With UFC champion Islam Makhachev in his corner, it took less than a round for Nurmagomedov to defeat Benson Henderson and make the first defense of his lightweight title in Friday night’s main event, which s is held at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Nurmagomedov (17-0) dropped Henderson (30-12) with a head kick in the opening seconds of the fight, then went down with punches before regaining control and landing a rear naked choke, becoming the third person to send the former UFC champion into the MMA cage.
With the win, Nurmagomedov qualified for the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix semi-finals.
“We still have work to do,” Usman Nurmagomedov said later.
Henderson, 39, put his gloves in a cage and announced his retirement after the fight. One of the most decorated lightweight fighters of his era, Henderson won UFC and WEC titles during his 17-year MMA career and defeated a host of top fighters such as Frankie Edgar (x2), Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Donald Cerrone (x2). ), Jorge Masvidal, Josh Thomson and others.
“These last four fights I’ve signed with Bellator, I thought to myself, if I lost even one of those last four fights, then now is the time,” Henderson said emotionally.
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