Benson Henderson’s return to MMA was a rough one.
The former UFC lightweight champion suffered a knockout loss to Belgium’s Patrick Habirora in the main event of PFL Brussels, which took place Saturday at ING Arena in Belgium. Habirora (9-0) dropped Henderson (30-13) with a left hook and then followed up with ground-and-pound to put the veteran out cold. Habirora just needed 21 seconds into Round 1 to get his hand raised.
Advertisement
This bout was Henderson’s first fight since getting submitted by then Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov in a title fight back in 2023. Henderson had kept busy in combat sports, competing in boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling, but not MMA. He’s now on a two-fight skid and 2-2 in his last four MMA bouts. The 42-year-old didn’t have an immediate in-cage, post-fight interview, so it’s unknown if the MMA Lab fighter plans to continue fighting.
Henderson got to be one of the best lightweights of his generation. He won the UFC belt in 2012 and defended it three times before losing it to Anthony Pettis. Henderson has beaten many notable names throughout his 20-year MMA career, including Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Frankie Edgar, Jorge Masvidal, and others.
Habirora, 25, notched his biggest and most high-profile win easily. Habirora is a highly-touted prospect in the PFL. He’s won all five of his PFL bouts, and in the process, beaten several former UFC veterans, including Danny Roberts, Kevin Jousset, and now Henderson. Seven out of Habirora’s eight career wins have come by KO/TKO.
Below is Habirora’s KO win over Henderson (via X):
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL Brussels: Patrick Habirora makes quick work of ex-UFC champ
