Former UFC Champion Benson Henderson Announces Retirement

Benson Henderson has called it a career.

Former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson announced his retirement from Mixed Martial Arts following his loss against Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 292.

Benson Henderson Early Career

The 39-year-old bust onto the scene in WEC in 2009. At the age of 25, Henderson captured the WEC Lightweight Title following a unanimous decision victory over perennial UFC contender Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. Following the merger of WEC and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, ‘Smooth’ made his UFC debut in 2011 and didn’t waste anytime in making his presence known in the MMA leading organization. Henderson ran through Clay Guida and Frankie Edgar to become the undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion. Henderson would hold the UFC’s 155-pound belt until he was defeated by the same man who took his title in WEC in the form of Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis.

Benson Henderson Bellator MMA Run

Henderson would compile a 4-2 record in the UFC following his second loss to Pettis and would sign with Bellator MMA in early 2016. ‘Hendo’ would move up to welterweight upon his arrival in the Scott Coker-led promotion but would immediately drop to 1-3 in the promotion, including a debut loss for the 170-pound title against then-champion Andrey Koreshkov. Henderson would also come up short in his bid for 155-pound gold as he dropped to current UFC contender Michael Chandler. The Colorado-native would find a late career resurgence after rattling four consecutive victories, defeating the likes of Roger Huerta, Saad Awad, Adam Piccolotti, and Myles Jury. Unfortunately for Henderson, he’d run into another rough patch after losing the rematch to Michael Chandler. Following losses to Jason Jackson and Brent Primus, Henderson would win back-to-back bouts over Islam Mamedov and Peter Queally, which would earn himself one more crack at Bellator gold. However, as previously mentioned, Henderson would be submitted in the first round by undefeated Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov this past weekend at Bellator 292.

Watch Henderson make his retirement official following Bellator 292 below:

Fightful would like to wish Benson Henderson, his family, and his fans well wishes in his retirement.

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