Benson Henderson
Bio/Career
Benson Henderson is a champion mixed martial artist who was lightweight champion in both the WEC and UFC organizations. He is currently fighting for the Bellator MMA organization. He holds a litany of notably victories over the likes of Frankie Edgar, Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. He is also a well-respected family man with strong moral beliefs.
Benson Henderson was born in Colorado. As a young man, his mother encouraged both Benson and his older brother to get involved in Tae Kwon Do. Being of Korean descent, she insisted that Benson experience the traditional martial art of her country and at the age of 9, Benson Henderson's martial arts life began. He and his brother would both go on to achieve the rank of black belt in Tae Kwon Do the martial art known best for its devasting and powerful kicks.
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Once in high school, Benson Henderson became involved with the high school wrestling team. He would later wrestle at Dana College in Nebraska while earning a degree in both criminal justice and sociology. While on the wrestling team at Dana College, he would twice be named a NAIA All American.
Growing up, Benson Henderson was known to be deeply religious and to avoid the normal pitfalls of growing up, such as alcohol and drug usage. Benson Henderson has said in many interviews that he's never drank, smoked or utilized any narcotic in his entire life.
Benson Henderson's pro-MMA career would begin in November of 2006. He would start his career winning 7 of his first 8 fights before he found himself debuting for the World Extreme Cagefighting organization.
Benson Henderson made his WEC debut in January of 2009 at WEC 38 against Anthony Njokuani. Benson Henderson would defeat Njokuani via devastating guillotine choke in round two of this debut.
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Benson Henderson would go on to face Shane Roller a few months later in April. Henderson would defeat Shane Roller via TKO in the first round of this 2nd fight in the WEC.
Because of an injury, to then WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner, Benson was afforded the opportunity to face Donald Cerrone for the Interim WEC Lightweight belt. This fight would take place in the Fall of 2009 at WEC 43. The fight would become an instant classic, going the distance with Benson Henderson winning a unanimous decision. Benson Henderson and Donald Cerrone would each win an additional $20,000 for winning fight of the night honors. This fight would also go on to be chosen as the 2009 Fight of the Year in MMA by Sherdog.
Benson Henderson would face Jamie Varner in January of 2019 at WEC 46 in a bout that would unify the WEC Lightweight Championship. Benson would be victorious in this bout, winning via standing guillotine choke in the 3rd round.
Four months later at WEC 48, Benson Henderson would defend his lightweight title against Donald Cerrone. Benson Henderson would again utilize his guillotine choke to defeat Donald Cerrone in the first round.
In December of 2010, the title would ultimately change hands during a bout with Anthony Pettis where Benson Henderson would lose a unanimous decision. This fight would win Fight of the NIght honors.
In the Fall of 2019, World Extreme Cagefighting was purchased by the UFC moving all fighters from the WEC into the UFC organization. Benson Henderson would make his debut against Mark Bocek in April of 2011 at UFC 129. He would defeat Mark Bocek via unanimous decision.
In his next two UFC bouts, Benson Henderson would face warriors in Jim Miller and Clay Guida. Against Jim Miller he would utilize brutal ground and pound along with slick submission escapes to win a unanimous decision that would end Miller's 7 fight win streak. With a Fight of the Night winning victory against Clay Guida, Benson Henderson would solidify himself as the number one contender for the UFC's lightweight strap.
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At UFC 144, against Frankie Edgar, Benson would again be a part of a fight that earned Fight of the Night honors and be victorious via unanimous decision to become the new lightweight champion in the UFC.
Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson would rematch in August at UFC 150 in a very close fight that would see Benson Henderson successfully defend his title via split decision victory.
Benson Henderson would go on to defend his title against the likes of Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez who had been the final Strikeforce Champion before the UFC successfully purchased the organization. Upon defeating Melendez, Benson Henderson had tied BJ Penn for the most successful lightweight title defenses.
For his next title defense, Benson Henderson was expected to fight TJ Grant at UFC 164. Grant was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury, which allowed Anthony Pettis to step in to replace the injured Grant. Pettis would defeat Benson via armbar in the first round.
Benson Henderson's next fight would be against Josh Thompson at UFC on Fox 10 in January of 2014. In a closely scored match, Henderson's ability to outstrike Thompson was the deciding factor in the split decision.
Henderson would defeat Rustam Khabilov via rear-naked choke in the fourth round, earning a Performance of the Night bonus.
At UFC Fight Night 49, Benson Henderson would meet Rafael Dos Anjos who would be victorious in the fight due to KO in the first round. In his next fight against Eddie Alvarez, controversy would abound when Alvarez would not be able to fight due to injury and Donald Cerrone would step in and win a controversial decision. Many experts had the fight scored in favor of Henderson.
Benson Henderson would go on to make a weight change to welterweight and be victorious against Brandon Thatch at UFC Fight Night 60. In the fight, both participants would earn Fight of the Night honors. He would next fight and defeat Jorge Masvidal via decision at UFC Fight Night 79.
In February of 2016, Benson Henderson made the transition from UFC to the Bellator MMA organization. He would go on to face Andrey Koreshkov in April at Bellator 153 for the welterweight championship. Henderson lost the fight by unanimous decision.
In his second fight for the Bellator MMA promotion, Benson Henderson would move back to lightweight to face Patricio Freire at Bellator 160. The fight would end prematurely when Freire would stop due to injury. It would be determined that he broke his shin attempting to block a kick from Benson Henderson.
Next Benson Henderson would meet Michael Chandler for the Bellator Lightweight Championship. Chandler would win a back and forth split decision against Benson Henderson.
In his next bout, Benson would meet the older brother of Patricio Freire in Patricky Freire. Freire would win by split decision. Benson Henderson would rebound in a match with veteran Roger Huerta, defeating him by submission. In his next two fights Benson Henderson would defeat Saad Awad and Miles Jury.
Benson Henderson Techniques
Very few MMA athletes have been as successful as Benson Henderson as a multiple time world champion in two premiere MMA organizations, not to mention the list of athletes that he holds victories over is a virtual who's who of MMA.
He has brought the knowledge earned over 36 hard fought MMA fights to Dynamic Striking with Power Kicking and Working the Cage and Walls and this same knowledge is now available for you.
Pad Work Jab Counter Straight Two from Power Kicking
Elbow from Clinch from Power Kicking
Body Lock Squeeze from Working the Cage
Double Leg Positioning from Working the Cage
Benson Henderson Products
POWER KICKING
In the first release from Benson Henderson, you will get all of his POWER KICKING secrets. Footwork and technique details are all spelled out to help you add power to your own kicks. Benson Henderson also details all of his favorite set ups using other strikes to make for more effective and powerful kicking. Get your copy here or at the Buy Now link below!
WORKING THE CAGE AND WALLS IN MMA
In his next series, all of the tips and tricks to effectively controlling the opponent using the cage and walls as weapons will be shared with you from Benson Henderson's storied career. Get your copy of Working the Cage and Walls in MMA here or at the Buy Now Link below.
