Benson Henderson just picked up a split decision victory in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Seoul, South Korea. After the fight, he removed both of his gloves and placed them in the ring. Was this a sign of things to come for “Smooth”? This was the last fight on an 8-fight contract Henderson had with the UFC. It seems that he is feeling a little disrespected by the UFC and maybe even the fans as of late. Henderson is a former UFC and WEC Lightweight Champion, yet he has been relegated to headlining UFC Fight Nights with no title implications or is on the mid-card of big PPV’s. With him heading into free agency let’s take a look at some possible fights he could have if he opts for Bellator MMA or WSOF.
Bellator MMA
If Benson chooses to head over to Bellator, he jumps right into a solid mix of lightweights and could be in title contention sooner than later. Who wouldn’t want to see “Smooth” against Bellator’s best? It adds validity to the division bringing in a former WEC and UFC Champion. Another fight with Josh Thomson or fights against Patricky Pitbull, Marcin Held and Michael Chandler would be great. All leading up to a title fight with Will Brooks headlining one of Bellator’s next tentpole events.
World Series of Fighting
What if he goes over to WSOF? He could be in the mix at two different divisions here, both Lightweight and Welterweight. The welterweight division has potential matches with Jon Fitch, Yushin Okami, and Jake Shields, while the lightweight division has Mike Ricci, Jason High and champion Justin Gaethje.
What hasn’t even been mentioned yet is the fact that by leaving the UFC, he would be able to make more money on sponsorships by not being locked into the horrible deal with Reebok and the UFC. We’ve already seen fighters walk away from the UFC based on the sponsorships alone. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side. We’ll see which side Benson Henderson chooses soon.
Let me know your thoughts here or on Twitter (@geoffrey_craig) and stay tuned to the MMA Manifesto for more MMA News and Notes.
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