Benson Henderson
Active 2011–present · rated in 2 editions · peak overall 90.0
Scouting report
Submission escapes, leg kicks, and cardiovascular endurance propelled Benson "Smooth" Henderson to reign as UFC Lightweight Champion. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Henderson defended the UFC lightweight belt three consecutive times against Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz, and Gilbert Melendez. His resilience and engine are demonstrated by a 96 Cardio rating, 88 BJJ, and 90 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Henderson captured and defended the UFC Lightweight Championship throughout 2012 and 2013, defeating Frankie Edgar twice, dominating Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 5 in Seattle, and outpointing Gilbert Melendez before losing the belt to Anthony Pettis via armbar at UFC 164 in Milwaukee. His championship cardio conditioning, leg kicks, and scramble defense are reflected in a 96 Cardio and 88 Wrestling.
Between 2014 and 2015, Henderson submitted Rustam Khabilov with a rear-naked choke in Albuquerque and defeated Josh Thomson by decision. This lightweight card carries a 90 Overall, and its 96 Cardio is the highest number on it. His versatility, kickboxing output, and submission defense anchor his 88 Kickboxing and 90 Fight IQ.
Benson Henderson never seemed to run out of gas
Benson Henderson won the lightweight title in a five-round fight against Frankie Edgar and defended it several times, mostly by outlasting people. He is not flashy, but he is hard to put away, hard to take down for long, and hard to pin on a scorecard. In this draft, he's a safe pick who gets better late.
Henderson attribute by attribute
Boxing. Sneaky good. Loose, awkward and mobile, with a straight left that arrives from odd angles. He is not a pure boxer but he wins exchanges.
Kickboxing. A real strength. He throws round kicks with speed and has knees in the clinch, and that variety keeps opponents guessing.
Wrestling. Strong and stubborn. He defends takedowns well and will take one when a fight needs a jolt.
BJJ. Real black-belt ability. He can threaten from the back and finish chokes in scrambles.
Strength. Physically solid for 155. He handles the clinch and can hold position against bigger wrestlers.
Durability. Very good. He was rarely in danger of being stopped, which is why so many of his fights went the distance.
Cardio. Elite. His pace in round five looks like his pace in round one, and championship fights gave him an edge.
Fight IQ. Adaptable. He can change plans between rounds, which he did in his title fights against Edgar and Nate Diaz.
The reason to draft him: Cardio
Cardio is the top rating, and it fits what he actually did. A three-round fight is a warm up for him. If your build spends its energy early on wrestling or heavy strikes, Henderson supplies the tank that lets the whole lineup keep working in the later rounds.
Not much to complain about, but: Boxing
Boxing is at the bottom of his sheet, with strength at the same level. That is a narrow gap. What it means in practice is that he is not a power puncher and does not stop fights with his hands, so pair him with picks that have a finisher's touch.
Keep exploring
Closest lightweight profiles to Benson Henderson, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Rafael dos Anjosbest cardio 94 · weakest strength 84
- Tony Fergusonbest cardio 98 · weakest strength 82
- Arman Tsarukyanbest wrestling 94 · weakest strength 86
- Mateusz Gamrotbest wrestling 94 · weakest strength 82
- Lightweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Protecting your streak: a guide that fits Benson Henderson's strongest attribute, Cardio.
Draft Benson Henderson into your build
Benson Henderson enters the pool on any spin landing on lightweight between 2010 and 2015. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Benson Henderson is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Benson Henderson's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.