Tomorrow night’s lightweight battle between Josh Thomson and Benson Henderson could just as well be for a title. This is about as good as you get outside of a championship fight, and both AKA-trained Thomson and former UFC-champ Ben Henderson know that with a good win, they are right back in the title picture. You know, the title picture Thomson was already in before champ Anthony Pettis had MCL surgery.
So what should we expect out of this UFC on FOX matchup? A scrappy fight, that’s for sure. Both of these guys go to 5 round classics more than just about anyone in any division, and surprisingly, Thomson, the predominant wrestler, expects Bendo to wrestle him to the mat.
“They both kick a lot. Benson puts a lot more emphasis on wrestling. Pettis tries to stay long. Benson jumps in with punches and kicks. Pettis tries to stay on the outside with kicks to make it hard to reach him. It’s a way different fight. Eventually, you have to fight both of them anyway. After I beat Benson, I plan on fighting Pettis. Benson wrestles more. I’m expecting him to try to wrestle me to death.”
“The fight is going to be fought everywhere. I think he’s going to try and wrestle me a lot. I have to keep the distance and push the pace, get right in his grill, get in the range where I can land my stuff and take him down as well.”
Also known as: This fight is going to be bonkers and don’t miss it.
