Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson announced Monday he has signed with rival promotion Bellator MMA.
“I’m beyond excited for this next phase of my career,” Henderson wrote on his official website. “It’s a big move, like any move when switching employers or jobs after having worked somewhere for such a long time. I have to thank the Big Man upstairs for putting some amazing people in my life, my wife (first and foremost) and a lot of truly smart and insightful people behind the scenes who helped make the connections and negotiated this deal to bring it to fruition.”
The 32-year-old debuted in the UFC in 2011 after a successful stint in the WEC where he also became champion. He reached the top of the UFC lightweight division in 2012 and defended his belt three times before losing to Anthony Pettis at UFC 164. After going 2-2 over his next four bouts he moved up to the welterweight division where he picked up victories over dangerous strikers Brandon Thatch and Jorge Masvidal. His victory over Masvidal was the final fight on his UFC contract and after brief negotiations with the UFC Henderson elected to sign a more lucrative deal with Bellator.
“I’m honestly happy for Benson. I’m not angry,” UFC president Dana White told MMAJunkie. “Who knows? This could be the last contract he ever signs. He got the right deal for him. He’s a great guy, and we wish him all the best.”
In Bellator, Henderson has many options in both the 155- and 170-pound divisions.
At welterweight, Andrey Koreshkov is the current champ but there’s also former champ Douglas Lima, unbeaten British star Michael Page plus UFC veterans Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley.
At lightweight, potential opponents for Henderson include fellow UFC alumni Josh Thomson and Melvin Guillard plus Bellator staples Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, Michael Chandler and current champion Will Brooks.
Prior to leaving the UFC, Henderson was the No. 15-ranked lightweight as well as the No. 13-ranked welterweight — the only fighter ranked in multiple divisions.
Henderson (23-5) holds notable wins over Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Donald Cerrone.
