Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson: Fight card, odds, start time, live stream
The Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix kicks off with a high-profile title fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson. It's the present and future vs. the past when reigning champion Nurmagomedov defends his crown against multi-time champion Henderson at Bellator 292 on Friday night.
Nurmagomedov (16-0) makes the first defense of his Bellator lightweight championship in San Jose against an ultra-experienced opponent. Henderson is on the final stretch of his career, but he is certainly the most accomplished and established Grand Prix contestant. Nurmagomedov has lived up to the lofty expectations attached to his last name. Friday's main event affords him the opportunity to build his own legacy by adding a celebrated, credentialed name to his perfect record.
"Benson is a great opponent because he is a great fighter with a great legacy, so for me to defeat him first will be a great leg up," Nurmagomedov said at the Bellator 292 media day on Wednesday. "It's a great start because he's very well-known. It will be a good thing for my resume.
"Whether in MMA or life in general, I never dismiss people. The fact that he lost could be due to multiple reasons, and people tend to improve from their mistakes. He is a strong fighter, and I do not underestimate him because he has lost fights before."
It's been a while, but Henderson (30-11) finds himself in familiar territory. The former UFC and WEC lightweight champion is no stranger to the spotlight, beating the likes of Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, Frankie Edgar (twice) and Donald Cerrone (twice). Bellator 292 is Henderson's last stand. One final push for a world title before he steps aside to support his wife Maria Henderson's blossoming MMA career. Henderson is in the biggest underdog slot of his career by a wide margin but you wouldn't gauge that by talking to him.
"[I have the advantage] everywhere," Henderson told CBS Sports. "I think the biggest problem for him will be the kickboxing. If he wants to stay in a kickboxing fight and just do kickboxing, I have no problem with that. Let's put on some gloves and fight with kickboxing rules. I think I win that. Put on some gloves and have a Muay Thai fight, I think I win that also.
"Do you want to put on a singlet and do some wrestling? No problem. Let's do freestyle, let's do Greco, let's do folkstyle. Whatever style of wrestling you want to do, I'll probably win that. The only thing he probably beats me at is sambo. I don't have a whole lot of sambo experience. In a gi in jiu-jitsu, I win that. No-gi in jiu-jitsu, I win that."
Friday's co-main event features a Grand Prix fight on the opposite end of the bracket. Tofiq Musayev and Alexander Shabliy -- ranked No. 2 and No. 4 in Bellator's official rankings, respectively -- meet in a quarterfinals match. Musayev has a little deja vu as a Rizin Grand Prix winner. The Azerbaijani fighter knocked out Sidney Outlaw in 27 seconds in his Bellator debut and also has a win over former lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull. Shabliy enters the fight on a seven-fight win streak that includes a TKO of former champ Brent Primus and UFC alum Adriano Martins. Striking phenom Michael "Venom" Page opens the main card against submission ace Goiti Yamauchi.
Below is the rest of the fight card for Friday with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook before we get to a prediction and pick on the main event.
Bellator 292 card, odds
Bellator 292 viewing information
Date: March 10 | Start time: 10 p.m. ET (main card)
Location: SAP Center -- San Jose, California
TV channel: Showtime
Prediction
Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson: Oddsmakers are horribly disrespecting Henderson, but it's a testament to Nurmagomedov's limitless potential. Nurmagomedov is already such a well-rounded threat and at just 24 years old, he has a good decade to become truly special. The lightweight champion showed off his grappling chops in a dominant performance against Patricky Pitbull. It was a pivotal compliment to the dynamic striking he exhibited in earlier fights. Still, the ultra-talented and well-trained champion should expect a long night of work against Henderson. The challenger has a knack for fighting at range and slowing down grappling exchanges, a combination that has kept him safe and healthy over his 13-year career. Henderson, 39, has only been stopped four times in 41 fights and just once in the last seven years. Henderson has as diverse of a skillset as he claims, but I doubt he has enough of a technical advantage, if any, to make up for Nurmagomedov's strength and athleticism. The fight could be marginally competitive depending on Nurmagomedov's output, but the outcome is the same. Nurmagomedov via UD
