UFC
Benson Henderson targeting May return, still open to fight with UFC's #14 ranked lightweight Rustam Khabilov
Feb 27, 2014 - 9:50:06 AM Benson Henderson targeting May return, still open to fight with UFC's #14 ranked lightweight Rustam Khabilov

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

After a close and controversial fight with Josh Thomson in January, Benson Henderson is targeting a return to action in May, according to a report from Fox Sports 1's UFC Tonight program on Wednesday.

Per the report, Henderson is targeting the fight with Rustam Khabilov that has been discussed on Twitter, as Khabilov called him out. Despite initially mistaking him for Khabib Nurmagomedov, and despite the rankings disparity between the two, Henderson is very open to that matchup.

The former UFC Lightweight Champ has already defeated a number of names in the division, and many of the others are either currently booked or otherwise indisposed. If Khabilov is ready to go by May, it's clear Henderson's ready for that matchup.

Penick's Analysis: I think it's a sensible enough fight. It's a bit of a leap up in competition for Khabilov, but he's wanting to prove himself capable of competing at the top end of the division. And given he's far enough away from title contention that it doesn't kill a future challenger, the UFC is more likely to give him to Henderson. And if he were to pull off an upset? That catapults him right into the mix.

[Ben Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]