Benson Henderson: I’d love to fight GSP for the Welterweight title

ByMike Drahota

 

UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson has made an incredible name for himself since coming over to the UFC. Undefeated since losing the WEC Lightweight title to Anthony Pettis in that promotion’s final fight, Henderson appears focused and ready to take on all comers. Set to face off with Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez this April, Henderson spoke up to “UFC Tonight” last night with some very different plans:
“I see all this talk about super fights and other fighters getting to dictate what weight classes they want to move up and down to in order to get title shots. I’m the UFC‘s Lightweight champion and I feel I should be allowed to make such statements myself.
“I want to fight in the biggest fights and against the best fighters. Georges St. Pierre is one of the greatest fighters in our sport’s history. Of course I’d love to fight him, and I think the fans would want to see that fight too. It would be an honor to go up against such a great competitor, especially with a title on the line.”
While talk of weight class switching has become all the rage as of late, specifically when discussing Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis and Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones, UFC President Dana White was none too keen on the idea of a Henderson vs. GSP superfight. His reply was quick and to the point:
“That’s not going to happen. He won just that title not too long ago. There are plenty of guys in the 155 division to defend that title against, and a possible fight with Aldo if he moves up to 155… I don’t blame Ben Henderson for wanting to go to 170; that’s the big money fight.”
White may have a point here, as Aldo has defended his belt more times dating back to the WEC days. Still, Ben Henderson is obviously a huge and powerful 155 lb. Fighter who could easily be at Welterweight. He’s also notoriously tough to take down, but Frankie Edgar did seem to solve that problem when they fought.
Superfights are on the horizon for the UFC, and they definitely get the fans talking in anticipation. Would Henderson vs. GSP at 170 be a great match, or just another win for the longtime champion from French Canada?

UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson has made an incredible name for himself since coming over to the UFC. Undefeated since losing the WEC Lightweight title to Anthony Pettis in that promotion’s final fight, Henderson appears focused and ready to take on all comers. Set to face off with Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez this April, Henderson spoke up to “UFC Tonight” last night with some very different plans:

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“I see all this talk about super fights and other fighters getting to dictate what weight classes they want to move up and down to in order to get title shots. I’m the UFC‘s Lightweight champion and I feel I should be allowed to make such statements myself.”

“I want to fight in the biggest fights and against the best fighters. Georges St. Pierre is one of the greatest fighters in our sport’s history. Of course I’d love to fight him, and I think the fans would want to see that fight too. It would be an honor to go up against such a great competitor, especially with a title on the line.”

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While talk of weight class switching has become all the rage as of late, specifically when discussing Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis and Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones, UFC President Dana White was none too keen on the idea of a Henderson vs. GSP superfight. His reply was quick and to the point:

“That’s not going to happen. He won just that title not too long ago. There are plenty of guys in the 155 division to defend that title against, and a possible fight with Aldo if he moves up to 155… I don’t blame Ben Henderson for wanting to go to 170; that’s the big money fight.”

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White may have a point here, as Aldo has defended his belt more times dating back to the WEC days. Still, Ben Henderson is obviously a huge and powerful 155 lb. Fighter who could easily be at Welterweight. He’s also notoriously tough to take down, but Frankie Edgar did seem to solve that problem when they fought.

Superfights are on the horizon for the UFC, and they definitely get the fans talking in anticipation. Would Henderson vs. GSP at 170 be a great match, or just another win for the longtime champion from French Canada?

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