UFC 144 Predictions: What Benson Henderson Has to Do to Defeat Frankie Edgar

For the first time in a long time, lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is a favorite heading into his bout with Benson Henderson at UFC 144. That being said, this is a fight that should be competitive and could go either way.

There are a few things Henderson will need to do to be successful against Edgar if he hopes to leave Japan as the UFC's new 155-pound champion. In order to do what B.J. Penn and Gray Maynard were unable to do, Henderson will have to:

• Take the fight to the ground;
• Keep distance and use leg kicks;
• Match Edgar's pace.

Considering the fact that a powerful wrestler like Maynard had trouble taking Edgar to the ground, it will be extremely difficult for Henderson to put Edgar on his back at UFC 144. However, if he able to use the quickness he has that Maynard didn't to secure takedowns, Henderson possesses the ground game to avoid submissions and win rounds by maintaining the top position.

One weapon Penn and Maynard almost completely neglected to use against Edgar was leg kicks. The champion's greatest asset against lightweights is his speed on his feet. However, if Henderson can take some of Edgar's speed away by damaging the champion's legs, his chances of winning will increase dramatically.

Though he had early success in both of his recent rematches against Edgar, Maynard was unable to keep up with the champion after spending much of his energy trying to finish the fights.

Having experience in five-round fights and known for his incredible stamina, Henderson will need to match Edgar blow-for-blow at UFC 144 and avoid letting the magnitude of the fight overcome him. If Henderson can go five strong rounds with Edgar, something neither Maynard nor Penn was able to do, he will avoid making things easy for Edgar to win rounds in a fight that could go the distance.

Even if Henderson is able to take Edgar down, land repeated leg kicks and keep a torrid pace for 25 minutes, he will still have his hands full with an opponent who is never going lay down and die. Both of these fighters are going to leave everything inside the Octagon. 

In the end, it may simply come down to which fighter has more to leave.

Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, follow Sean Smith on Twitter.