A key to maintaining a successful career in mixed martial arts is to remain victorious. Benson Henderson is one fighter who has maintained a successful career, and while he currently holds a two-fight winning streak, a victory over Clay Guida coul…
A key to maintaining a successful career in mixed martial arts is to remain victorious.
Benson Henderson is one fighter who has maintained a successful career, and while he currently holds a two-fight winning streak, a victory over Clay Guida could lead him to a potential title shot.
However, Henderson is not thinking far into the future just yet. He is still aware of what is expected of him as he prepares to meet Guida and he hopes to walk away with a win this weekend.
“I think you almost have to look at every fight that way. Every fight you have, literally, and I can’t over stress enough how important it is just to win,” Henderson told MMAWeeklyRadio.
Henderson said the fact that there are title implications surrounding his upcoming bout add to the pressure of competing well and putting on a good performance, but the former WEC lightweight champion acknowledged that pressure is always on you to earn a victory in general.
“There’s a world of pressure to get that ‘W’ and that’s how I feel going into all my fights. No. 1 contender spot, or whatever, it doesn’t matter. That’s how I approach all my fights,” he said.
While he hopes to get the opportunity to compete for the UFC lightweight title, Henderson knows he isn’t the person to make that decision, but he is in charge of how he handles himself inside the Octagon.
And if Henderson is able to record another victory then he is confident he will earn the recognition from UFC management.
“I just take it one fight at a time, keep getting my hand raised,” Henderson said. “Eventually it will all work itself out.”
The fifth installment of the UFC divisional rankings finds itself rolling down to the lightweight division.
The lightweight division consists of 54 fighters and is one of the most competitive divisions in the UFC.
This division also hosts several …
The fifth installment of the UFC divisional rankings finds itself rolling down to the lightweight division.
The lightweight division consists of 54 fighters and is one of the most competitive divisions in the UFC.
This division also hosts several top contenders who have been sitting patiently through a draw and injuries for their opportunity to fight for the championship.
The same rules from my prior articles apply here. I hope you enjoy.
For rankings of the other divisions, click the corresponding links below.
UFC on FOX will showcase a lightweight bout between Benson Henderson and Clay Guida, which will likely determine the next challenger for UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Henderson and Guida have become two of the division’s top stars and im…
UFC on FOX will showcase a lightweight bout between Benson Henderson and Clay Guida, which will likely determine the next challenger for UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
Henderson and Guida have become two of the division’s top stars and implement similar strategies and styles when they are competing. Therefore, a bout between both of them seems inevitable.
While Guida has comfortably enjoyed a three-fight winning streak over some credible opponents, including Anthony Pettis and Takanori Gomi, he doesn’t boast the same credentials and skills as Henderson to be considered a legitimate threat to Edgar.
Henderson’s pace and style blend well together and it forces his opponents to be more persistent and aggressive in their attack than usual, something Edgar is not relatively known for. The champion is patient and utilizes quick footwork as he anticipates his opponent’s attack and counters with fast, technical combinations.
Henderson also implements fast movement and is constantly moving inside the pocket and around the Octagon, again, establishing a frenetic pace which his opponents aren’t accustomed to. Guida implements a similar approach but is fairly easier to hit and consumes a lot more damage, making him an easier target for Edgar to hit.
Also, Henderson is an effective grappler and he will not hesitate to impose his will or attempt a submission when the opportunity arises. Guida has improved his game dramatically since training with Greg Jackson, but he is not as polished in certain areas like Henderson.
Again, Henderson and Guida will certainly put on one of the most entertaining bouts of the year. They are two of the most accomplished and talented fighters to compete in the UFC today. They both present similar styles, and Guida is a well-rounded fighter, but Henderson displays more tools and a superior skill set that presents him as more of a threat to the champion than Guida.
There are times when you sit down and talk candidly with a fighter about some cool topics and you just aren’t quite on your game. Such was the case last week at the UFC 140 press conference when I was fortunate enough to sit down with UFC lightweight c…
There are times when you sit down and talk candidly with a fighter about some cool topics and you just aren’t quite on your game. Such was the case last week at the UFC 140 press conference when I was fortunate enough to sit down with UFC lightweight contender and Canadian Mark Bocek.
I asked if I could chat with him about a couple of topics and sat down beside him. I didn’t turn on my video recorder and we just chatted for five minutes. Well I ended up dropping the ball huge on that one because Bocek turned out to be cordial, intelligent, and extremely honest in his words on the questions I asked him.
It is widely known that Bocek teaches jiu-jitsu in Las Vegas to none other than UFC President Dana White and the Fertitta brothers aside from being a formidable fighter in the UFC as well.
He quite frankly turned out to be one of the most interesting guys I have talked to in the game so far, though I have only talked to a few.
