UFC 144: Frankie Edgar Will Overwhelm Benson Henderson with Speed in Japan

Frankie Edgar isn't the biggest dude in the Octagon, but he very may well be the fastest.

The 30-year-old American from New Jersey is 14-1-1 in his professional career and is the current UFC lightweight champion.

He'll put that title on the line against Benson Henderson tonight at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Henderson, like the majority of fighters Edgar goes up against, is bigger and longer. The 28-year-old American fighting out of Glendale, Ariz., is 15-2 in his professional career, but only 3-0 in the UFC. Edgar, conversely, is 9-1-1 in the UFC.

Henderson stands three inches taller, but he has only a two-inch advantage in reach.

This fight is perfectly timed for two of the best the division has to offer. Edgar is coming off a major knockout of Gray Maynard, the one guy who has put two blemishes on his record, while Henderson has yet to lose since joining the UFC.

The title bout will come down to whether or not Henderson can slow down Edgar. The smaller fighter gets stronger as the fight goes on, and wears down opponents with blazing speed and ridiculous stamina. Even when he doesn't get off to a fast start, he has that motor that never stops.

The lankier Henderson will have to be careful about where and when to expend energy. If he doesn't hit, he'll be in danger the longer the fight goes on.

For Edgar, that is exactly what he wants and what will likely happen.