At UFC on Fox 10, at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, Benson Henderson will attempt to defeat a game opponent in Josh Thomson and solidify himself as the lightweight division’s No. 1 contender.
Thomson earned the right to face Hende…
At UFC on Fox 10, at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, Benson Henderson will attempt to defeat a game opponent in Josh Thomson and solidify himself as the lightweight division’s No. 1 contender.
Thomson earned the right to face Henderson after his crushing knockout defeat over Nick Diaz at UFC on Fox 7. The win was so impressive that it caught the eye of UFC president Dana White.
In fact, according to Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie, at a media event in Chicago, White confirmed that Thomson would be granted a title shot upon his win at UFC on Fox 10. The UFC president exclaimed, “Here’s the reality: If Thomson wins, he’s the next in line (for a title shot).”
However, despite his most recent loss and relinquishing of the lightweight belt, Henderson has plans to remain the No. 1 contender and ultimately defeat the champion who has bested him twice in their last two outings—Anthony Pettis. Henderson has made a career out of remaining elusive in the Octagon and has outworked many of his foes in the area of grappling.
The latter has led Henderson on a 7-1 run in his past eight fights and represents his keys to victory at UFC on Fox 10.
The Stand-Up: Elusiveness
Henderson is an intelligent fighter. He has sustained little damage throughout his career. The Washington native is able to dole out a barrage of blows to his opponents and swiftly retreat before being struck.
His footwork and speed are perplexing to many of his adversaries. In that, the former champion has never been knocked out and has only lost one bout by decision.
Grappling: Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Henderson is a former two-time NCIA All-American wrestler and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He has the ability to take down his opponents and submit them on the ground. In fact, according to UFC.com, Henderson boasts a 51 percent takedown rate and has submitted almost half of his foes en route to victory.
Although Henderson is able to grapple at the highest levels, he has, on occasion, carelessly left himself open to elementary submission attempts. The 30-year-old has fought out of many submission holds and has only lost twice in this fashion. At the same time, one of the bouts (UFC 164) in which Henderson lost via armbar cost him the UFC lightweight title.
However, the former champion remains undeterred in his resolve to face the champion for a third time. At a media event promoting UFC on Fox 10, according to the Associated Press (h/t Newsday), Henderson stated:
Every guy UFC would give a title shot to, send them my way. I’ll go down the entire list of the top 10. I will beat everybody. Let’s do that. When he (Pettis) is healthy, when he does come back then I’ll be waiting.
Overall, the former champion is well-rounded and experienced, and he sports a respectable record of 19-3. At UFC on Fox 10, Henderson will square off against the former Strikeforce lightweight champion in Thomson and attempt to defeat all comers thereafter to earn his way to a shot at Pettis and another world title.
All twenty-two fighters competing at tomorrow’s UFC on Fox 10: Here You Go, I Guess are set to hit the scales live from the Chicago Theater starting at 5 p.m. EST, so swing by CagePotato to check out the weigh-ins for a card that has been almost unanimously heralded by journalists like Chuck Mindenhall as “It is what it is.” Not since The Guilt Trip reviews have I seen such apathy, yet such disdain!
In the main event if the evening, Ben Henderson will fight for his right to party and not much else. Elsewhere, Gabriel Gonzaga will think he’s a better boxer than Stipe Miocic and break my heart again, not to mention my parlay, as a result. But it’s like my father said right before he was beaten to death by a bookie, “Go big or go-.” The bookie hit him with a crowbar before he could finish.
Live results for the UFC on FOX 10 weigh-ins are after the jump, and make sure to swing by CagePotato tomorrow starting at 8 p.m. to catch our liveblog of the event.
All twenty-two fighters competing at tomorrow’s UFC on Fox 10: Here You Go, I Guess are set to hit the scales live from the Chicago Theater starting at 5 p.m. EST, so swing by CagePotato to check out the weigh-ins for a card that has been almost unanimously heralded by journalists like Chuck Mindenhall as “It is what it is.” Not since The Guilt Trip reviews have I seen such apathy, yet such disdain!
In the main event if the evening, Ben Henderson will fight for his right to party and not much else. Elsewhere, Gabriel Gonzaga will think he’s a better boxer than Stipe Miocic and break my heart again, not to mention my parlay, as a result. But it’s like my father said right before he was beaten to death by a bookie, “Go big or go-.” The bookie hit him with a crowbar before he could finish.
Live results for the UFC on FOX 10 weigh-ins are after the jump, and make sure to swing by CagePotato tomorrow starting at 8 p.m. to catch our liveblog of the event.
