Fightin' Words
A mixed martial arts blog about UFC, Strikeforce and other MMA promotions and fighters
Performance vs. perception: The Benson Henderson story
Photo credit: AP
What do Benson Henderson, Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch have in common?
None of those three fighters have finished an opponent in three or more years.
What do Benson Henderson, Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch NOT have in common?
Henderson is the only one of those fighters that MMA people don’t complain about always going the distance in fights. Interesting, isn’t it?
There...
Read more »How time differentiates between Gilbert Melendez and Benson Henderson
Photo credit: Strikeforce/Esther Lin
For the past several years, Gilbert Melendez has been considered the best lightweight outside of the UFC. As Strikeforce became less and less relevant under the Zuffa banner, talk focused on possible matchups for Melendez and top lightweights in the UFC.
But since the calendar turned to 2012, the former Strikeforce champion (21-2) has fought one time -- a split decision win over Josh Thomson...
Read more »Poll results: Henderson vs. Pettis
Photo credit: Getty/Cindy Ord
There was a time when Anthony Pettis was the next lightweight to get a shot at UFC's 155-pound title.
OK, there were three times.
And now he's finally get that title shot, only it will come in the featherweight division. Still, the latest poll results (which are less scientific than a VHS tape from 1986) indicate you want to see him fight Ben Henderson, too. Who will get the next lightweight...
Read more »Anthony Pettis vs. Jose Aldo?
Photo credit: Getty
There's a certain ceremonial dance that occurs at UFC post-fight news conferences.
Members of the assembled media take the lead and ask who so and so will fight next, and UFC president Dana White says he doesn't like to make fights right after a night of fights.
It seems like a silly song and dance, but sometimes, someone bumps into the DJ table and the song changes.
After...
Read more »Ratings up for UFC on Fox 5
Photo credit: AP
Not only did Benson Henderson bring the fight to Nate Diaz, he brought the ratings to his company and its broadcast partner on Saturday night, as well.
Henderson's lightweight title defense headlined UFC on Fox 5, which earned a 2.8 overnight rating and a 5 share, according to the Nielsen numbers released by Fox on Sunday night. That means 3.4 million people watched the fights on Saturday...
Read more »Ben Henderson on a champion's life, Round 2
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Leading up to his first title defense at UFC 150 in August, Ben Henderson said his schedule was the biggest change to his life since he won the title six months earler.
Nearly four months later, things have apparently slowed down quite a bit for the lightweight champion, who happens to be defending his title this Saturday against Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 5 in Seattle.
Fightin' Words is...
Read more »Watch UFC's 'Road to the Octagon' on Fox
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UFC's "Road to the Octagon" -- an hour-long show to document/hype/promote the upcoming UFC on Fox 5 card this Saturday -- aired either before or after football on Sunday, depending on your market.
It's a pretty strong piece, which focused on B.J. Penn, Rory MacDonald, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Alexander Gustafsson, Nate Diaz and Ben Henderson.
That's six different cities...
Read more »Poll results: Anderson Silva vs. . . .
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The talk of late has centered around a superfight between Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre. UFC president Dana White says it could happen in May at either Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, or a stadium in either Toronto or Brazil.
Of course, whether or not that actually happens is up for debate. Speaking of topics up for discussion, here are the results of our latest Fightin' Words reader poll...
Read more »UFC 150 highlights: Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar
Watch highlights of the UFC 150 main event where Ben Henderson successfully defended his lightweight title with a split decision over Frankie Edgar.
Newsday's mobile app users can point to this URL in their browsers: http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=716a7fe6-5a86-4683-b4d0-df862ed900a3&src=v5:share:sharepermalink:&from=sharepermalink...
Read more »Ben Henderson on a champion's life
Photo credit: MCT
One of the things I find interesting about new champions is hearing how their lives have changed since winning the belt. What's is obviously different? What have you seen change over time?
Here's what UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson had to say when that topic came up on the UFC 150 conference call heading into his first title defense against Frankie Edgar:
"It is great. No...
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