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Henderson talks free agency

February 13, 2016 by Jason Cruz 14 Comments

Benson Henderson talked to Newsday this past week about his experience with free agency and his decision to sign with Bellator.  The Q&A is an interesting look at the process of MMA Free Agency.

Henderson stated he signed an 8 fight deal with the UFC and was offered chances to re-sign prior to the expiration of his contract.  However, at some point he decided he wanted to test the free agency waters.

In the interview, he envisions, in 20 years, an MMA business landscape where “mid-level guys” will be able to sustain a comfortable career and be financially stable.

Henderson stated that he talked to a variety of organizations like ONE FC, Bellator and a couple other organizations in Asia.

Payout Perspective:

Will mid-level guys make money as Henderson thinks they will?  If this were to occur, there must be more than just one organization that could drive a marketplace.  Henderson’s comments seem to assume that there is fan demand out there for MMA/combat sports.

Filed Under: UFC

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Greatest says

    February 14, 2016 at 5:11 am

    Qui Xiao Jun just did 200M viewers in China.
    Boxing wins

    Reply
  2. d says

    February 14, 2016 at 9:23 am

    Hahaha. You are nuts.

    Reply
  3. The Greatest says

    February 14, 2016 at 11:42 am

    April 9th Anthony Joshua vs Charles Martin for the IBF HW title. Huge fight.

    Reply
  4. d says

    February 14, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    …..that no one cares about.

    Reply
  5. tops E says

    February 14, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    http://www.boxingscene.com/qiu-xiao-juns-big-win-draws-200-million-tv-viewers-china–101318….
    .200 mil…global truly global 4 plus mill ppv u.s. 200m in china…..hahahahaha

    Reply
  6. tops E says

    February 14, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    They should put that chinese boxer on an undercard in the u.s. How much money they can charge for tv rights fee in china….money money money

    Reply
  7. tops E says

    February 14, 2016 at 2:17 pm

    4m plus is pac/may record

    Reply
  8. d says

    February 14, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    He would get 100k views on HBO. HAHAHA! Yeah, real money!!!

    200m viewers in China = a penny on the dollar in the US.

    Reply
  9. The Greatest says

    February 14, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    Anthony Joshuas last fight was on ppv in the U.K. and did 450k. They were expecting 150k-200k.
    This guy is probably the future of the HW division. Guys a monster.

    Reply
  10. d says

    February 14, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    That isn’t true, but regardless no one cares about him in the US. He wouldn’t draw WSOF numbers here.

    There is no present OR future of the HW division in boxing.

    Reply
  11. The Greatest says

    February 15, 2016 at 12:21 am

    Yea right. Hes the exact type of fighter that would pull great viewership in America, especially if hes a title holder.

    Reply
  12. d says

    February 15, 2016 at 5:53 am

    Hahaha. Right, that’s why he’s pulling viewership in America….oh yeah that’s right, he’s not. UK fighters don’t sell in the US.

    Reply
  13. tops E says

    February 15, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    Hahaha…after telling D he is putting too much effort,he shortens all his posts hahahaha self conscious…but thats right D keep it short…good for everybody hahaha

    Reply
  14. d says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:35 am

    Self conscious would more likely be the delusional nutjob who fabricates information on this site daily ranting like a quack. Haha.

    Reply

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