Author: By Jon Lane

Ben Henderson has been down the road to a title shot before. It feels like yesterday, yet it was 32 months ago, when a lanky 5-foot-9, 25-year-old from Glendale, Ariz., with long, flowing hair that when put in a bun is called “Benson Bunnies” by his MMA Lab teammates, debuted in the WEC with a 42-second guillotine choke submission of Anthony Njokuani.

Two fights later, “Smooth” became the WEC interim lightweight champion after a classic five-round tangle with Donald Cerrone, and once he smothered Jamie Varner like a tarantula he was undisputed champion. He defended the title by choking Cerrone in 1:57 of their rematch before dropping it in WEC’s December 2010 swan song when Anthony Pettis unveiled a maneuver from the book of Morpheus.

In the second fight of his UFC career, Sunday night in Milwaukee, Henderson faces maybe not his greatest challenge in Jim Miller, but certainly his most seasoned opponent. And once again the stakes are in the stratosphere. The winner is a good bet to be proclaimed No. 1 contender at 155 pounds. The loser won’t receive a pink slip, but navigating a new road to gold working in MMA’s deepest division will be like driving cross country in a Volvo.

If you ask Henderson, his approach is always the same, smooth as silk with precise execution. Every fight, especially on Zuffa’s crowded roster, is win or go home. Do or die. Kill or be killed. And that’s why he’s driven, whether he’s a top UFC contender or living the rough life on the independent circuit.

“For me there are stakes every time I fight,” Henderson said. “There’s no special sense to win because it’s so high up. Whether you’re No. 1 or No. 20, the idea is you have to get your hand raised. You have to train heavily. You have to. I take that into all my fights. It doesn’t matter what ranking it is. You have to get your hand raised otherwise you’re in back of the line and potentially you can get cut.”

To achieve victory at UFC on Versus 5, Henderson (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) must figure out how to solve the complex puzzle that’s Miller, 20-2 overall (9-1 UFC) and a winner of seven straight fights and 10 of his last 11. While Henderson’s roster of conquests is impressive (Cerrone twice, Varner, Shane Roller, Njokuani and most recently Mark Bocek), Miller’s amazing run has caught Dana White’s attention.

A victory and Miller will likely fight the winner of Frankie Edgar’s title defense against Gray Maynard October 8 at UFC 136, but if Henderson wins here’s the puzzle: Pettis defeated Henderson. Clay Guida defeated Pettis and believes he’s No. 1 contender. Yet Henderson will have defeated Miller, who last tasted defeat on March 7, 2009 to Maynard, two months after Henderson’s WEC debut. The winner of Edgar-Maynard III will need a new No.1 contender and out of all of the above, it’s Henderson who owns the championship pedigree. Many will attempt to figure out if, how or when White and Joe Silva will proclaim Henderson the chosen one.

If you think solving Miller will be an ordeal, Henderson’s attempt to channel his inner matchmaker is worse than deciphering Sudoku’s “Evil” level.

“Man, I have no idea – I’m not too good at guessing what will happen,” Henderson said. “It’s a what-if game. I’m not a fan of playing the what-if game. What’s in front of me is Jim Miller. After that, who knows? Maybe Gray Maynard decides to take a back seat and retires. Maybe Frankie Edgar decides to take up modeling. Who’s knows what’s going to happen?”

On the surface, a lot happened during Henderson’s sizzling war with Pettis. The reason why Henderson suffered just his second MMA loss had more to do with what didn’t happen besides Pettis turning into Neo of The Matrix. On a night when the WEC lightweight title was retired and the winner was to earn his shot at the UFC belt, Henderson beat himself up for being too elusive and evasive, and that deviation from his normal approach didn’t work.

In short, Henderson failed to stick with the game plan. And that failed him on one of the most important nights of his career. Henderson was the champion, but he and Pettis were fighting for the futures of all WEC lightweights. The UFC was deep enough and there were not only questions about how the winner would fare against the sport’s elite, but how each handled the hype. Every day fans and media peppered them with questions of what will you show? What will you do different? And can you hang with Maynard? With Edgar?

Pettis made his career with the “Showtime Kick,” shining in the moment. Henderson, someone who’s greatest strength is grace under pressure, admitted to the hype getting the best of him.

“I definitely think so,” Henderson said. “Hearing so much from all the reporters, the fans, and everything, all that being centered around the winner of this will fight for the UFC title.”