Here are some highlights of our conversation
DW: “Can I talk to you a minute about a few things Mark?”
MB: “Sure have a seat.”
DW: “I wanted to ask you first about your opponent at UFC 140 Nik Lentz. Are you OK with that matchup, I mean coming off of Benson at 129, i would expect a bigger guy?”
MB: “Well, people don’t know Nik maybe but he is a tough tough guy. He’s got over 20 wins and he’s undefeated in the UFC. Plus, coming off a loss, it’s not like you can really demand anybody.”
I then switched the topic to that loss to Ben Henderson at UFC 129.
DW: “Were you happy with your performance at 129?”
Bocek looked me dead in the eye and shook his head from side to side.
MB: “I mean, he pushed a pace and not taking anything away he beat me, and he beat Miller whom I have also fought so, he’s a tough guy.”
Then came the zinger…
MB: “Let’s just say that’s what happens when you maybe take a fight lightly…” he looked at my surprise and smirked
DW: “Oh really? well, he beat you in that fight but he didn’t really you know, hurt you.”
MB: “Well, I don’t want to take anything away from him. These guys coming in from other organizations, they are proving they are legit. They are tough but…”
You can tell that Bocek would love another shot at Henderson or a Pettis, or any other top lightweight if he can get past Lentz in December.
I then turned the subject to a dream fight for me and a subject I have been harping on for a while now.
I want to see a fight for the UFC Canadian Lightweight Championship of the world between Bocek and Sam Stout. Many have told me that Mark’s jiu-jitsu and size would be too much for Sam to handle, but I beg to differ. I’m not saying who would win but surely the fight would be a close one in my eyes.
DW: “Is that a fight you would be interested in? I’ve asked Sam Stout about it and he says if the UFC would be interested it would be kinda cool but…?”
MB: “Well, it’s an interesting question for sure, I really stopped fighting in the regional shows up here very early for that reason, you know, the titles don’t mean much. My fourth fight was in the UFC.”
DW: “I agree some local named title is irrelevant but at the level that you and Sam are at, you guys are right up there, surely it could be a UFC Canadian title or something like that.?”
Bocek smirked but disagreed.
MB: “I just can’t see it happening, I mean they just did it with two Brazilian guys I guess but there was no Brazilian official title on the line or anything like that.”
Even if there wasn’t I would love to see that fight done in Canada. Sam Stout and Mark Bocek have both been in the UFC and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Canada for a long time now. This Canadian fight fan wants a score settled.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.
Frankie Edgar is the current UFC lightweight champion, and is coming off a great win over rival Gray Maynard. He has jettisoned himself into the pound-for-pound rankings and now has successfully defended (including the retained draw) his title three ti…
Frankie Edgar is the current UFC lightweight champion, and is coming off a great win over rival Gray Maynard. He has jettisoned himself into the pound-for-pound rankings and now has successfully defended (including the retained draw) his title three times.
But now that he is still the champion, where does his career path lie?
This list is the top five guys for Frankie Edgar to face in the coming future. Most of the people mentioned have fights by the end of the year, and will help thin out who is worthy of the title shot, but for now, the 155 division is stacked. Now that Melvin Guillard is temporarily out the picture, here are the five that are waiting their turn.
Two of the best young fighters in their respective divisions have decided to stick around with the UFC for a while longer.According to MMAWeekly, Carlos Condit and Ben Henderson have both signed contract extensions through their management company, Fir…
Two of the best young fighters in their respective divisions have decided to stick around with the UFC for a while longer.
According to MMAWeekly, Carlos Condit and Ben Henderson have both signed contract extensions through their management company, First Round Management.
Condit and Henderson’s manager, Malki Kawa, said:
“These fight contract extensions show the MMA world that the UFC values Ben Henderson and Carlos Condit as two of its top, young stars… Both are only 27 years old and have proven that they are contenders for titles in their weight divisions and also have strong fan bases. Fans will now be able to see them continue to grow in the Octagon.”
Condit and Henderson were each very pleased with their new contracts.
Condit was most recently seen defeating Dong Hyun Kim via first-round KO at UFC 132, and he is currently preparing for a UFC 137 showdown with B.J. Penn.
“I am honored to receive an extension before my next fight, as it shows the level of confidence the UFC has in me. I can’t wait to show the fans how much my training for this next fight has paid off,” Condit said.
Henderson doesn’t currently have a fight scheduled, but in his last fight, he upset the consensus No. 3 lightweight in the UFC, Jim Miller.
“I am excited that I will have the opportunity to continue to compete in the UFC, and I want to thank the UFC for believing in me and my abilities,” Henderson said.
It will be good for the UFC, and for fans, to have these two under contract so that we can continue to see them mature as fighters.
For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.
A key to maintaining a successful career in mixed martial arts is to remain victorious.