Benson Henderson has competed at the highest level of MMA for more than 14 years, but he’s got a few things left to do before he calls it a career.
In 2009, “Smooth” claimed an interim belt for the now defunct WEC, then became undisputed champion three months later. In ’12, he defeated future UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar to claim the lightweight title there as well. On Friday night, Henderson will look to add a third world title to his trophy case when he takes on reigning Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, and he makes no attempt to hide the importance of the moment.
“Winning this lightweight belt, the third belt of mine, the Bellator lightweight title, it means everything,” Henderson told MMA Underground. “It means absolutely everything to me.”
Henderson migrated to Bellator in 2016 following an impressive 11–3 run in the UFC. He’s twice previously challenged for Bellator belts but came up short both times. But after scoring back-to-back wins over Peter Queally and Islam Mamedov in ’22, Henderson was selected as one of eight Bellator athletes to take part in a lightweight grand prix.
Henderson said it was the type of opportunity he had long wanted.
“I’ve been waiting for Bellator to finally do a lightweight grand prix,” Henderson said. “They did freaking welterweight. They did heavyweight twice. They did freaking light heavyweight. They’ve done a lot, but they never have yet done the lightweights. Every time I see them, I’d talk to them, ‘Hey, guys, when are you doing the grand prix? When are you doing the lightweights? When are you guys going to show lightweights some love?’ So now it’s our turn, and we get to showcase and shine for Bellator.”
Bellator generally features one grand prix per calendar year, with an eight-man tournament that plays out over several months. The winner is rewarded with a $1 million prize and a Bellator grand prix title. But in situations when reigning champions are involved in the field, the undisputed title is also on the line each time the champion competes.
That’s the case at Friday’s Bellator 292, which airs live on Showtime from SAP Center.
Henderson (30–11 MMA, 7–6 BMMA) takes on undefeated champion Nurmagomedov (16–0 MMA, 5–0 BMMA) in the night’s featured bout, an opening-round matchup in the current grand prix.
Oddsmakers have the 24-year-old Nurmagomedov pinned as a massive favorite over the 39-year-old Henderson, but the challenger insists he pays no mind to such speculation.
“I have no problem being the underdog,” Henderson said. “Underdog, favorite, this, that—it doesn’t all matter. This guy’s hometown. ‘Oh my God. The crowd’s crazy. How are you going to deal with the crowd?’ It’s a fight. All the other stuff, to a true veteran of the sport, it doesn’t matter. It’s a fight. One-on-one. Just go in there to let the best person get their hand raised, you know? All the other incidentals—the this, the that, the home crowd, the walkout music—it really, really doesn’t matter to true veterans who obviously don’t let it get to their heads.”
As he enters the grand prix, Henderson openly admits his time as a professional fighter is nearing an end as he looks to take on a supporting role for his wife, Maria, who recently made her professional MMA debut and is set to compete under the Bellator banner later this month.
But first, Henderson has a little more to accomplish in his own career. With three fights left on his current contract, he could conceivably win the belt Friday night, defend it in the grand prix semifinals, then defend it again in the finals while also claiming a grand prix title before riding off into the sunset.
The path certainly won’t be easy, but Henderson has never asked for it to be.
“That would be a dream come true,” Henderson admitted. “But you work your butt off, man, you can live your dreams.”
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