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UFC 150 Medical Suspensions: Benson Henderson Suspended Indefinitely

UFC 150 took place on Saturday, August 11 from the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. In the evening’s main event, Benson Henderson retained his UFC lightweight crown, defeating former champion Frankie Edgar via split decision. The result of that fight …

The result of that fight continues to be debated among MMA fans and pundits, as many had the fight scored in favor of the former champion. While the debates give fans something to discuss until the next fight card, they really have no bearing; the decision of the judges stands and Henderson remains the champ, case closed.

Henderson’s next opponent has already been named and a date set for that fight, as USA Today broke the news that Henderson would meet Nate Diaz on December 8 when the UFC presents their fifth installment of UFC on FOX.

It’s doubtful that the Henderson versus Diaz fight is in any jeopardy, but it should be noted that Henderson was one of eight fighters handed a suspension following UFC 150 and the only fighter that was suspended indefinitely.

Full list of UFC 150 Medical Suspensions per Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Affairs Office of Boxing:

Benson Henderson: Must be cleared by a physician.

Melvin Guillard: Suspended for 60 days.

Buddy Roberts: Suspended for 30 days.

Justin Lawrence: Suspended for 60 days, and must be cleared by a physician.

Jared Hamman: Suspended for 60 days.

Ken Stone: Suspended for 30 days.

Dustin Pague: Suspended for 45 days.

Eiji Mitsuoka: Suspended for 45 days.

UFC President Dana White opened the post-fight press conference by revealing that the fight card drew a crowd of 15,008 and brought in a gate of $650,000.

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Frankie Edgar Could Be the Greatest Fighter of All Time with a Drop in Weight

Should Frankie Edgar drop down a weight class?We hear this question after every one of Edgar’s fights, whether he wins or—as is the case after UFC 150 last weekend—loses.The arguments for the drop are always the same: Edgar is one of …

Should Frankie Edgar drop down a weight class?

We hear this question after every one of Edgar’s fights, whether he wins or—as is the case after UFC 150 last weekend—loses.

The arguments for the drop are always the same: Edgar is one of the few UFC fighters who does not cut weight and thus is always at a size disadvantage against opponents who regularly cut 20 lbs or more to make the 155-pound limit. Given his success despite that size disparity, imagine what Edgar could do against someone his own size, or even—and this is crazy—has a size advantage.

But after Edgar’s boxing coach, Mark Henry, told the SiriusXM Fight Club radio show (via MMAFighting.com) that he would like to see Edgar drop two weight classes to bantamweight, I realized that no single person has given the most compelling reason for Edgar to make the reduction they are calling for.

Frankie Edgar has an opportunity to claim a position as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC.

Only two fighters—Hall of Famer Randy Couture and future Hall of Famer BJ Penn—have ever held UFC titles in two separate weight classes. Both masqueraded in divisions they probably didn’t and don’t belong in: Couture was fighting heavyweights with 40-plus pounds on him, and Penn is a soft, pudgy welterweight whose natural abilities have allowed him to survive there.

Edgar has already earned the title in his “unnatural” weight class, and could now surpass both of these legends by doing something that they—or anyone else for that matter—have never done.

Consider the current state of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. Neither is exactly deep or brimming with big-name challengers for their champions. Should Edgar drop to either, he would be, at most, one fight away from a title shot. He has the speed, wrestling ability and cardio to outwork and grind down Jose Aldo Jr, and he’s one of the only fighters in the UFC who can match Dominick Cruz’s footwork.

So assume Edgar drops to featherweight, wins the belt and defends it, then drops to bantamweight and claims that title by 2014 as well. In a period of four years, Edgar could would have won and defended a title in three weight classes. That may happen in boxing, but in MMA it is unprecedented.

It’s time Edgar makes the cut and sets his sights on new horizons, but not because he couldn’t hang with the big boys. Edgar has an opportunity to make history, to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. Those opportunities do not come very often, and when they do, they need to be seized.

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UFC 150: Frankie Edgar Doesn’t Deserve Another Lightweight Title Shot

After his second heartbreaking loss in as many fights against Benson Henderson, former champion Frankie Edgar walked out of UFC 150 without his lightweight title and with no hopes of getting another title shot anytime soon.How the mighty have fallen. E…

How the mighty have fallen.

Edgar’s time as champion in UFC is over unless he can climb the ladder again and claw his way back into a spot to earn another opportunity to snag the gold. The problem is that he doesn’t deserve another shot.

Dana White and the UFC are in a tough spot because Edgar is 30 years old and the lightweight division is stacked. If the UFC keeps handing Edgar title opportunities it will hold back stars like Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz, who deserve the title shot, before Frankie gets another chance.

After yet another loss, Edgar told the Washington Post that he thought he won but realizes his time of fighting for titles is done until he earns his way back to the top:

I felt I improved from last time, and I think I did enough to win…A lot of people told me they thought I’d won, but it doesn’t matter. The judges didn’t. The decision is not going to change, and it is what it is…I’m moving on…Dana’s not going to give me another title shot, I know that much.

Despite having an almost two-year reign over the lightweight division, his recent string of defeats highlights what happens in the MMA world—no fighter can defeat father time and they have to move on eventually.

In the UFC, you have to earn your shot at the title and Edgar has proven that now isn’t his time.

While experts believe Edgar will start the arduous climb through the ranks of the lightweight division, the star would be better-off dropping 10 pounds and fighting at featherweight.

After dominating for so long at one weight, the change could be the kick in the pants that brings the fire back to Edgar’s eyes.

Add in the possibility of winning a title in two divisions, and the transition could seal Edgar’s fate as one of the best fighters of all time.

