Benson Henderson reacts after defeating Frankie Edgar at UFC 150 inside Pepsi Center on August 11, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Nick Laham via UFC.com)
Since joining the UFC back in 2011 following the absorption of the WEC, lightweight fighter Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson (18-2) has had a stellar run inside the Octagon going 6-0.
The former WEC champion picked up three wins in 2011 and proceeded to pick up three more in 2012. It was his performance in this past year, winning the UFC lightweight title and two title defenses, that Henderson was named the Top Fighter of 2012 by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Three championship fights. Three wins. 15 rounds of action. Doing that alone earns UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson the top spot as Fighter of the Year for 2012, but in a year when injuries were a constant and crippling issue in the sport, Henderson also gets kudos for being one of MMA’s true iron men. Winning the title in February with a Fight of the Night win over Frankie Edgar, Henderson repeated the feat at UFC 150 in August, with both bouts being razor-thin nail biters. “Smooth” made sure that wasn’t the case in his 2012 finale against Nate Diaz on December 8th, as he dominated against the talented Stocktonite from start to finish. Henderson’s goal right now is to clean out the division and make a run at Anderson Silva’s all-time title defense record. Well, right now, Henderson looks like he just may have a shot at it.
Coming in at number two is UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, followed by the promotions first flyweight title holder Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson.
Rounding out the list of Top Ten fighters are welterweight Matt Brown, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, heavyweight Stefan Struve, featherweight Cub Swanson, welterweight Mike Pyle, UFC middleweight title holder Anderson Silva, and lastly light heavywieght Costa Philippou.