‘Smooth’ Benson Henderson Gets A Rough Start In Bellator

“Smooth” Benson Henderson is off to a rough start in his Bellator career.

The 32-year-old “Bendo” (as he is also sometimes called by fans) had the chance to become a champion in three different promotions when he faced off against reigning Bellator welterweight kingpin, Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 153 at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun.

But the stars were not aligned in Benson’s favor that night.

Main event time now on @spike for that Welterweight Belt! #Bellator153 pic.twitter.com/s7B1QOwySh

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) April 23, 2016

From the time the first bell signaled the start of the fight, Henderson found himself playing the rodent in a game of cat and mouse. Koreshkov chased Benson around the perimeter of the cage, blasting him with punches and kicks that his opponent, who usually fought at lightweight, had no answer for.

In the second round, Benson tried using some of his ground skills to his advantage, but to no avail. Each time he shot in for a single or double leg, the Russian stuffed him and put the helpless Benson at the mercy of his hammer fists and hooks.

Rounds three and four told the same tale. It was not until the fifth round that Smooth started to mount some type of powerful offense, throwing a head kick that resonated throughout the arena.

But it was too little, too late. Andrey remained unfazed, continuing to punish his opponent.

In his defense, Benson Henderson never showed any signs of slowing down. But by the time the last bell ended the fight, Benson’s fate had been sealed. Each judge scored the match 50-45, overwhelmingly in the champion’s favor.

Despite his loss, Henderson seemed to be in high spirits after the match, smiling and giving “props” to his opponent, even though he admitted he hated losing.

So what lies ahead for “Smooth” Benson Henderson?

Well, the military for one.

In an interview on The MMA Hour(transcribed by MMA Mania), Benson told host, Ariel Helwani, that he plans on joining military because of his strong sense of civic duty.

“The real reason, to be frank with you, is that I will end up joining the military ranks. I’ve always held a pretty strong civic duty. Us as Americans, we need to do a better job period. Kids always say for the longest time, oh I was going to join the Marines, oh I was going to join the Army, this or that. Every 22-year old says that. It’s something that I always felt. When I’m older, when I’m 50, I want to be able to tell my kids, I want to tell my grandkids, hey, you have a civic duty to your country. To serve, to give back. What have you done for your country besides eating the food and using the electricity? What have you done for your country? It was something I felt pretty strongly about and I’m finding out there are other ways to go about doing it, but I can do it while still having an MMA career.”

Henderson did not even write off the possibility of going to war.

“I’d be open to it. I’ve talked to my wife about it. If that’s a possibility, if that’s a duty that that branch of the military feels I’m best fit for, sure. No problem. Is it something I want to do? I’m not 21, I’m not 18, I don’t want to go to war and do this…nah, I’m old man. I don’t need to prove myself and go to war and all this stuff. But, if that’s what’s called on, and that’s what it takes, you know…”

But before he is forced to shave his wild black locks into a regulation buzz cut and face the possibility of going toe-to-toe with America’s enemies, MMA fans will have to wait and see what lies ahead for “Smooth” Benson Henderson.

[Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images]