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BEN HENDERSON RETIRES AT BELLATOR 292, SAYS ITS HIS WIFE’S TIME TO SHINE

By David Tees on 3/11/2023 12:11 PM

Former UFC and WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson retired after a first round submission loss to Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 292.

Now that his pro MMA career in over, one thing Henderson wants is for his wife, Maria Henderson, to have her time in the spotlight.

“It’s my wife’s turn to shine – her turn to practice three, four times a day and get after it,” Henderson said at the post-fight press conference (transcript via Danny Segura & Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie). “I’ll leave that to her, and I’ll be doing the majority of taking care of the kids. But I’ll still be in the gym, helping my team, and of course helping out my wife.”

Maria is back in action on Bellator 293 on March 31, facing Mackenzie Stiller in a women’s strawweight division attraction.

Ben says it will be up to the pundits to determine how he’ll be remembered as a professional MMA fighter.

“I’ve gotten that question many times over the years, but I’ll leave it to you pundits,” Henderson said. “You guys give my career scope and put some cool words to it. If anything, the thing I’m highest on in this life is hard work. I don’t care what it is that you do – a journalist, a cameraman, a fighter. It doesn’t matter what you do. It’s all about how hard you work. I think maybe for my career, I want to be known as the guy who worked his butt off.”