Welterweight · “Smooth”
Benson Henderson
30-13-0 UFC 11-3-0
Hard To Hit
Defensive Striker
5'9"Height
70"Reach
SouthpawStance
42Age
0KO wins
2Sub wins
18.2%Finish rate
18:01Avg fight
Skill profile
- Striking D Elite 96
- Grappling Above avg 74
- Durability Above avg 73
- Control Above avg 71
- Wrestling Above avg 70
- Accuracy Average 53
- Striking Average 47
- TD Defense Average 46
Hard To Hit
opponents land only 35% of what they throw
Defensive Striker
elite striking d — rates 96 of 100 among UFC veterans
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min3.27
Sig. strikes absorbed / min1.92
Striking accuracy45.9%
Striking defense64.6%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.18
Takedowns / 15 min1.9
Takedown accuracy49.2%
Takedown defense65.4%
Sub attempts / 15 min0.59
Control time25.7%
Record vs .500+ opponents10-3
Insider info
Benson Henderson favored over Peter Queally lean Bellator 285 (Dublin) · September 21, 2022
Henderson's superior overall skill set and composure under pressure are given the edge over Queally's raw power, though the fight is described as close and not worth betting heavily on.
Henderson is clearly past his physical peak at this stage of his career, but he still holds a technical, well-rounded skill advantage over Queally in most areas. He's characterized as a composed veteran who capitalizes fully once he's hurt an opponent, rather than letting them recover. He's not viewed as a shell of his former self either — he's shown enough recently to still be competitive against the level of opponent he's facing here, even if the overall record on both sides has been shaky.
Strengthwell-rounded, veteran skill set
Strengthfinishes opponents once they're hurt rather than letting them recover
Weaknesspast his physical prime
Weaknessrecent form has been inconsistent
Striking trend
Fight history
W Jorge Masvidal 29-9 walk-in Decision - Split · R5 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Masvidal · November 28, 2015
86/146Sig. strikes
77/156Absorbed
3/12Takedowns
6:51Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Brandon Thatch 11-1 walk-in Submission · R4 3:58 — UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Thatch · February 14, 2015
57/154Sig. strikes
44/143Absorbed
3/5Takedowns
4:34Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Donald Cerrone 26-6 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs Siver · January 18, 2015
86/155Sig. strikes
57/125Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Rafael Dos Anjos 20-7 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:31 — UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Dos Anjos · August 23, 2014
10/27Sig. strikes
18/30Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:02Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Rustam Khabilov 17-1 walk-in Submission · R4 1:16 — UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Khabilov · June 7, 2014
26/70Sig. strikes
18/77Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
2:52Control
1Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Josh Thomson 20-5 walk-in Decision - Split · R5 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Thomson · January 25, 2014
46/91Sig. strikes
19/58Absorbed
4/4Takedowns
5:01Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Anthony Pettis 16-2 walk-in TITLE Submission · R1 4:41 — UFC 164: Henderson vs Pettis 2 · August 31, 2013
11/16Sig. strikes
9/16Absorbed
0/3Takedowns
3:07Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Gilbert Melendez 21-2 walk-in TITLE Decision - Split · R5 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Melendez · April 20, 2013
68/166Sig. strikes
43/191Absorbed
0/4Takedowns
1:28Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Nate Diaz 16-7 walk-in TITLE Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Diaz · December 8, 2012
124/198Sig. strikes
30/83Absorbed
8/12Takedowns
16:58Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Frankie Edgar 15-2-1 walk-in TITLE Decision - Split · R5 5:00 — UFC 150: Henderson vs Edgar II · August 11, 2012
64/167Sig. strikes
66/182Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:07Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Frankie Edgar 15-1-1 walk-in TITLE Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 — UFC 144: Edgar vs Henderson · February 25, 2012
87/264Sig. strikes
68/190Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
0:37Control
0Knockdowns
3Sub attempts
W Clay Guida 28-10 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs Dos Santos · November 12, 2011
40/89Sig. strikes
11/40Absorbed
2/7Takedowns
7:27Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Jim Miller 20-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Live: Hardy vs Lytle · August 14, 2011
65/132Sig. strikes
14/44Absorbed
7/7Takedowns
10:23Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Mark Bocek 9-3 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 129: St-Pierre vs Shields · April 30, 2011
56/126Sig. strikes
11/34Absorbed
3/4Takedowns
5:31Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.