Rather than overhaul his training staff or move to another city to settle with a new camp, Henderson returned to the MMA Lab to work on weaknesses that became more glaring with defeat. Facing Bocek, a rugged veteran, Henderson mixed in aggressiveness with patience, which he’ll need in abundance on Sunday. In his last two fights, Miller submitted a flashy and talented, yet inexperienced, Charles Oliveria, and broke down a tank in Kamal Shalrous. His goal is to ground and frustrate an opponent. Henderson’s trademark is to pull off a surprise or two, like the time he wrapped his legs around Varner’s body and arms around his neck and head. As deadly as Miller has proven, Henderson is creative enough to pounce on just one slip on a banana peel.

“You can expect the same continued aggression and the same focus, that’s for sure,” Henderson said. “As far as expecting something flashy or a tarantula-like submission or anything like that, if Jim Miller presents something to me … if he gives me his neck I will take his neck. If he’s blinded by a camera flash in the crowd and gives me his arm, I’ll take his arm home with me.”

Back home, away from the cage, Henderson’s faith reminds him daily there’s more to life than winning, losing and the UFC. A Hall of Fame fighter named Randy Couture learned through attrition how to deal with, what Sam Sheridan wrote in A Fighter’s Mind, “The systemic pressure that elite athletes face, the overwhelming pressure to succeed.” Henderson’s spirituality is his release from anxiety, the demands of early success and the expectations that are part of the package.

“Whether you inspire one person or millions, that stuff means a lot more to me than winning or losing a fight,” Henderson said. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to lose, but it’s not the end of the world. [Losing] sucks and I definitely don’t want it to happen again, but there are much bigger things I’m more concerned about. God, my faith and my walk with Christ is one of those.”

Couture’s motto as a fighter and a coach became, “Frame the positive.” To Henderson, patience is a virtue and a positive. Miller is a fine litmus test for where Henderson, a former champion, is at this stage of his career. November will be his fifth year as a pro and he’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown belt under John Crouch, a black belt under Royce Gracie. He insists what you’ve seen to date is a fraction of what he’s destined to become.

“Wait until I’ve been a black belt for five years and then see how I am. Give me another two, three years, man. I’m going to open up some eyes,” Henderson said. “I have a long way to go and it’s going to take a lot of time and hard work, but luckily I have all the time in the world. I’m only 27.”

A win over Miller puts Henderson in line to become a two-time lightweight champion. A loss and Henderson will be waiting an eternity, and not even Smooth is that patient.

He wanted to keep the battle standing up, because that’s Alex Caceres’ M.O. Mackens Semerzier was having none of it. Deep within the tranquil veneer of the young 23-year-old known to the MMA world as “Bruce Leeroy” was a neurotic feeling once he was off his feet. Semerzier scored a takedown, and once Caceres couldn’t shake him he was forced to tap to a rear-naked choke.

When you’re one of 13 eliminated from an Ultimate Fighter tournament and still given a chance to shine in the UFC, a first-round submission loss isn’t exactly the finest impression. Caceres stood up and smiled, shrugged his shoulders and wore an expression that suggested, “Oh well, next time.” Semerzier knew better, knew that the smile masked serious pain, so he embraced his fallen foe and shared words of encouragement.

It was at that moment Caceres’ care-free attitude began to change.

“He told me to take that feeling to the gym with me every day,” Caceres said.

Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres, his comb affixed in afro, persona crafted as TUF Season 12’s obligatory bad guy despite his happy demeanor, was switched on to a lesson in humility.

Every day for five months, forced to digest tapping out, Caceres (5-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) vowed to prepare harder for his next fight more so than at any point in his young career. A shot at redemption climaxes August 14 in Milwaukee, when members of the new breed stare down one another, vying for a precious spot on Zuffa’s crowded featherweight roster.

Caceres meets Jimy “The Kid” Hettes, making his UFC debut in place of the injured Leonard Garcia, at UFC on Versus 5. He found out 12 days before Milwaukee that he’d have to face a Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert unbeaten in all eight of his professional fights — his first six wins coming in the first round. Where Garcia comes at you thinking home run and going for broke, Caceres is expecting Hettes to execute a judo toss and grapple immediately.

Prior to Garcia pulling out, Caceres said he felt really comfortable, before quickly giving pause to add, “Not too comfortable.” He remains in the UFC only because he was fortunate enough that organization President Dana White decided to gift him with a precious second chance. His opponent represents a 180-degree turn in approach, but Caceres’ attitude remains the same. White’s reprieve allowed him to exhale until the moment was over and the pressure to win had truly begun.

