The “Bendo” Sweepstakes and More UFC on FOX 5 Storylines
Holding UFC gold in the octagon’s most competitive division, Benson Henderson declared Saturday night at the Key Arena in Seattle, Wash. his intentions to stubbornly keep the 155-pound belt for himself.
The 29-year-old notched his second title defense with a unanimous decision versus 27-year-old challenger Nate Diaz. The Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt’s numerous strengths never appeared in the cage as Henderson kept him in the dark the entire contest. “Smooth” won three UFC title fights in 2012—the most active of any champion, positioning the Lab MMA representative for Fighter of the Year awards considering he went 75 championship minutes.
Preparation, namely his cardio and mental game, separates Henderson from the pack as he made the no. 2 fighter in the division look nostalgic for offense. The Glendale, Ariz.-based fighter is 11-1 under the Zuffa banner and 6-0 in the UFC. All octagon victories have come via decision, illustrating how Henderson’s abilities seem equipped for 10 round championship contests. He can tie the UFC’s divisional title defense record in his next outing and is now one closer to his dream of surpassing middleweight Anderson Silva’s all-time record at 10.
Get 10 title defenses in the most competitive division in the game? Henderson must be crazy, but it’s clear he’s the kind of crazy that knows how to win time in and time out.
After such an emphatic performance for Henderson, the simple “Who’s next?” question is fairly complicated.
There’s Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. A Diaz teammate awaiting his transfer into the UFC for his chance to claim 155-pound’s mantle, the 30-year-old is a prime fighter with years of octagon arrival speculation. He’s done everything possible outside the UFC to establish world-class credibility. A champion versus champion bout is the only thing left for the Scrap Pack leader at the moment.
The rub is the UFC is full of its own lightweight title hopefuls. Immediate title shots for debuting fighters in the octagon aren’t the norm. Melendez’s teammates Jake Shields and Nick Diaz had to win one fight before challenging for UFC gold. If Melendez’s stellar resume and draw potential—one of the key factors that could hold him behind other UFC veterans—isn’t compelling enough to fast track him against Henderson, the UFC has other options.
Anthony Pettis is the only fighter under the Zuffa banner with a win against Benson Henderson. The “Showtime” flying roundhouse kick off the cage at WEC 53 in December 2010 stole the WEC belt away from Henderson, guaranteeing the Duke Roufus-trained in-cage entertainer would fight for a UFC title. Best-laid plans go to waste though. Now Pettis has the opportunity to secure a title shot by beating former WEC lightweight contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC on FOX 6 in January. It’s a three-round contest in which Pettis must hand Cerrone his second loss in seven UFC outings and round out his own three-fight win streak to set up a rematch versus Henderson.
Like Melendez, Pettis faces a lot of “if” before he meets Henderson. Cerrone’s been impressive every time he steps into the UFC cage; however, two losses to Henderson in the WEC and his lone UFC defeat to Nate Diaz could interfere with title shot guarantees should he best Pettis.
Then there’s Gray Maynard. Injury stifled the end of Maynard’s year forcing him out of a UFC 155 bout with Joe Lauzon. His lone performance this year was a split versus Clay Guida in June. Despite coming up short in two title fights versus Frankie Edgar, “The Bully” is still a top lightweight and his heavy-handed boxer-wrestler style is one to watch versus an all-go fighter like Henderson.
These are all formidable challenges for Benson Henderson even if he does appear vastly ahead of the pack after Saturday night. The fact is Pettis-Cerrone isn’t the only bout already scheduled in 2013 with implications for Henderson.
Super Bowl weekend 145-pound champion Jose Aldo defends his belt versus former 155-pound titleholder Frankie Edgar. Edgar battled Henderson for 50-minutes in 2012, dropping two close decisions he surely would like an opportunity to reverse. The UFC featherweight title makes that possibility a reality sooner rather than later. Aldo, 26, is not a fan of the serious weight cut he undertakes to weigh-in to rule his weight class. He feels like he’s grown into a lightweight. Defeating Edgar gives him his best victory at 145-pounds and is the perfect segue to leave that belt behind—at least for one fight—to determine if he’s the best lightweight on the planet, too.
