MMA legend Benson Henderson reveals why he’s back for PFL Brussels after retirement

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MMA legend Benson Henderson reveals why he’s back for PFL Brussels after retirement

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Donagh Corby | Last updated May 22, 2026 5:59 PM ET

Benson Henderson has noted that former Bellator matchmaker Mike Kogan was the key player in convincing him to come out of MMA retirement.

Until January of last year, Henderson was joint holder of the record for most lightweight title defences in UFC history. Islam Makhachev ultimately took that record, ironically after his teammate Usman Nurmagomedov had ended the American’s career in March of 2023 in a Bellator title fight.

Henderson has remained very active throughout his ‘retirement’, taking on the worlds of Misfits Boxing, Karate Combat and RAF Wrestling. Now, he is back in the cage and heading to enemy territory to take on PFL’s Belgian star Patrick Habirora.

Benson Henderson details how he made MMA comeback for PFL Brussels

Back in 2023, Benson Henderson made the decision to hang up his 4oz gloves, in favor of trying out different sports and transitioning into a behind-the-scenes role at his gym in Arizona. He has had six matches across multiple disciplines since, and didn’t have the itch to get back in a cage.

But PFL executive and former Bellator matchmaker Mike Kogan was certain that he could be motivated, and continued to goad Henderson into making a comeback. “He kept needling me,” the former world champion told MMAFighting.

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“Then he texted me two days later and said ‘hey, I’ve got a matchup for you, Patrick Habirora, why don’t you remind the world who you are, what you did and what you can do?’ You know what? Sounds good, Kogan.

“I noticed what you did but sure, let’s do it. Let’s remind the world who I am and what I’ve done and how I do it. That sounds good to me.”

Henderson continued training after his retirement, insisting on remaining one of the hardest workers in the sport even without competing. So he will be more than ready to take on the unbeaten Belgian who has made waves in Europe and is set to draw a huge crowd tomorrow night.

“Since the day I retired, I was back in the gym the next week, on the mats training again,” Henderson continued. “Our whole thing at The MMA Lab is being the hardest working gym in the world.

“You guys want to be the prettiest? You guys want to be the loudest on social media? You want to be the stoner gym? Be the stoner gym. My gym? We’re going to be the hardest working gym in the world.

“We’re always right back. We fight on Saturdays and back in the gym on Monday working to get better, win or lose, it doesn’t matter. So I lost my fight against Usman, I was back in the gym on Monday, working on getting better. I never stopped. I never stopped training.”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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