UFC on Fox 10 Main Card (8 p.m. EST on Fox)
Benson Henderson (155) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
Stipe Miocic (245) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (258)
Donald Cerrone (155) vs. Adriano Martins (155)
Darren Elkins (145) vs. Jeremy Stephens (146)
UFC on Fox 10 Prelims (5 p.m EST on Fox Sports 1)
Alex Caceres (135) vs. Sergio Pettis (135)
Eddie Wineland (135) vs. Yves Jabouin (135)
Chico Camus (135) vs. Yaotzin Meza (135)
Junior Hernandez (136) vs. Hugo Viana (136)
Daron Cruickshank (155) vs. Mike Rio (155)
George Sullivan (170) vs. Mike Rhodes (171)
UFC on Fox 10 Online Prelims (4:30 p.m EST on UFC Fight Pass)
UFC on Fox 10 hits Chicago on Saturday, but first the fighters will step on the scale at the Chicago Theatre.
The main event of the card will be a lightweight showcase between former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson and former Strikeforce Ligh…
UFC on Fox 10 hits Chicago on Saturday, but first the fighters will step on the scale at the Chicago Theatre.
The main event of the card will be a lightweight showcase between former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson and former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson.
The co-main event will be a key heavyweight contest between Gabriel Gonzaga and Stipe Miocic.
For a long time, the UFC lightweight division was beyond reproach.
Just as light heavyweight was once regarded as the fight company’s glamour division, the 155-pound class was for years universally heralded as the Octagon’s most competitive…
For a long time, the UFC lightweight division was beyond reproach.
Just as light heavyweight was once regarded as the fight company’s glamour division, the 155-pound class was for years universally heralded as the Octagon’s most competitive. In a sport where chaos was often the default setting, lightweight was so dependably great for so long, perhaps its supremacy was something we all started to take for granted.
Note the past tense in that paragraph.
As Benson Henderson and Josh Thomson prepare to fight over fairly inexplicable stakes on Saturday night, the 155-pound division finds itself in a precarious position. Not to play Chicken Little here, but it’s starting to feel as though MMA’s best weight class just ain’t what it used to be.
The champion is injured, the erstwhile No. 1 contender is injured, and—depending on what happens between “Bendo” and “The Punk” at UFC on Fox 10—matchmakers could have a dilemma on their hands as they attempt to pave the way forward.
If you’re a fan of the lightweight division—or maybe if you just like your fighting to come equipped with coherent storylines—your best bet may be to root for Thomson this weekend.
Henderson is close to a 3-to-1 favorite, but a win by the former champion might do nothing but cast the weight class into even more prolonged stasis. He has already lost twice to champion Anthony Pettis, and after their lopsided UFC 164 bout, company president Dana White said Bendo is not likely to get a third chance.
Pettis said this week he’s targeting a July return (and that he’s picking Henderson over Thomson), but UFC-affiliated orthopedic surgeon Robert Klapper poured cold water on that notion during Wednesday’s episode of UFC Tonight.
“I would pray for him,” Klapper said. “Coming back in July? That’s really optimistic.”
Meanwhile, TJ Grant—the man with the best claim to top contender status—remains sidelined after suffering a concussion last summer. He has no timetable for a comeback, and at this point we’re all just hoping his medically mandated vacation isn’t permanent.
So, yeah, complete and utter gridlock.
If Henderson beats Thomson and Pettis recovers from his injury before doctors can clear Grant, maybe we should just start drawing names out of a hat.
Assuming Henderson holds serve, it’s possible the next title shot could default to Gilbert Melendez, who is officially ranked as the UFC’s No. 2 lightweight. But “El Nino” is just one fight removed from his own loss to Henderson (No. 1) nine months ago, and in a perfect world, he’d need at least one more victory over a ranked opponent to solidify his status.
To that end, a fight between Melendez and the fast-rising Khabib Nurmagomedov (No. 7) that was targeted for UFC 170 was recently scrapped for undisclosed reasons. Nate Diaz (No. 5) also reportedly refused the organization’s terms for a fight against Nurmagomedov, and the whole mess only added to the feeling that nobody at lightweight is going anywhere fast.
It’s frustrating. You’re not supposed to have these problems at this weight class.
But maybe after years of being the UFC’s most treacherous shark tank, the 155-pound class is just plain worn out. Perhaps its long tenure as the sport’s most notorious meat grinder has finally taken a toll.
Many of the division’s perennial stalwarts—Gray Maynard, Jim Miller, Melvin Guillard—have fallen off the pace of late.
Fan favorites Frankie Edgar and Clay Guida are now featherweights, as are lesser-known commodities like Dennis Siver, Jeremy Stephens, Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz.
