UFC Hardy vs Lytle: Why Ben Henderson Deserves a Title Shot

If you were watching tonight's UFC event on Versus, you saw the emergence of a potential new superstar in lightweight Ben Henderson, who soundly defeated the well-respected Jim Miller by unanimous decision.

The fight was a true coming-out party for Henderson, who was a champion in the now defunct WEC before losing to Anthony Pettis in a fight that's largely remembered for Pettis looking like Spider Man by leaping onto the cage and landing a flying kick.

Henderson was on the receiving end of that kick a year ago, but tonight he was the one delivering all sorts of punishment, both standing and especially on the ground. He dominated Miller and looked liked a much larger and stronger man despite the fact they both were lightweights.

It was very clear that if Miller had won, he would have earned a title shot against the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard in a Lightweight Title rematch at UFC 136. 

But with Miller being dominated tonight, you might as well have a straw poll or some other sort of campaign about who should be the No. 1 contender for the belt. 

People like Clay Guida can make their claim to why they should be the top contender. However, Donald Cerrone, Melvin Guillard, Anthony Pettis and even Dennis Siver could make an argument about why they should be fighting for the championship. 

However, as much as I respect Clay Guida, the man who should be taking either Edgar or Maynard on is Ben "Smooth" Henderson.

The performance put forth by Henderson this evening was a clinic about what mixed martial arts is all about. He fought Miller evenly standing up with both using powerful punches and kicks. But it was his wrestling skills that were truly impressive, considering that his opponent Miller has a black belt in jiu-jitsu.

On the ground, Henderson beat Miller to a bloody pulp using a crippling combination of punches, elbows and knees to the body. He smothered Miller, and whenever his opponent tried to land a submission hold, Henderson just beat on him some more.

At 13-2, Henderson's only two blemishes came against Pettis last year, and in the third fight of his career fighting in a local competition in Colorado. The fact that he just beat a man that was ranked by most as the No. 3 lightweight in the division should be reason enough he gets a shot. 

But most people do not realize he was the WEC Lightweight Champion for 14 months before his loss to Pettis. The guy has championship pedigree and looks like he could cause either Edgar or Maynard a ton of problems.

It will be interesting to see who Dana White makes the No. 1 contender. It's also possible that Guida, who defeated Pettis in June, could take on Henderson in a title eliminator that could take place at the end of the year.

Whatever the case, Ben Henderson turned a lot of heads with his performance tonight. He will almost certainly get a chance to win the UFC belt in the future, it's just a matter of when.