Henderson is ready for his chance at the title.
Ben Henderson and Donald Cerrone are friends.
When they face each other for the interim lightweight title at WEC 43, you won’t be able to tell.
“Donald and I are buddies, but we’re professionals,” Henderson said at the WEC 43 press conference. “Every day, we punch our best friends in the face, but to our best friends in training and practice. It won’t be super tough, mentally but we do the same thing in practice.”
Henderson seemed in high spirits at the press conference, and joked when asked what his fight strategy might be.
“We’re going to submission grapple, I don’t want to get punched,” Henderson said with a laugh.
The real strategy, he revealed, will be much more fan friendly.
“We’re going to bang,” Henderson said. “We’re going to put on a show for all of you.”
WEC 43 was originally supposed to take place earlier this year, but an injury forced Henderson to pull out. Rather than find a replacement, the WEC moved the entire card to Oct. 10.
When Henderson fights, he will be at 100 percent.
“It was nothing super serious,” Henderson said of the injury. “It was good to have time off and be able to be 100 percent going into the fight.”
When the fight was announced, Henderson was not even expecting to be a number one contender.
“I wasn’t even considering it at all,” Henderson said. “I was thinking I need a couple more wins to really cement myself. It worked out for me.”
Now that he does have the opportunity, Henderson will look to cement himself as the fighter to beat at 155lbs. In his mind, the only acceptable way to accept that mantle is with a finish.
“To me to beat someone, you have to end the fight,” Henderson said. “You have to take it from him, you can’t settle for a decision. If you want to prove you’re the best, you have to take it.”
Tonight, we will see if Henderson can take it from Cerrone.
