Benson Henderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benson Henderson
Henderson in 2008
Born	(1983-11-16) November 16, 1983 (age 41) Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Nickname(s)	Smooth
Residence	Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Division	Lightweight (2006–2015, 2016–2023) Welterweight (2015–2016, 2020)
Reach	71 in (180 cm)
Stance	Southpaw
Fighting out of	Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
Team	The MMA Lab
Rank	Black belt in Taekwondo Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under John Crouch
Wrestling	NAIA Wrestling
Years active	2006–2023
Mixed martial arts record
Total	42
Wins	30
By knockout	5
By submission	9
By decision	16
Losses	12
By knockout	2
By submission	3
By decision	7
University	Dana College
Notable school(s)	Decatur High School
Medal record Representing  United States Men's Grappling World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship Bronze 2014 Long Beach 79.5 kg (Black) World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Bronze 2011 Long Beach 76 kg (Brown)

Benson Henderson (born November 16, 1983) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist (MMA). He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and WEC Lightweight Champion.

Known by his nickname "Smooth," Henderson is considered one of the best lightweight fighters in MMA history. He successfully defended his UFC title three times, which is one of the best records in the division's history.

Early Life and Training

Benson Henderson was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His mother is Korean and his father is African American. He grew up in Federal Way, Washington, with his older brother, Julius.

When Henderson was nine, his mother wanted him and his brother to learn about their Korean heritage. She signed them up for Tae Kwon Do, a traditional Korean martial art. Both brothers eventually earned black belts.

In high school, Henderson joined the wrestling team. He continued wrestling at Dana College in Nebraska, where he became an NAIA All-American twice. He graduated in 2006 with degrees in criminal justice and sociology.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Henderson started his professional MMA career in 2006. He quickly showed his skill, winning most of his early fights. His success led him to a major fighting organization called World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).

World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)

Henderson joined WEC in 2009 and made an immediate impact. He won his first two fights quickly, one by submission and the other by TKO (Technical Knockout).

Becoming a Champion

In October 2009, Henderson fought Donald Cerrone for the Interim WEC Lightweight Championship. The fight was very exciting, and Henderson won by a unanimous decision, meaning all judges scored him as the winner. The match was so good it was named "Fight of the Year" by many experts.

In January 2010, Henderson fought Jamie Varner to become the undisputed WEC Lightweight Champion. He won in the third round with a submission hold called a guillotine choke. He defended his title once against Donald Cerrone before losing it to Anthony Pettis in a close fight.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

In 2010, the WEC merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and all WEC fighters, including Henderson, moved to the UFC.

Henderson won his first three fights in the UFC. His victory over Clay Guida in 2011 earned him a chance to fight for the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Winning the UFC Title

On February 26, 2012, Henderson faced champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 144. After five tough rounds, Henderson won by unanimous decision to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion. He won a rematch against Edgar later that year by a split decision, where some judges scored for him and some for Edgar.

Henderson successfully defended his title three times. He defeated Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez, proving he was the best lightweight fighter in the world at the time.

Losing the Title

In August 2013, Henderson had a rematch with Anthony Pettis, the same fighter who took his WEC title. Pettis defeated Henderson again, this time by submission in the first round, and Henderson lost his UFC championship.

After losing the title, Henderson continued to compete in the UFC. He even moved up to the welterweight division for a few fights, showing his ability to compete against bigger opponents.

Bellator MMA

In 2016, Henderson signed with another major MMA organization, Bellator MMA. He fought for both the welterweight and lightweight titles in Bellator but was not able to win a championship.

He had many exciting fights in Bellator against top fighters like Michael Chandler and Patrício and Patricky Pitbull. He continued to be a main event fighter for many years.

In March 2023, Henderson fought Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator Lightweight Championship. After losing the fight, Henderson announced his retirement from professional MMA.

Other Fighting Ventures

Besides MMA, Henderson has also competed in other combat sports.

• Professional Grappling: He has participated in submission grappling events, which are like wrestling matches where the goal is to make your opponent "tap out" or give up.
• Professional Boxing: In 2024, he competed in a professional boxing tournament, winning his first match before losing in the final.

Personal Life

Henderson is a Christian and often talks about his faith. He is married to his wife, Maria, and they have four children. In 2013, he famously proposed to Maria in the middle of the Octagon after winning a fight at UFC on Fox 7.

Major Championships

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC Lightweight Championship (One time)
    • Three successful title defenses
  • Fight of the Night (Three times)
  • Performance of the Night (One time)

• World Extreme Cagefighting
  • WEC Lightweight Championship (One time)
    • One successful title defense
  • Interim WEC Lightweight Championship (One time)
  • Fight of the Night (Two times)
  • Submission of the Night (One time)

See also

In Spanish: Benson Henderson para niños

• List of male mixed martial artists