Bellator star and former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson announced his retirement Friday night in San Jose, Calif., after losing in the first round to Usman Nurmagomedov in the main event of Bellator 292. Immediately after the fight, Henderson put his gloves in a cage, signaling the end of a professional career that began in 2006.
Henderson retires 30-12 with wins over a number of big names including Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, Gilbert Melendez, Donald Cerrone, Clay Guida, Josh Thomson, Roger Huerta and Patricio Pitbull. At the height of his career, Henderson was the best in the world at 155 pounds and held UFC gold in that division from February 2012 to August 2013.
His tremendous accomplishments have made him widely respected by his peers, some of whom have relied on social media, including former contender and current UFC star Michael Chandler, who called Henderson “one of the best in all the time”.
“Congratulations on a great and brilliant career, Benson. It’s been an honor to watch you for so many years, to strive to compete, to share a cage with you. You truly are one of the greatest of all time “, he wrote on Twitter.
