Benson Henderson is one of the true examples of what it means to be a challenge or a “threat” to a fighter in the UFC Lightweight Division.
The man is an enduring sort of guy who often seems very difficult to submit, even when everyone can see that his opponent has his submission hold locked in deep on Henderson, and he hasn’t looked terrible (he hasn’t been bruised much) since the first time he fought Donald Cerrone.
He last lost to Anthony Pettis at WEC 53 in a bout that saw fans find difficulty in backing one fighter without disrespecting or downgrading the other, but of course, we all know how that went.
Since WEC 53, however, Henderson’s toughness, grit, and ability to handle good fighters on the ground have made him something of a fan favorite, and his UFC on Versus 5 win over Jim Miller cemented that fact in what was a classic encounter.
In Clay “The Carpenter” Guida, Henderson combats a durable wrestler with relentless top control and the ability to finish fights by way of submission or ground-and-pound, but Guida is a wild sort that has posted up memorable wins only to get a bit crazy and cost himself the fight somehow.
Of course, Guida is still an exciting fighter, but if he has a chance to get Henderson down and control him, he will do so even if it means lulling crowds to sleep.
Henderson’s will to win comes in his ability to stay calm in tough situations and work past difficult scenarios in which his opponent seems to have control. It is due in part to his takedown defense and his ability to adapt to his opponent’s game plan in order to combat it.
Guida’s best chance might be to hope that he can wear out Henderson the way he was able to wear Pettis out, but even when it seems like a man is wearing Henderson out, it winds up being Henderson that wears his opponents out.
The key for Henderson is to keep his composure, create mistakes for Guida to make through his own striking, if possible, and get Guida to the ground, or wear him out enough to catch Guida in a submission and make him tap out.
It’s not going to be easy, but none of Henderson’s past outings were easy, and the last anyone checked, that was just the way Henderson liked it.
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