Benson Henderson is on the trajectory to making history when he vies for Andrey Koreshkov’s welterweight strap at Bellator 153. And I for one believe Henderson leaves the rounded cage as the newly-crowned 170-pound champion.

“Smooth,” a former WEC and UFC lightweight champion will become the first ever combatant to hold titles in the aforementioned promotions as well as Bellator when he tussles with “The Spartan.”

Henderson, 32, saw out the last two fights (welterweight bouts) of his UFC contract before testing the waters of free agency. He eventually signed with Bellator, and was subsequently handed an immediate tilt at the welterweight title.

That said, the 25-year-old Koreshkov (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA), who is trained by former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko will find the Colorado native a step up in class. Albeit he has an impressive looking record, most of his victories have come against, at best, mid-tier opposition.

Conversely, Henderson (23-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC, 0-0 BMMA) who makes his debut for the Viacom-owned promotion, sports an enviable resume which includes wins over some of the UFC’s top dogs and biggest stars — Josh Thompson (now with Bellator), Gilbert Melendez, Nate Diaz and Frankie Edgar. His loses to current 155-pound titlist Rafael dos Anjos and former divisional champ Anthony Pettis shouldn’t be a measuring stick to gauge his credentials; both are upper echelon fighters.

Needless to say, expect the rugged Russian Koreshkov to bring all Henderson can handle as he makes the first defense of his belt. However, Henderson, as alluded to earlier, is on another plateau, and somewhere in that five-rounder will temper the Siberian Spartan, thus wresting the title from his grasp via unanimous decision.

 

Bellator 153 is scheduled to take place April 22, 2016 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States

About The Author

Nedu Obi

Nedu graduated from London Metropolitan University and has a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing and Media Studies. He is a fervent freelance writer/blogger and a wordsmith provocateur. His hobbies/interests are centred on MMA, Boxing, Football, Current Events and the Arts. He’s also a keen roller skater and marshals for the LFNS (London Friday Night Skate). "Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind". - George Orwell