UFC Champion and Underdog

Benson Henderson (19-2), is the UFC's current and defending Champion this evening in his title fight with Anthony Pettis this evening.

Benson Henderson has been fighting under the Zuffa Brand since his WEC debut against Anthony Njokuani, in January 2009 in which he won by guillotine in the second round. Since then he has racked up a total of 12 combined victories in the UFC and WEC. He has defeated the likes of Jamie Varner, Donald Cerrone (twice), Mark Bocek, Jim Miller, Clay Guida, Frankie Edgar (twice), Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez. Ben Henderson's only loss since his WEC debut was in his final WEC bout with Anthony Pettis. It was a closely contested battle in which Anthony Pettis pulled his now famous Showtime Kick out of his bag of tricks to steal the fifth round and entire fight to become the WEC Lightweight Champion back in December 2010.

Anthony Pettis made his debut in the WEC in June 2009 against Mike Campbell in which he secured his victory with a triangle choke in the first round. Pettis has 8 victories under his belt under the Zuffa label. He has defeated current Champion Benson Henderson, Jeremy Stephens, Joe Lauzon, and most recently Donald Cerrone. He has acquired only two losses in the UFC/WEC to Bart Palaszewski and Clay Guida.

Since the both men have joined the UFC, Benson Henderson has not lost a single fight and has managed to capture the UFC's Lightweight title and defend it successfully three times. Even though Henderson has the better recordnand less blemishes under Zuffa, many sources are giving the edge to Pettis. Both men have grown since their last rendezvous in the WEC and Henderaon has continued to prove to the judges that he can control and win a fight. Pettis has still continued to grow in his creativity in strikes as well as his finishing ability.

I think that Pettis will be flahier this time around,  but I dont think that flashy approach guarentees success.  I think it will be another close fight in which I still see Benson Henderson coming out on top this time as he has against all of his UFC opponents since his arrival.