Lightweight is a shark tank division yet it’s still young. It’s only six years old in octagon its current state. Henderson’s championship qualities combined with the healthy contender pool he oversees in 2013 suggests there are defining tangles and rivalries ahead.
The End of Open-Weight (Thank You B.J. Penn)
Rory MacDonald, with his 10-year youth and 6.5-inch reach advantage against legend B.J. Penn, reduced the sure-fire UFC hall of famer to look like “Cabbage” Correira for 15-minutes—too tough and proud to fall under the immense pressure of high-level punishment. The size discrepancy was apparent: Penn should have learned at UFC 94 in January 2009 sizeable welterweights like champion Georges St-Pierre are too much for him, but he didn’t, so we all had to witness why Penn may have a hard time remembering anything if he continues to fight.
Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, one of two two-division titleholders in UFC history alongside Randy Couture, the king of “just scrap.” Penn’s legacy, which he openly contemplated was disappating prior to his one-sided loss to MacDonald, is solidified far beyond anything he had to prove as a Hawaiian kid from a well-to-do family. He’s one of the best fighters of his generation and arguably the best lightweight ever. That’s the problem though. Generations change. MacDonald showcased that.
Penn, 33, has nothing left to solidify even if he has more to give to MMA. After back-to-back beatings from Nick Diaz and MacDonald, it looks like he doesn’t. That’s fine. Everyone can accept that as long as Penn doesn’t remind us in the octagon.
“The Prodigy” is just that and sought out all the toughest challenges available regardless of weight and even reason. As long as warrior spirit is talked about in MMA, it’d be a crime to leave out Penn’s name.
Ask, You Shall Receive Rory MacDonald
Canadian Rory MacDonald is only 23-years-old but he’s a seven-year veteran in the fight game. “Ares” has made the most of his two-year run in the octagon, posting a 5-1 record punctuated by his drubbing of Penn. His lone loss versus came at UFC 115 in his home country just seven seconds shy of the final bell as Carlos Condit’s punched stole a technical knockout.
A match against “The Natural Born Killer” is important to MacDonald because he’s in no rush to fight teammate, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, and also understands avenging losses is a significant part of St-Pierre’s high-end appeal. MacDonald’s suit-and-tie detached demeanor was highlighted when he coldly called for a Condit sequel following the violence he practiced on Penn. It’s a key component of elevating a fighter’s status. Want something? Ask for it. This is a public forum so expressing the most private desires a prizefighter has about their career is one of the most thrilling components for fight fans aside from the actual punching in the face.
MacDonald chose “Ares” to get rid of an inaccurate “The Waterboy” nickname. After UFC on FOX 5, it seems a nickname has chosen him, “The Canadian Psycho.”
Game Recognize Game for Gustafsson
Let’s be real. Alexander Gustafsson being 25-years-old, 6-foot-5 and on a six-fight octagon win streak translates to clear no. 1 contender status for Jon Jones’ 205-pound belt. He possesses the youth and promotional likeability the UFC doesn’t see in 42-year-old legend Dan Henderson. “Bones” is currently saddled with a TV project and nothing bout against Chael Sonnen, so the Swede has to wait until after April to consider fighting for a belt. That’s perfectly fine if Sonnen has any business being in a UFC light heavyweight title fight (he doesn’t).
Adding the first champion to Gustafsson’s ledger in “Shogun” Rua was reminiscent of Jones dismissing the Brazilian legend for the belt at UFC 128 in March 2011. Gustaffson is a young, homegrown, physically impressive talent poised for championship competition. Jones got the finish versus Rua; Gustaffson didn’t–essentially the only difference in their rise.
Putting the Alliance MMA representative’s 7-1 UFC record opposite the youngest titleholder in UFC history is the kind of ideal win-win promoters couldn’t manufacture. Against Rua, “The Mauler” relayed he can eat a good punch and brought out new polished elements of his arsenal. He gets better every time like Jones. The rivalry potential is something fans shouldn’t have to wad through an endless amount of Sonnen sound bites to have. Everyone knows Gustafsson is the fight for Jones, including Jones, yet everyone, especially Sonnen, has to pretend for six months like it’s Sonnen.
