The UFC will return to its birthplace and the home of its first two events in Denver, Colorado. On August 11th, UFC 150 will go down and feature the UFC Lightweight champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson as he defends his championship for the first time in a rematch with the man he took it from, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.
Frankie Edgar had won the championship from BJ Penn in April of 2010 by unanimous decision. The UFC gave the long time former champion Penn a rematch but Edgar once again left the cage the victor.
His next fight would come against the only man to have defeated him, Gray Maynard. This fight would be an epic war that had the champ on the cusp of defeat again before he would mount a comeback and have the fight end in a draw. Now with an 0-1-1 record against Maynard and their title fight unfinished, they would meet again but this time Edgar would get the 4th round knockout victory.
It was Edgar’s 5th championship fight by now and he would be facing only his third opponent. In February of this year the UFC went to Japan where after a five round fight Benson Henderson would leave with the belt.
Their last fight lasted the full 25 minutes and saw spectacular kicks and Henderson’s uncanny ability to get out of tight situations and lots of back and forth action. Henderson even landed a kick that broke Edgar’s nose early in the fight.
Both men are familiar with rematches as Henderson has had his own run-ins with familiar opponents including the co-main event fighter Donald Cerrone who challenged him twice for his WEC title.
In the media conference call today both men share similar thoughts on the game of rematches and that is that the fight game is so close now and there is such a tight margin between two competitors that is anyone’s fight on any night. Edgar feels that who ever makes the better adjustments for this fight will walk out the winner.
When Henderson was asked what it will take to win and whether or not who can show something new and surprise his opponent, Henderson felt it was more about the fundamentals and who ever can improve their jiu-jitsu 1% or striking 1% will be the one who is victorious.
Edgar is taking the extra steps to prepare himself to get the title back by arriving in Denver an extra week early to adjust to fighting in the altitude. The Colorado native Henderson has plans to keep everything the same including when he arrives and fighting to win and not just hold on to the belt.
Dana White made it clear that should Henderson lose there will not be a rematch immediately following. That is no extra pressure for Henderson because his drive is to win and his mentality will not change no matter what kind of extras the company puts on the line.
