UFC
Benson Henderson on fighting with toothpick in his mouth again at UFC Fight Night 60: "I don't think it's against the rules"
Feb 16, 2015 - 9:45:55 PM Benson Henderson on fighting with toothpick in his mouth again at UFC Fight Night 60: "I don't think it's against the rules"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I don't think it's illegal. I don't think it's against the rules... It's as dangerous for me to have a toothpick in your mouth as it is to have a 200-pound man punch me in the face hard or try to kick me in the face. I'm more worried about that, to be honest... I don't have any superstitions," Henderson said. "I won world titles with a toothpick. I defended it without a toothpick. It all depends. Sometimes I do it, sometimes I don't. It's a bad habit. I know I shouldn't do it, but it's fine."

-Benson Henderson talks to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour about once again fighting with a toothpick in his mouth at UFC Fight Night 60.

Penick's Analysis: It's absolutely against the rules. It's a foreign object that could hurt him if it got jabbed wrong into his throat. It's the same concept that keeps fighters from wearing jewelry in the cage. On top of that, it's just flat out stupid. What he did in the fight itself on Saturday was extremely worthy of praise; this is just a completely idiotic habit he has to kick. It's also something commissions need to be keeping an eye on in each of his subsequent fights.

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