MMA Fighter Benson Henderson to Join Military Reserves After Turning 33

Former UFC and WEC fighter Benson Henderson will make his Bellator debut Friday, but fans shouldn't get used to seeing him in the cage.

Henderson appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani on Monday (via Chuck Mindenhall of MMAFighting.com) and confirmed he plans to join the military reserves after turning 33 in November.

Mindenhall noted Henderson has said he would retire at 33 for some time, though the fighter said he could be "33 and 11 months" when it happens.

Henderson shared his mindset about joining the military and potentially calling it quits at such a young age: "The real reason, to be frank with you, is that I will end up joining the military ranks. I've always held a pretty strong civic duty. Us as Americans, we need to do a better job. Period."

Mindenhall clarified that there is a chance Henderson could do both: "He said that it was in his initial plan to leave MMA at that point, with the understanding that 33 was the cutoff with age limitations. Yet after having talked to recruiters, he said he's now come to understand there is a way for him to be in the reserves as well as continue competing as a prizefighter."

MMA Fighting on SBN shared the entire interview with Henderson, which starts at the 2:01:24 mark:

Henderson will fight Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 153 on Friday in Connecticut.

While he will be making his Bellator debut, MMA fans will recognize his work from when he was with the UFC. Henderson won the UFC lightweight title in 2012 against Frankie Edgar and defended it three times before losing to Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 and leaving the UFC in February as a free agent.

If Henderson takes care of Koreshkov on Friday, he would make MMA history. Mindenhall noted Henderson would become the first fighter to hold belts in the UFC, WEC and Bellator if he defeats Koreshkov, who won the welterweight belt at Bellator 140 in July.

Mindenhall also pointed out Henderson could eventually pursue the Bellator lightweight belt held by Will Brooks.

It was clear, however, when Henderson appeared on The MMA Hour that he has other things in mind besides fighting. He talked about wanting the opportunity to tell his children and grandchildren that he upheld his civic duty to his country by joining the military.