We’re still waiting to see if former contenders such as Evan Dunham and Gleison Tibau can right the ship before it’s too late, and longtime title threats like Diaz and Donald Cerrone don’t have unlimited windows, either.
At the same time, the division’s young guns—far and away the best reason to hope for its quick return to prominence—still aren’t quite ready for prime time. Men like Nurmagomedov, Bobby Green, Edson Barboza, Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Johnson could all be stars by the end of 2014, but as of right now they all need to incubate a bit longer.
As lightweight has slumped, suddenly juicy plot twists at welterweight and middleweight have stolen some of its thunder. A vacant title and a wealth of contenders at 170 pounds will arguably make that division the UFC’s most interesting during this calendar year, and the swirling controversy around Vitor Belfort’s upcoming 185-pound title shot should garner a good deal of spotlight as well.
If lightweight wants to go on being the UFC’s most respected division—heck, if it just wants to keep up—it better find a way to break out of its current funk, and fast.
The injury bug loves the taste of UFC lightweights.
First, it took a bite out of T.J. Grant last August, waylaying him with a concussion prior to a scheduled title fight with Benson Henderson. In his stead, Anthony Pettis won the 155-pound championship…
The injury bug loves the taste of UFC lightweights.
First, it took a bite out of T.J. Grant last August, waylaying him with a concussion prior to a scheduled title fight with Benson Henderson. In his stead, Anthony Pettis won the 155-pound championship, only to suffer a knee injury before his first defense against Josh Thomson.
Both Grant and Pettis are still on the mend, and so it has fallen to this: Henderson and Thomson meet on Saturday at UFC on Fox 10 in what might as well be billed as a sort of bizarre last-man-standing match.
The stakes are uncertain, as Henderson just lost to Pettis at UFC 164 and Thomson’s claim to No. 1 contender status likely depends on the future health of Grant. Honestly, it might be enough if this bout can deliver a clear-cut winner who doesn’t need some sort of surgery and months of rehab.
Small victories.
In any case, there will be winners and losers. If you feel like you can’t wait until the weekend to find out the results, MMA lead writers Chad Dundas (that’s me) and Jonathan Snowden are here to give you Sunday’s headlines right now.
Read on, although know in advance that we can’t guarantee your health…
The UFC’s lightweight division has long been considered the most talent-rich weight class in all of mixed martial arts.
Simply put, there are no easy fights at 155 pounds. Everyone, from the lowest-ranked lightweight to the highest, is an absolu…
The UFC’s lightweight division has long been considered the most talent-rich weight class in all of mixed martial arts.
Simply put, there are no easy fights at 155 pounds. Everyone, from the lowest-ranked lightweight to the highest, is an absolute savage that can beat any man on any given night. Conversely, given how deep the talent pool is, it takes a special breed of fighter to rise up and reign over the division as champion.
Benson Henderson was well on his way to becoming the greatest lightweight champion of all time. Tied with B.J Penn for the most consecutive lightweight title defenses at three, Henderson was aiming for No. 4 when he stepped into the Octagon with Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Unfortunately for Henderson, it wasn’t his night. Pettis dethroned the MMA Lab product with a first-round submission victory and, once again, took a belt away from his nemesis.
He wants it back. Henderson wants the belt back badly and he’s determined to annihilate any foe placed in front of him to get there.
Henderson’s road back to the title begins this Saturday night against top contender Josh Thomson in the main event of UFC on FOX 10.
A former Strikeforce lightweight champion, Thomson is fresh off a thunderous knockout victory over Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 7 last April. “The Punk” is hell-bent and determined to add the UFC title on his mantle.
To help me analyze this fight card, I reached out to television personality and international fitness model, Roni Taylor-Parsons.
Taylor is the most-followed female Vegas personality and an absolute sports nut!
If you read my fantasy MMA Super Bowl card, I listed Taylor as my fictional backstage interviewer. You’re about to find out why.
Ciccarelli: We’ve got a fantastic lightweight fight, between No. 1 contender Josh Thomson and former champ Benson Henderson headlining UFC on FOX 10 this Saturday night. Originally, Thomson was supposed to challenge champion Anthony Pettis for the belt but once again injuries have thrown us a curveball. Do you think that, stylistically, Henderson is actually a tougher matchup for “The Punk?”
Taylor: I absolutely think Thomson is in for a rough ride on Saturday night. The Henderson that we saw lose the belt to Pettis will not be the same one that steps into the cage with Thomson this weekend. One thing we know about Ben is that he has a tenacious work ethic to grow and improve fight after fight.