“It doesn’t change anything. I’m coming in to win,” Caceres said. “After coming off that first defeat I feel all the time it’s a must win. It doesn’t change anything about whether I have to win or if I lose this one it’s OK.

“There’s still a lot of pressure just because I did lose my first fight and I’m guessing that if I do lose this next one it could be the wraps for me and I’ll have to build my way up again. Every fight is a must-win, but definitely I’ve been pushing myself a lot harder.”

There is indeed a greater emphasis on 8/14/2011. The Ultimate Fighter crafted Caceres as a polarizing figure every reality show craves, which has created preconceptions that defy his true personality. His Twitter handle is @BruceLeeRoyGlow, and his bio simply reads, “I got the glow.” Of course, he has his share of haters still stuck on TUF and fueled by the loss to Semerzier. Caceres told UFC.com that some people have said he doesn’t belong in the UFC. His mentality is to prove them wrong and himself right.

Not that Caceres is lost in the magnitude of what’s at stake. His hero is Bruce Lee. His favorite quotation from the martial artist, actor and philosopher comes from the opening scene of “Enter the Dragon,” when he scolds a student before teaching him the practice of using good emotions. “Don’t think. FEEL,” Lee said. “It’s like a finger pointing at the moon.” After smacking him again, Lee shouts, “Do not concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of the heavenly glory!”

“To me it means we can’t just focus on the literal meaning of things,” Caceres said. “It’s usually the things all around that make up that one thing. Everything around it evolves so you can’t just pay attention to that one thing because everything around that has a say in how this thing was made in the first place. You can focus on the base, but you must focus on the things that created that base, the details.”

Caceres’ base is making everything he does look effortless. It appears that he’s blasé and nonchalant, but he’s actually talented enough to make the hardest of moves look fluid and easy. One of his greatest assets is controlling fear, slowing down a crisis situation enough to where the smile never fades and the assurance is there that “It’s OK, I’ve got this.”

“I don’t look at anybody as more than what I can be,” Caceres said. “When I go in there that helps calm me down. And what helps me really calm down is the fear of the fight. It’s all those doubts that are running through my head.

“When I feel like I’m in danger, or I feel scared, I can’t really explain it, but ever since I was a kid I tend to get really calm because I figured the best way I’m going to deal with the situation is to remain calm, to stay clear-minded. I’d be able to react more intelligently instead of just freaking out.”

Caceres’ forte is to frustrate opponents standing up. Semerzier knew that, which is why once he took Caceres down it was curtains. Caceres has not only placed a greater emphasis on his wrestling and takedown defense; he’s recalled the lessons learned from training under Georges St-Pierre for six weeks in practical isolation. It’s no longer a matter of training hard, but efficiently. In other words, using minimum input for maximum output.

“I was able to see how a champion would train,” Caceres said. “I’m training harder, more times a day, but not necessarily straining myself.”

A win over Hettes, and Caceres remains duly employed with less of a strain on his climb up the towering ladder that is the featherweight division. The line to a title shot is a long one, and Hettes is determined to make a dynamite first impression, but Caceres sees a victory as his own springboard to glory.

“As long as the line is, I’m going to keep getting better,” Caceres said.

Bruce Leeroy remains convinced of one more thing: he’s better since Semerzier. Much better. His cardio reached a new level when he completed nine five-minute rounds of straight MMA sparring and was ready to go longer. Semerzier inspired him that listening to and learning from mistakes is not a deterrent, but an inspiration, a “growing feeling” of being told he did something wrong.

“I don’t think many people are able to do that,” Caceres said. “I took that feeling and I hit the gym every day.

“I’m at an incredible level right now. I’m rising and I’m going to keep rising. I’m trying to make a 180 [degree] switch from what I was to what they expect me to be. Whether I win or lose this next fight, whether I fight in the UFC or not, I’m definitely going to be a better person and I’m going to be better than what I am — today, tomorrow every day.

“All I have to do is be myself and that will shine through eventually, but I’m not too worried.”

This was when Caceres again learned something new, more words from the book of Lee. “I always learn something,” Lee once said, “and that is to always be yourself and to express yourself, to have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate him.”

“That’s a good one,” said Caceres, a fighter in his formative years already faced with a potential seminal moment. Semerzier told him to remember the filthy taste of defeat, move on, adjust and go with the flow. “Be water, my friend” are Lee’s most famous words. A win on August 14 will be a big step forward for his disciple, one that will start because he took a significant step back.