Benson Henderson defends style & lack of finishes

UFC lightweight champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is a perfect 7-0 inside the octagon and has currently defended his UFC lightweight belt three times.

Those three lightweight title defenses have tied Henderson with BJ Penn for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC lightweight history, a division long considered to be one of the most talent-rich in the sport.

This Saturday night at UFC 164 in Milwaukee, “Smooth” will rematch Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), whom he lost to back at WEC 53 in December of 2010. If Benson gets his revenge on “Showtime” this weekend, he will become the most dominant titleholder in the history of the UFC’s lightweight division, at least statistically.

Fans and media alike have criticized Henderson for not finishing fights, as all seven of his UFC victories have come by way of decision. However, that criticism doesn’t seem to bother “Smooth”, as he believes that winning is the only thing that matters:

“If a guy walks into the cage and slips on a banana peel and I get a win, I’ll take the win,” Henderson said on Thursday.

“What it all boils down to is getting your hand raised. Whether you do it impressively, emphatically, whether you do it by split decision or whatever the case may be,” he said.

I’m always after beating the guy up,” Henderson continued. “I always want to beat the guy up. I don’t care about judges or decisions or this or that. I just want to go out there and beat the guy up.”

“My long-term goal is to be the best fighter on the planet, pound-for-pound,” Henderson said. “Along the way, you’re going to hit other smaller goals, other milestones.

“I always viewed B.J. Penn as the greatest lightweight of all time. I knew he defended his belt three times, so I always had it in my peripheral vision. I knew for me to be where I want to be — breaking Anderson Silva’s record — I was going to have to beat B.J.’s along the way.”

If Benson Henderson is able to defeat Anthony Pettis this weekend will you view him as the greatest lightweight of all-time? Let’s hear it Penn Nation!