Keep your focus on the task at hand.
That’s exactly what UFC lightweight Benson Henderson (15-2) is doing as he rapidly approaches his championship showdown with Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) at UFC 144 in Japan.
However, in the back of Henderson’s mind is a plan to revenge his only loss in the last five years to fellow lightweight, Anthony Pettis.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s unfinished business,” Benson told Bleacher Report. “But at the same time, I definitely want to seek revenge for my loss.”
“I kind of have a soft spot in my heart for that loss, but it is what it is. Anthony is a tough, tough guy. He’s a tough kid. He’s a great worker, and I can’t say enough about him,” said Henderson. “He goes big or goes home.”
Henderson is confident that he’ll have the lightweight title wrapped around his waist the next time he and Pettis meet.
And, according to Henderson, it might not be as long as some may think.
“I’m sure he’ll work his way to the top,” stated Henderson. “He had a tough loss to Clay Guida, but I know he’s been working on his wrestling and busting his butt.”
“I imagine I will be seeing him again in not too long. So, whenever he gets a shot for my belt, then let’s do it,” said Henderson.
But, in order for his painted picture to become a reality, Henderson will first need to defeat arguably the toughest man in the business in Edgar.
Not only has Henderson been given his long-awaited title shot, but he’ll have a chance to become the newest lightweight champ on foreign soil.
“It really does mean quite a bit to get to fight in Japan. It’s really the birth place of mixed martial arts. MMA was very big in Japan for such a long time,” said Henderson. “It was the Mecca of MMA in the earlier days.”
“Hopefully, being a part of this will spark the return of Japanese MMA,” stated Henderson. “This gives us the chance to bring MMA to the mainstream.”
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