Patrick Habirorov (8-0) and Benson Henderson (30-12) completed their face-off ahead of their upcoming bout at PFL Brussels. The event is scheduled for May 23 in Brussels. The post features their pre-fight staredown but provides no additional details about the matchup or card placement. Both fighters' records were included in the announcement.
Unbeaten prospect Patrick Habirorov and former lightweight champion Benson Henderson squared off for a pre-fight staredown as their PFL Brussels matchup draws closer, with the event set for May 23 in Brussels.
Henderson, nicknamed "Smooth," is a 42-year-old American veteran fighting out of MMA Lab. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach and carries a professional record of 24-7. A former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion, Henderson has long been one of the most recognizable names in the sport. He averages 2.93 significant strikes landed per minute at 45 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with a consistent wrestling game, averaging 2.4 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Habirorov enters the contest undefeated, carrying a perfect 8-0 record into what shapes up as the stiffest test of his young career. Verified details beyond his record were not available in the current data.
Why it matters
- Henderson's championship pedigree makes this a significant step-up fight for the unbeaten Habirorov
- An Habirorov victory over such a decorated opponent would dramatically raise his profile in the PFL lightweight division
- Henderson's southpaw stance, wrestling base, and submission threat of 0.8 attempts per 15 minutes present a multi-dimensional challenge for the undefeated prospect