The armbar submission loss to Pettis will only add fuel to the fire. It is no mystery that “Showtime” Pettis has incredible outside striking and a nasty ground game, but I think Henderson’s wrestling and overall athleticism will be the difference makers in this fight. Remember, Josh only averages a coin flip with his takedown defense and that is where I see Benson controlling the fight.
A few years ago, back when Henderson was the reigning WEC lightweight champion, Thomson wasn‘t impressed with him. In fact, the former Strikeforce champ was quoted as saying that “Henderson doesn‘t belong in the top 10.”
Henderson would eventually go on to prove him wrong and become UFC champion, but do you think that, mentally, Henderson is motivated to make Thomson eat his words all these years later?
I don’t know that Henderson will necessarily be looking to shove “The Punk”’s words back into his own mouth. Ben will be coming into this fight determined to get a shot at the title belt again right away. Henderson’s nickname “Smooth” can be best seen as he maintains a calm demeanor competing at the highest levels. I honestly don’t think Henderson will allow Josh to get under his skin enough to allow emotion to be a factor in this fight.
Thomson is hot right now. He’s coming off a win at UFC on FOX 7, where he became the first man to stop Nate Diaz with strikes. However, this will be Henderson’s first fight since dropping the strap to Pettis. Who do you think will have their hand raised in the end?
I’ll call out Thomson’s suspect wrestling defense as his main weakness. I truly think that is where Benson will take control and dominate in the ground and pound. Have you seen the legs on the former UFC champ? Watch for the power double followed by some brutal striking from the top. I’m calling it right now: Henderson wins by TKO in the second round.
Regardless of who wins, do you see either Thomson or Henderson being able to stop Pettis? Henderson already lost to him twice. The first fight was razor close but Pettis put a stamp on him in the rematch. Would a third fight really be all that different?
I have all the respect in the world for “Showtime” Pettis and I personally love his flashy kicks and confident demeanor. I do however think that three out of five times, Henderson wins that fight. Pettis got his two wins out of the way up front, and now it’s time for Benson to put a W on the board over the current champ.
Closing the distance to nullify the laser-guided kicks of Pettis was what Jeremy Stephens did when he gave Pettis a run for his money, split decision back in 2011. Strong wrestling used to close the distance, coupled with a little bit tighter ground game will be the keys to victory when “Smooth” gets his rematch later this year.
Who else do you think has the best chance of beating Pettis in the lightweight division right now?
Well, you’ve now heard me go on about how I think Benson takes the re-rematch, but let’s also not forget some of the other monsters at 155 lbs. Gilbert Melendez is only one or two good fights away from another title shot. He would pose a huge threat to Pettis due to his great wrestling, KO power and overall durability.
Or how about KhabibNurmagomedov? This undefeated sambo champion has been wrecking people in the UFC and right now nobody even wants to fight him! You know you’re a badass when Nate Diazdoesn’t want to tangle with you.
Maybe we will get to see the winner of a possible Melendez/Nurmagomedov matchup gunning for the title next and I honestly think they both would have a great shot at dethroning the king.
The rest of the main card rounds out pretty nicely. In the co-main event, we have a heavyweight battle between Gabriel Gonzaga and StipeMiocic. Who do you like in that one?
I think this will be Stipe’s toughest fight yet in the UFC and Gonzaga is not someone you want to take lightly. Just ask Mirko “Cro Cop.” Stipe has shown very good footwork and is surprisingly fast for a man weighing 240 lbs. If he can avoid the random high kick from Gonzaga and control position with his wrestling, I think Stipe can eek out another decision victory or maybe even pull off a ground-and-pound TKO late in the fight.
Which fight are you most looking forward to on this card, besides the main event?
I can’t wait to watch “Cowboy” Cerrone dismantle Adriano Martins with his superior Muay Thai. I think Cowboy is going to use his bullwhip leg kicks to pick apart Martins, long enough for Adriano to drop his hands leaving the opening for a spectacular high-kick finish.
I am also excited to watch the undercard matchup between Eddie Wineland and Yves Jabouin. These two guys are super exciting to watch and I’m looking forward to an explosive battle. I think Eddie has something to prove after his loss to RenanBarao and I don’t see this fight making it out of the first round.
For more of Roni Taylor’s MMA insight, follow her on Twitter @RoniTaylor
Mitch Ciccarelli is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and co-host of Alchemist Radio. He is also a United States Airman. Follow him on Twitter @MitchCiccarelli and follow @AlchemistRadio.
At UFC on Fox 10, at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, Benson Henderson will attempt to defeat a game opponent in Josh Thomson and solidify himself as the lightweight division’s No. 1 contender.