Record breakdown
Wins by method
KO/TKO
3
Submission
11
Decision
16
Other
0
Losses by method
KO/TKO
3
Submission
3
Decision
7
Other
0
Fights by organization
Bellator
14
UFC
14
WEC
6
MFC
2
Victory FC
2
PFL Brussels
1
Evolution MMA
1
Ultimate Combat Experience
1
+ 2 more organizations in the full career list
Full career — 43 fights, every organization
| Opponent | Method | Event | Org | Rd | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Patrick Habirora | KO (punches) | PFL Brussels: Habirora vs. Henderson
May 23, 2026 |
PFL Brussels | 1 | 0:20 |
| L | Usman Nurmagomedov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 292
March 10, 2023 |
Bellator | 1 | 2:37 |
| W | Peter Queally | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 285
September 23, 2022 |
Bellator | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Islam Mamedov | Decision (split) | Bellator 273
January 29, 2022 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Brent Primus | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 268
October 16, 2021 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Jason Jackson | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 253
November 19, 2020 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Michael Chandler | KO (punches) | Bellator 243
August 7, 2020 |
Bellator | 1 | 2:09 |
| W | Myles Jury | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 227
September 27, 2019 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Adam Piccolotti | Decision (split) | Bellator 220
April 27, 2019 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Saad Awad | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 208
October 13, 2018 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Roger Huerta | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 196
April 6, 2018 |
Bellator | 2 | 0:49 |
| L | Patricky Pitbull | Decision (split) | Bellator 183
September 23, 2017 |
Bellator | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Michael Chandler | Decision (split) | Bellator 165
November 19, 2016 |
Bellator | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Patrício Pitbull | TKO (leg injury) | Bellator 160
August 26, 2016 |
Bellator | 2 | 2:26 |
| L | Andrey Koreshkov | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 153
April 22, 2016 |
Bellator | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Jorge Masvidal | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Masvidal
November 28, 2015 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Brandon Thatch | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch
February 14, 2015 |
UFC | 4 | 3:58 |
| L | Donald Cerrone | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver
January 18, 2015 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Rafael dos Anjos | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos
August 23, 2014 |
UFC | 1 | 2:31 |
| W | Rustam Khabilov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov
June 7, 2014 |
UFC | 4 | 1:16 |
| W | Josh Thomson | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson
January 25, 2014 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| L | Anthony Pettis | Submission (armbar) | UFC 164
August 31, 2013 |
UFC | 1 | 4:31 |
| W | Gilbert Melendez | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez
April 20, 2013 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Nate Diaz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz
December 8, 2012 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Frankie Edgar | Decision (split) | UFC 150
August 11, 2012 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Frankie Edgar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 144
February 26, 2012 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Clay Guida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos
November 12, 2011 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Jim Miller | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle
August 14, 2011 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Mark Bocek | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 129
April 30, 2011 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Anthony Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 53
December 16, 2010 |
WEC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Donald Cerrone | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 48
April 24, 2010 |
WEC | 1 | 1:57 |
| W | Jamie Varner | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 46
January 10, 2010 |
WEC | 3 | 2:41 |
| W | Donald Cerrone | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 43
October 10, 2009 |
WEC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Shane Roller | TKO (punches) | WEC 40
April 5, 2009 |
WEC | 1 | 1:41 |
| W | Anthony Njokuani | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 38
January 25, 2009 |
WEC | 2 | 0:42 |
| W | Diego Saraiva | Decision (unanimous) | Evolution MMA 1
October 4, 2008 |
Evolution MMA | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Ricardo Tirloni | Submission (guillotine choke) | MFC 17
July 25, 2008 |
MFC | 2 | 3:49 |
| W | Mike Maestas | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MFC 16
May 9, 2008 |
MFC | 3 | 4:11 |
| W | Bryan Corley | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Victory FC 21
December 7, 2007 |
Victory FC | 1 | 2:36 |
| W | David Dagloria | TKO (submission to punches) | Ultimate Combat Experience: Round 26: Episode 12
June 23, 2007 |
Ultimate Combat Experience | 1 | 1:45 |
| L | Rocky Johnson | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | Battlequest 5
March 31, 2007 |
Battlequest | 1 | 0:46 |
| W | Allen Williams | TKO (punches) | Victory FC 18
February 16, 2007 |
Victory FC | 1 | 1:37 |
| W | Dan Gregary | TKO (submission to punches) | Midwest CF: Genesis
November 18, 2006 |
Midwest CF | 1 | 4:21 |
Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Benson Henderson) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.