Benson Henderson moving from UFC to Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA has just received a huge boost in talent, as Benson Henderson is making his move to the promotion. ESPN broke the news about Henderson’s signing. The former UFC Lightweight Champion is looking for new opportunities after going 22-5 in the UFC.

Henderson recently signed a multi-year deal with Bellator, cementing his stay for the long haul. He is looking for a different atmosphere with more competitors to welcome him, hence the move to the promotion that debuted in 2008. In a post by Henderson on his blog site, he stated:

“I’d like to officially announce my move over to Bellator MMA.
I’m beyond excited for this next phase of my career, it’s a big move, like any move when switching employers or jobs after having worked somewhere for such a long time.”

The 32-year old also praised UFC President Dana White for all that he has done for the new Bellator fighter. Leaving no bad blood on the table is smart for Henderson in the case that one day he comes back to the UFC.

It was announced via Bellator’s Twitter account that Henderson would receive an immediate title shot. It would be against Welterweight Champion Andrey Koreshkov in the main event of Bellator 153. The event will take place on April 22^nd at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

httpss://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/694602171313053696

Koreshkov is an 18-1 MMA fighter, with a Bellator record of 9-1. The 25-year old has not fought since he beat Douglas Lima to win the Welterweight Title on July 17, 2015. While he may be extremely fresh, Koreshkov will not have an easy challenge ahead of him. The same goes for Henderson.

The signing of Henderson is huge for Bellator. A recognizable and dominant fighter signing with the company can further prove they are a real threat to the UFC. Competition is key for any business to truly thrive. For all we know, more talent will arrive to the promotion as time goes on. It will be interesting to see Henderson move around weight classes, seeing if he can handle the different styles in each division.

Come April, we shall see if Koreshkov has any ring rust, and if Henderson steps up to the new atmosphere he is in. In the end, it could be a fight to remember.