Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion and two-time contender for the Bellator title. Benson Henderson We’re officially back. The 42-year-old is set to come out of retirement and make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut against a surging welterweight prospect. Patrick Harvey Laura At the PFL Brussels Main Event on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at the ING Arena in Brussels, Belgium.
The fight will be held at welterweight.
Henderson (30-12) originally retired from MMA after a first-round stoppage loss. Usman Nurmagomedov Early 2023 (View Highlights) But “Smooth” wasn’t exactly sitting on the couch. During his retirement, he competed in two grappling matches (see highlights) and faced off against an old rival. Anthony Pettis At Karate Combat, he even boxed twice under the Misfits Boxing banner.
Despite ending his MMA career with a loss, Henderson has remained competitive, going 3-3 in his last six fights. Peter Qualley, Islam Mamedovand Miles Jury.
The task of his return will not be easy.
Havirora (8-0) is widely regarded as one of the PFL’s most promising prospects. The undefeated Belgian went 3-0 under the PFL banner, recording three first-round knockouts. This includes finals appearances against former UFC fighters. Danny Roberts and kevin jussette.
The “Belgian Bomber” has an 88% win rate, with 7 of his 8 wins coming by way of knockout.
This is a typical squash match. The 42-year-old former world champion faces off against an undefeated local rising star.
No further matches have been announced for PFL Brussels, but more match news is expected in the coming weeks.
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