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After competing against top talent in the lightweight and welterweight divisions in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Benson Henderson is being rewarded for his service in mixed martial arts (MMA) with an immediate title shot and lucrative contract with Bellator.

“Smooth” revealed his new deal with the Viacom-owned promotion earlier this week, with his 170-pound title shot announcement against dangerous Russian champion Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 153 on April 22, 2016 coming shortly after.

Henderson spoke with Inside MMA about his upcoming tussle with Koreshkov:

“This kid is young, he’s hungry, he’s up-and-coming … he’s had a loss to a tough wrestler in Ben Askren, so guess what? I can guarantee you he’s gotten better in that field; in his defensive wrestling, in his scrambling, he has gotten better. He’s not the same person he was when he fought Ben Askren, so I’m not taking him lightly.”

Henderson, a product of the MMA Lab in Glendale, Arizona, was previously a staple of UFC’s 155-pound division, where he became champion beginning in 2012, until he was ousted by rival Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 in Aug. 2013.

The 32-year-old Taekwondo black belt made the trek up to 170 pounds for his last two bouts, where he defeated Brandon Thatch and former Strikeforce lightweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal in succession.

His upcoming opponent, Koreshkov, is a veteran of the Bellator welterweight tournament. “The Spartan’s” only loss came against the All-American wrestler Askren in July 2013, but he has since run his record up to 18-1, including five straight victories.

Koreshkov took out previous champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 140 last July in a one-sided showing.

Do any of you Maniacs think Henderson has one more title reign left in him? Make your thoughts known below.

Michael Hutchinson breaks down why the Heavyweight division is crazier than ever and how the rankings make no sense.

Three-time title challenger Chad Mendes is curious to see Conor McGregor go the full five rounds against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196.

Only one of Conor McGregor’s 21 MMA fights has gone the distance, and that was a three-round fight against Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 26. The Irishman tore his ACL in the 2nd round and was forced to drag Holloway to the ground to secure a dominant unanimous decision.

With 17 KO’s, “The Notorious” has made short work of most of his opponents but questions still loom over his endurance and grit. McGregor, who knocked out Jose Aldo in 13-seconds to capture the featherweight title at UFC 194, will move up to lightweight to challenge Rafael dos Anjos for the 155 lbs. championship.

Due to both fighters’ aggression and tenacity, it’s expected to be a short but action-packed night at UFC 194, with both men likely looking for the finish from the opening bell.

Former featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes, who fought and lost to Jose Aldo twice and fell to McGregor’s sniping left hand at UFC 189, doesn’t know who will win on March 5th but wants to see McGregor tested in a five-round fight. “Money” spoke to Chael Sonnen recently on his “You’re Welcome” podcast.

“These gloves are tiny and anything can happen at any time,” Mendes said. “You just never know. I mean, when you see a guy go five rounds with somebody you can see their full arsenal; you can see their gas tank; you can see their mental state in those championship rounds. Then you can really figure out who’s tough and who’s not. I’m curious to see it, too.”

Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor will headline the UFC 196 pay-per-view — co-headlined with Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate — on March 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) combatants, journalists, and promoters all came together for the 2016 World MMA Awards, emanating from inside the Venetian Theatre at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada last night (Fri., Feb. 5, 2016).

Former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) featherweight champion and multi-time UFC title challenger Urijah Faber hosted the event, which featured the biggest and brightest names in the sport from the year that was.

Votes were cast online and if you missed it, have no fear, FOX Sports 2 will air a tape-delayed version of the show on Feb. 12.

Read on for the 2016 World MMA Awards results.

Charles “Mask” Lewis “Fighter of the Year”

• Rafael dos Anjos
• Max Holloway
• Demetrious Johnson
• Conor McGregor
• Luke Rockhold

Female Fighter of the Year

• Tonya Evinger
• Joanna Jedrzejczyk
• Holly Holm
• Ronda Rousey
• Angela Lee

Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

• Thomas Almeida
• Henry Cejudo
• Tony Ferguson
• Joanna Jedrzejczyk
• Holly Holm

Fight of the Year

• Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino (WSOF 19)
• Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne (UFC 187)
• Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 (UFC 189)
• Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 192)
• Vitaly Bigdash vs. Igor Svirid (One Championship 32)

Knockout of the Year

• Hisaki Kato (vs. Joe Schilling, Bellator 139)
• Thomas Almeida (vs. Brad Pickett, UFC 189)
• Holly Holm (vs. Ronda Rousey, UFC 193)
• Jorge Filho (vs. Claudio Cezario, Jungle Fight 83)
• Conor McGregor (vs. José Aldo, UFC 194)

Submission of the Year

• Ronda Rousey (vs. Cat Zingano, UFC 184)
• Marcos Galvao (vs. Joe Warren, Bellator 135)
• Fabricio Werdum (vs. Cain Velasquez, UFC 188)
• Liam McGeary (vs. Tito Ortiz, Bellator: Dynamite)
• Tony Ferguson (vs. Edson Barboza, TUF 22 Finale)

Comeback of the Year

• Thiago Alves (vs.Jordan Mein, UFC 183)
• Alex Chambers (vs. Kailin Curran, UFC Fight Night 65)
• Eddie Alvarez (vs.Gilbert Melendez, UFC 188)
• Patricio Freire (vs. Daniel Weichel, Bellator 138)
• Vitaly Bigdash (vs. Igor Svirid, One Championship 32)

Upset of the Year

• Rafael dos Anjos (vs. Anthony Pettis, UFC 185)
• Maryna Moroz (vs. Joanna Calderwood, UFC Fight Night 64)
• Fabricio Werdum (vs. Cain Velasquez, UFC 188)
• Uriah Hall (vs. Gegard Mousasi, UFC Fight Night 75)
• Holly Holm (vs. Ronda Rousey, UFC 193)

Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year

• Rafael Cordeiro
• John Kavanagh
• Javier Mendes
• Mike Winkeljohn
• Firas Zahabi

Trainer of the Year

• Jake Bonacci (S&C)
• Mike Dolce (nutrition)
• Brian Harris (S&C)
• George Lockhart (nutrition)
• Ido Portal (S&C)

Gym of the Year

• American Kickboxing Academy
• Blackzilians
• Jackson-Wink MMA
• Kings MMA
• SBG Ireland

Referee of the Year

• Herb Dean
• Marc Goddard
• John McCarthy
• Dan Miragliotta
• Mario Yamasaki

Ringcard Girl of the Year

• Jhenny Andrade
• Carly Baker
• Arianny Celeste
• Brittney Palmer
• Mercedes Terrell

Leading Man

• Scott Coker
• Victor Cui
• Lorenzo Fertitta
• Ray Sefo
• Dana White

Best Promotion

• Bellator MMA
• Legacy Fighting Championship
• One Championship
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
• World Series of Fighting

Personality of the Year

• Jon Anik
• Joe Rogan
• Bas Rutten
• Brendan Schaub
• Bruce Buffer

Analyst of the Year

• Michael Bisping
• Daniel Cormier
• Dominick Cruz
• Chael Sonnen
• Brian Stann

Best MMA Programming

• Bellator MMA: Uncut
• The Fighter & The Kid
• The MMA Hour
• The Ultimate Fighter
• UFC Embedded

MMA Media Source of the Year

• UFC Tonight
• MMA Fighting
• MMA Junkie
• Inside MMA
• Sherdog

MMA Journalist of the Year

• Brent Brookhouse
• Ben Fowlkes
• Ariel Helwani
• Chuck Mindenhall
• Brett Okamoto

Best MMA Clothing & Equipment Brand

• BAD BOY
• Everlast
• Hayabusa
• Torque
• Venum