Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will Benson Henderson ever again fight for a UFC Championship?
Aug 26, 2014 - 2:10:25 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will Benson Henderson ever again fight for a UFC Championship?

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Do you think Benson Henderson will ever fight for the UFC title again? Why or why not?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

At lightweight? No. At welterweight in a couple years? Doubtful, but maybe. If he can pack on some upper body muscle and walk around at 185, then maybe he can move up. I doubt it happens, though. But he's got two losses to the current champ, and lost decisively to Rafael dos Anjos. And since dos Anjos is still a couple fights away from his own title shot due to the Melendez-Bellator-TUF-Pettis-Injury logjam at the top of the division, I can't imagine Henderson going on a win streak long enough in duration to let the contenders ahead of him get their shots. It's possible, but so is Megaball.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

There was talk of Benson Henderson moving up to welterweight a couple of years and now might be the time to actually do it. 170 lbs. is admittedly stacked with potential contenders, but it can't possibly be any worse for Henderson than it is at 155 lbs. He's the type of fighter who needs to put together a five or six fight win streak to get anywhere close to a title shot. He's also fought pretty much everyone relevant in the division, so moving up in weight has to be better for him than fighting someone like Bobby Green or Myles Jury next. If he stays at lightweight, it's going to take something extraordinary to get him a title shot within the next eighteen-months.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

It's certainly possible. There's a lot of guys in the division, though. I'm going to lean yes because Henderson has the talent to make it happen. He's going to have to improve his game, though, because they're not going to give him another title shot if he just keeps outpointing guys. It would take so many victories that way that he's bound to lose before he gets a title shot. If he wants a title shot anytime soon, he's going to have to get some impressive victories quickly. I don't think he does that, though, but if UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis loses the belt, he has a chance.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think he will. The guy has great heart, and is still one of, if not the most, well rounded fighters in the division. If he picks up another three wins or so, I could see him getting another crack.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Well that's a pointed question. Sure he can make it back into contention, as he is a fighter with elite skills, and could even drop a class if he really wanted to. But right now, a Lightweight Title shot is out of his reach. Bendo got dusted.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Since losing his lightweight belt to Anthony Pettis in August last year at UFC 164, Henderson seems to have lost that drive and ambition to be the best in the division. Ok, he defeated Josh Thomson, but that was another razor thin split decision win. Then he went onto defeat Rustam Khabilov and gain his first stoppage win in over four years, but in both victories I've felt something has been lacking from him.

There's no doubting Henderson's ability, we've seen many times before that he belongs amongst the best in the division. It'll be up to him whether or not he wants to get back to where he once was. Does he still have it in him to make the sacrifices you need to be champion, when he's been there and done it?

I'm really not sure he does...


CASH NORMAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

If Benson Henderson had won the fight against Rafael dos Anjos, I still don't think he would have fought for a UFC Title again. Especially if Anthony Pettis was still holding the title. Let's be honest, Pettis is a more marketable guy; he has been sidelined with an injury, but still has an opportunity to be featured on a Wheaties box. If you were the UFC and had two guys who are great athletes, but one can garner more mainstream attention, thus bringing new eyes to your organization, you'd be a fool not to throw your support behind him.

With that being said, I also think Henderson isn't head and shoulders above everyone else. He's been able to make improvements, or do enough to eek out victories without definitively showcasing why he's the better fighter. The UFC is so competitive he was bound to run into guys in Pettis and now dos Anjos who were going to force him to definitely beat them.

I think Anthony Pettis would have to lose the belt in order for him to get another shot. Henderson would most definitely have to go through a murderer's row of people to get back into contention. In addition, I think he would have to find a way to be more marketable.

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