After fighting for his lightweight title and falling at the hands of Henderson, Edgar will have to go to the back of the title-contention line in any weight class he tries. He doesn’t deserve another title shot until he fights his way into one.

At this point, why not try to achieve greatness in a lighter weight class?

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s UFC page or listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

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Benson Henderson vs. Nate Diaz: Can Nate Diaz Submit Benson Henderson?

Benson “Smooth” Henderson secured his first title defence by besting Frankie Edgar in an extremely competitive five-round fight. During the fight, Benson Henderson briefly showed off his trademark submission defence. He easily avoided Edgar’s attempt t…

Benson “Smooth” Henderson secured his first title defence by besting Frankie Edgar in an extremely competitive five-round fight.

During the fight, Benson Henderson briefly showed off his trademark submission defence. He easily avoided Edgar’s attempt to choke him out after dazing him in the second round.

Henderson is able to stay very calm in the midst of submission-related danger. Anyone who saw Henderson’s fights with Jim Miller or Mark Bocek knows that Henderson has no problems pounding away at his opponents from positions that would make most fighters desperately scramble for survival or tap.

His technique and flexibility have afforded him the ability to neutralize submission fighters in this way. No matter how deep a submission seems to be, he ultimately finds his way out, and his opponents are always the ones who end up more damaged.

But if he continues his carefree ways and lets Nate Diaz secure a tight submission lock, he’s going to find himself tapping or going out.

The champion has undoubtedly bested many very capable grapplers in the UFC and WEC but none with submission skills of Nate Diaz.

Nate Diaz has cleaner technique than Henderson’s previous opponents. While it’s true that Diaz has had trouble dealing with wrestling-heavy grapplers in the past, his Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills are stronger now. Good enough to scare off fighters like Donald Cerrone and to submit fighters like Jim Miller.

It doesn’t matter that Henderson has practically mocked the submission abilities of Miller, Bocek, Guida and Cerrone, who collectively have 47 submission wins out of 80 total career wins

What matters is that Nate Diaz will force Benson Henderson to tap if Henderson doesn’t respect his skills.

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UFC 150 Results: Frankie Edgar’s Time to Drop Weight Classes Is Now

When Frankie Edgar lost to Benson Henderson at UFC 150 in his attempt to regain his lightweight championship, it marked the beginning of the end for Edgar at that weight class. While there is no denying just how dominant Edgar was during his almost two…

When Frankie Edgar lost to Benson Henderson at UFC 150 in his attempt to regain his lightweight championship, it marked the beginning of the end for Edgar at that weight class.

While there is no denying just how dominant Edgar was during his almost two-year reign atop the division, this second loss in a row to Henderson will relegate him to the back of the championship line.

Edgar told the Washington Post after UFC 150 about how he feels about the loss and what the future doesn’t hold:

I felt I improved from last time, and I think I did enough to win…A lot of people told me they thought I’d won, but it doesn’t matter. The judges didn’t. The decision is not going to change, and it is what it is…I’m moving on…Dana’s not going to give me another title shot, I know that much.

With the truth about starting from the bottom of the barrel again fresh on Edgar’s mind, why not try something new?

As many experts have said before, Edgar has always been a bit small for the 155-lbs division, but made up for it with his strength and speed. As we saw when faced with a fighter just as gifted in Henderson, the sheer height advantage spelled trouble throughout their feud.

If Edgar were to lean out just a bit, he could easily make it down to the featherweight division (145 lbs) and dominate at a higher level. With a star like Jose Aldo ruling the roost, the path to the top wouldn’t be easy, though.

Bleacher Report MMA lead writer Jonathan Snowden talks about how a lower weight class might actually be where he should’ve been the whole time:

It’s hard to call Frankie a loser after that fight, especially since I thought he won the bout. But the universe is sending him a clear message.”You are barely 155 pounds soaking wet Frankie,” the universe is whispering. “Why are you fighting these behemoths?”

Edgar will hate this suggestion, but he’s consistently undersized at lightweight. It’s time to drop down and give 145 pounds a try. His time as lightweight champion, it seems, is officially over.

No one doubts how much talent Edgar has and how much he still has left in the tank, but he is 30 years old and time isn’t on his side. If he can drop weight classes and dominate for another few years, it will go a long way in securing his legacy.

Fans already love Edgar because of his immense skill set, but leaving the lightweight division now before he becomes a gatekeeper only to arise like a phoenix in the featherweight division would be another amazing chapter in an already impressive career.

Edgar isn’t leaving MMA anytime soon, but his decision on which belt to chase now will be the biggest decision of his UFC career.

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s UFC page or listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

Follow @Donald_Wood

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UFC 150 Results: There Is No Reason for Frankie Edgar to Drop to Featherweight

Frankie Edgar has been called the best lightweight in the world as well as the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA. That’s quite an achievement for a man who’s only managed two title defences and has now lost two fights back-to-back. He has rece…

He has received such plaudits mainly because, at 5’6”, he is one of the smallest lightweights around but has risen to the top of the division despite his size.

In doing so, he has demonstrated the skills and heart of a true champion, but after his defeat to Benson Henderson in their rematch at UFC 150, calls for him to leave the division are now being heard once again.

It is something UFC president Dana White has suggested many times, believing that the New Jersey native would be a much better prospect challenging Jose Aldo at featherweight. And it’s something Edgar himself says he is contemplating.

That much is understandable. He would have a much easier time fighting opponents his own size. However, considering what he has achieved at lightweight, there is no reason why he should make that move.

He is still one of the top-five heavyweights out there, and considering how deep that division is in the UFC, that’s a remarkable achievement.

Both of his losses to Benson Henderson were controversial decisions—with many believing, particularly in their last encounter, that Edgar was the better fighter.

With such an impressive showing against the lightweight champion, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t belong in that division.

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