UFC Champ Ben Henderson reflects on turning point fight with Donald Cerrone in the WEC

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"That was just a great fight, a real good fight to be a part of. What I really love more than anything else is if you're the champion, to be pushed and tested and show that you're the champion. Like when Anderson Silva was down four-and-a-half rounds and got the triangle. That showed his heart. The first Cerrone fight, I had to be carried out. I didn't hold anything back. It amazes me that horses can run so hard till they burst their own heart. As a fighter, I appreciate that. I get what it is, not holding back anything. I didn't hold anything back, because if I did, I probably would have lost the fight. If I had lost, my career path could have changed. I might not be here now. I'm thankful I was able to open up my heart, not to hold anything back. That's what I liked to be. That's what the fans like to see in UFC, football games, basketball games, people like to see the athlete give everything they have"

-UFC Champ Ben Henderson reflects on his Interim WEC Lightweight Title bout with Donald Cerrone from 2009 in an interview with MMAFighting.com.

Penick's Analysis: There was something special about that first Henderson-Cerrone fight in 2009. The WEC was consistently delivering exciting fights, but that five round battle saw everything left in the cage, with Henderson contorting in ways unfathomable to most and avoiding submissions to ultimately take a decision. It was the eye opener to what Henderson could be, though his potential wouldn't be truly realized for another few years. Still, that fight was fantastic, and it's always interesting to see how fighters reflect on moments like that.

[Ben Henderson art by Grant Gould © MMATorch.com]

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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_16341.shtml

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