UFC
UFC Lightweight Title challenger Ben Henderson not interested in money or fame, just wants to be the best
Nov 22, 2011 - 10:00:07 PM UFC Lightweight Title challenger Ben Henderson not interested in money or fame, just wants to be the best

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson has been on a tear in 2011, erasing any negative stigmas from his time in the UFC's former sister organization - as well as his December loss to Anthony Pettis. Now, after three consecutive wins in the Octagon, he's got a shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship next February.

The wins over Mark Bocek, Jim MIller, and Clay Guida have brought Henderson a level of attention and fame he didn't receive in the WEC, but ultimately that's not a driving force for the 28-year-old.

"I'm not the biggest party goer. I don't want fame. I don't want money," Henderson said in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "I do want to be able to pay my bills, and leave a little bit of money for my kids. I want to provide for my mom, my brother, my family. I'm not about the fame. I'm not about the riches. I'm not about the girls. I'm not about the partying, drinking, none of that stuff."

"I just want to be the best fighter, period. I don't want magazine covers; I don't want none of that stuff. If it comes my way, I'll deal with it if I have to. I'll do these interviews. I'll do whatever it takes, but I just want to be known as the best fighter. That's what I want. That's what I'm working for.”

Henderson's not going to begrudge any of his other fellow fighters partaking in the excesses that can come with money and fame in the sport, but it's simply not what he's after, and his singular goal is to capture the UFC title and establish himself as the best lightweight fighter in the sport.

"A lot of these other fighters, they just want to walk around with sunglasses on at the nightclub, getting free bottles of whatever," he said. "'Oh I got this comped, I got this VIP, blah, blah, blah.' Cool dude, that's awesome, that's good for you. I don't want none of that. I just want to be the best fighter on the planet."

"I want to eat like a champion. I want to walk like a champion. I want to talk like a champion. I want to sleep like a champion. I want to freaking take a shower like a champion. Whatever it takes, I will sacrifice whatever it is to get that belt around my waist and keep it there for a long, long time.”

Penick's Analysis: Henderson's got a great attitude towards his spot in the sport, and if he keeps his focus on continuing his improvement and just winning fights, he may very well be the UFC Lightweight Champion come February 26. He's already gained the respect of fight fans everywhere this year with what he's done inside the Octagon, and he can continue to establish himself as one of the best fighters in the world if he can keep winning fights like he's been doing. It all comes down to February 26 in Japan for him now, and if this year has shown us anything, it's that Henderson will absolutely be prepared to give Frankie Edgar everything he's got come UFC 144.