Ben Henderson: Frankie Edgar should be given a rematch and Pettis needs to prove - UFC news
Ben Henderson, the current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, recently in an interview said that Frankie Edgar must be given a rematch since it is his right, adding that Anthony Pettis needs to make his way up the ranks as he collected
a win against the number 10 lightweight, a good one but not enough to get a title shot.
Ben, 28, became the UFC lightweight champion after collecting a huge unanimous decision win over Frankie Edgar. The bout headlined the UFC 144 pay-per-view and fulfilled the expectations of each and every critic.
Just a few days after the bout, Ben was bombarded by the critics and mixed martial art fanatics as to who will be his next opponent. Amid many controversies, assumptions, and hypothecations, Frankie got the approval of UFC President Dana White and now a
second encounter between two of the best lightweights is expected in late 2012.
During the interview, Ben, widely known as the ‘Smooth Bendo’, said that Frankie deserves a rematch since he himself granted two rematches to Gray Maynard and B. J. Penn. Ben remarked that a rematch now or at any time in future is a fact since he did hold
the title and defied all odds against men who are considered as lethal brawlers.
Ben commented, “Frankie gave two rematches. It's criminal not to give him a rematch after a decision, because, as a champ, he gave two rematches. I think it's something that has to be done sometimes. There's just no alternative. It does create a little bit
of a logjam, I guess you could say, from the top, but, if you're a challenger, the idea is you have to keep winning.”
Henderson also shed light on Anthony Pettis’ chances of getting a shot at his title and was a bit harsh in his comments. Ben said that Anthony did beat Joe Lauzon convincingly but it does not mean that he has become the number one contender since he nailed
a man who is currently ranked tenth in the lightweight division.
The submission specialist said that before Anthony, Jim Miller and Nate Diaz are also there in the division who reside at the top ranks. Ben smiled during the interview and reiterated that he wants to keep the belt round his waist for at least four to five
years and will take on any competition to prove that he is worth the apex lightweight gold.
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