be looking to snap the first three-fight losing streak of his career this evening in Phoenix. ‘Bendo‘ last competed back in October, where he suffered a decision loss to Brent Primus.

Chris Taylor - January 29, 2022

Former lightweight champion Benson Henderson has shared his thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s contract dispute with the UFC. Despite cementing his status as the “baddest man on the planet” at last weekend’s UFC 270 event, Ngannou’s future with the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion remains up in the air.

Chris Taylor - January 29, 2022

Bellator 273 takes place this evening in Phoenix, a ten-bout fight card headlined by Ryan Bader vs. Valentin Moldavsky. Bader (28-7 MMA), the promotions reigning heavyweight champion, will be returning to the division for the first time in twenty-eight months. ‘Darth’ has spent his last three contests competing at light heavyweight, where he went 1-2, this while dropping the 205lbs title to Vadim Nemkov.

Cole Shelton - January 25, 2022

Benson Henderson knows people are counting him out but he’s eager for the challenge of facing Islam Mamedov at Bellator 273. Henderson is set to fight Mamedov in the co-main event, and even though the former UFC champion is on a three-fight losing skid, he’s fighting the presumed number one contender. Although many were surprised by the fight booking, Henderson says he asked for the fight as he wants to get back in the title picture.

Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021

A key lightweight contest between Benson Henderson and Brent Primus takes place on the main card of tonight’s Bellator 268 event in Phoenix. Henderson (28-10 MMA), a former UFC champion, will be looking to snap a two-fight losing skid this evening. ‘Bendo‘ suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jason Jackson in a welterweight contest his last time out.

Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021

MMA action returns to Phoenix this evening for Bellator 268, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Vadim Nemkov vs. Julius Anglickas. Nemkov (14-2 MMA) will be looking to earn his second career title defense, this while securing a spot in the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix finals. The Russian standout last competed in April where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Phil Davis.

Cole Shelton - October 13, 2021

Brent Primus has been asking for a big-name opponent for quite some time and he gets his wish on Saturday night at Bellator 268. Primus returned in July and lost a controversial split decision to Islam Mamedov in a fight many thought he won. After the fight, he asked his management and Bellator for a high-profile fight. He got just that as he will face Benson Henderson on Saturday in Arizona.

Adam D Martin - October 13, 2021

Benson Henderson was perplexed by Bellator’s vacant lightweight title fight, suggesting that he should have been given the next title shot. Former Bellator lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull recently vacated his belt, and the vacant title fight will feature his brother, Patricky Pitbull, against Peter Queally in a rematch. But as far as Henderson goes, it should have been him in line for the title.

Adam Martin - November 10, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson is set to return to the welterweight division when he fights Jason Jackson at Bellator 253. Bellator 253 takes place on Thursday, November 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Henderson vs. Jackson is set to be the co-main event for the card, which features a five-round main event between featherweights AJ McKee and Darrion Caldwell. Also on the card is Keith Lee (brother of UFC star Kevin Lee) vs. top prospect Raufeon Stots, plus the return of Kevin Ferguson Jr. (son of the late Kimbo Slice).

Adam Martin - October 18, 2020

Bellator lightweight contender Benson Henderson sent a heartfelt message to his teammate The Korean Zombie, calling TKZ “an inspiration.” Henderson and The Korean Zombie have trained together in Arizona the MMA Lab and Fight Ready so they are very familiar with each other, not to mention the fact they both fought together in the UFC and in the WEC. The two have become close friends over the years and so even when the other man is the one in the cage, it feels like the other is also in there.

Chris Taylor - August 7, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler squared off with Benson Henderson for a second time in tonight’s Bellator 243 event. In the pairs first encounter back at Bellator 165 in November of 2016, it was Chandler who emerged victorious by way of split-decision.

Chris Taylor - August 7, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson squared off with Michael Chandler for a second time in tonight’s Bellator 243 main event. The pair of lightweight standouts first met at Bellator 165 in November of 2016 with Chandler emerging victorious by way of split decision.

Harry Kettle - July 15, 2020

According to a recent report from Combate, Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson’s proposed rematch is set to go down on August 7. The two veterans last fought back at Bellator 165 in November 2016, and on that night, Chandler beat Henderson via split decision to retain the Bellator Lightweight Championship. They were first scheduled to run it back in December 2019 for Bellator’s co-promotion event with Rizin in Japan, but an injury for Henderson ensured that didn’t happen.

Harry Kettle - December 5, 2019

Bellator lightweight contender Benson Henderson has issued a statement after he was pulled from the upcoming card Bellator Japan card due to injury.  Henderson was set to go head to head with Michael Chandler for a second time at Bellator Japan in a rematch from their Bellator 165 encounter in November 2016. Chandler won that fight via split decision, retaining his Bellator Lightweight Championship in the process.