Ben Henderson testing the market?
After an impressive and hard fought victory over the always game Jorge Masvidal, it seems that former UFC Lighweight Champion Benson Henderson is considering some very different options. The victory capped off the final fight on Henderson’s UFC fight contract and from the sounds of it the former Lightweight kingpin may be looking for employment elsewhere. After the victory last Saturday, Henderson had a few choice words to say. “When I retire, it will be retiring in the UFC – I know that for sure,” said Henderson. “But I’m going to test the market, yes.” To be honest it seems like a peculiar notion. Henderson wishes to retire within the UFC, yet he’s choosing to potentially move to a smaller market rather than remaining with the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. In one sense, it makes all the sense in the world. Henderson can tap markets that could potentially turn him into an international star. There are already bids for the 32 year old to test his mettle at the Korean based organization ROAD FC. The promotion has already gone on the record with stating that they’d offer Henderson a $200,000 contract. Why so much? Well, given the fact that Henderson is of Korean decent and that he put on an exciting and impressive show in Seoul South Korea, it’s a no brainer. Henderson could be the kind of star that brings a tremendous amount of attention and accolades to ROAD FC. As of now it’s unclear if that price tag is for one fight or a multi-fight contract, but it’s a certainly a great deal of money. The biggest question of all however is whether Henderson should actually consider the offer? There are positives to making yourself the face of an organization and potentially a face of Korean MMA. But in terms of competition and leaving a legacy behind, there’s no doubt that the UFC is the place every fighter should try and ply their trade. That being said, Henderson has never been the most marketable champion for the Las Vegas promotion. Many fans have been frustrated over the many championship fights Henderson was able to win, usually by controversial decision. I for one thought he was a pretty compelling champion who definitely deserved ninety percent of those wins (the second Edgar fight was certainly questionable). From a marketing standpoint, Henderson could potentially have more success in another market like ROAD FC or a promotion closer to home like Bellator MMA. To me, sticking it out in the UFC is definitely the right choice, but Henderson is going to weigh his options and ultimately make the decision that’s right for him. What do you guys think? Should Benson Henderson resign with the UFC or explore his options? Let us know what you think in the comments and forums.
