Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson made some big headlines this week when he announced that he was officially making the move to Bellator MMA after Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta chose to waive the matching rights on his contract offer, which apparently included more money up front.
True to previous form, White said he had nothing personal against Henderson, but also got in one last parting shot by declaring that he was looking for “top 5 guys, guys that are going 15 to 1, not the other way around,” after Henderson lost his lightweight belt in August 2013 and the majority of his 155-pound ranking after fighting (and winning) his last two UFC bouts at welterweight.
While that could be considered a bit of a low blow, Henderson instead took White’s comments in stride in a recent spot with MMA Junkie Radio, noting that he was the only fighter aso ranked in two divisions and that White has obviously said outlandish statements before:
“We know Dana. You know Dana. I know Dana. We’ve heard some other things he said. That was the worst he said? He didn’t say my momma was ugly; he didn’t say I was the worst fighter in history? If that’s all he said, that’s not too bad, considering his history of outlandish quotes.”
As for the move to Bellator, which earned Henderson an immediate title shot at 170-pound champ Andrey Koreshkov at April 22’s Bellator 153 from Uncasville, Connecticutt, ‘Smooth’ said it’s already piqued the interest of fellow fighters wanting to know what it’s like outside the confines of the UFC’s strict uniform deal with Reebok:
“I can’t even say how many texts and calls from other fighters asking me, ‘What did the UFC bring to the table? What did Bellator bring to the table? How did they treat you? Was (UFC Chairman) Lorenzo (Fertitta) mad? Did Dana get all mad?’” Henderson said. “A ton of fighters hit me up and asked me that and asked for advice.”
Henderson obviously has at least some problems with how the UFC does business, and there were few aspects of the world’s biggest fight promoters that he didn’t agree with.
Read on to the next page to find out how he blasted his former employers…
The post Ben Henderson Reacts To Dana White’s Barb: ‘He Didn’t Say My Momma Was Ugly’ appeared first on LowKick MMA.