Benson Henderson Is Moving To Bellator And Loosening UFC’s Monopoly On MMA

Bellator wasted no time beginning their promotion for their most recent talent acquisition, as the company announced on Tuesday their plans for former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson’s debut fight.

According to Henderson himself, the fact that Bellator allows their fighters to seek their own sponsors was a big factor in his decision to sign – seemingly a slap in the face for the UFC’s apparel deal with Reebok which prevents their fighters from doing so and has seen many on the roster suffer a significant loss in their earnings potential. His victory over Masvidal was the final fight on his UFC contract. Henderson also revealed that UFC was third in line behind the offers of Bellator and Singapore’s ONE Championship.

“Coming over from the UFC with what I’ve accomplished, yes, we knew we would have a title shot in whichever weight class we decided”, Henderson told ESPN. This could be the last contract he ever signs.

At welterweight, Andrey Koreshkov is the current champ but there’s also former champ Douglas Lima, unbeaten British star Michael Page plus UFC veterans Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley.

Benson’s getting right down to business.. You guys and girls are the ones who make that show great and allow us fighters to do what it is we love!!!

Henderson will no doubt bring star power to whichever division he competes in and I wouldn’t be surprised if he fought for a title within a year of stepping into the Bellator cage – or the promotion might just give it to him off the bat.

Henderson went 2-2 over his next four fights before moving up to welterweight in 2015 for the final two fights of his UFC stint.

Henderson has made three lightweight title defences against Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez.