Benson Henderson announces three-fight timeline for retirement, with history made before then

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Benson Henderson held UFC gold. He held WEC gold, too. Saturday at SAP Center, he’ll have the opportunity to win the Bellator lightweight championship, a third major promotional title, and a rare feat.

At Bellator 292, Henderson (30-11 MMA, 7-6 BMMA) takes on Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA), the current Bellator lightweight champion and a surging younger cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. In addition to being a title fight, the bout is a quarterfinal of the promotion’s 155-pound grand prix.

Henderson admits he’s in the twilight phase of his career, but attributes the impending curtain close to a desire rather than a necessity. Physically, he still feels good. It’s not that. His wife, Maria, recently signed a multifight deal with Bellator. Henderson wants to repay the favor, step aside, and let her work on her craft – just like she did for him years ago.

“She put off her career, like a lot of wives do,” Henderson told reporters at media day Wednesday. “It’s International Women’s Day today, so shoutout to all the women out there, internationally, everywhere. They put up with a lot of stuff from us guys. My wife put off her career so I could shine and do what I do. It’s worked out pretty well for us. Now, it’s going to be my turn to step back and pick the kids up from school, drop them off at soccer practice, take them to chess practice and let her practice.

“… At the end of these (three) fights, I’m done. I think for everyone at retirement age and athletes who are going to retire, you always have that play-one-more Tom Brady, ‘Can you play one more? Can you not play one more?’ I still feel good. I still feel fast. I still feel I’m competitive. For me, it wouldn’t just be feeling competitive, like I can compete and hang with the best guys in the world and this and that. It’s mostly more about giving my wife her turn.”

In most cases, a fighter in waning career years doesn’t have as much opportunity to make history as Henderson. Entering an eight-man tournament means Henderson has the opportunity to not only add another major promotion’s title to his wall, but could win a grand prix and cash an extra $1 million for his troubles – a storybook ending.

“I think winning this grand prix will be pretty amazing. I have done a lot of work,” Henderson said. “The decisions I’ve made in my career going this path, the path of least resistance or the more comfortable paths, or the more steady path you go or which path you choose, all the decisions I’ve made, winning this grand prix, winning this lightweight belt, the third belt of mine, the Bellator lightweight title, it means everything. It means absolutely everything to me.”