Benson Henderson Headlines PFL Brussels vs. Habirora

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson is set to make a long-awaited return to mixed martial arts, headlining the Professional Fighters League's event in Brussels, Belgium, on May 23, 2026. The 42-year-old veteran will face undefeated welterweight prospect Patrick Habirora in the main event at ING Arena, marking a generational clash at 170 pounds.

PFL officials announced the matchup on Monday, highlighting it as a bout between experience and emerging talent. Henderson, who last competed in MMA in March 2023, retired following a first-round submission loss to Usman Nurmagomedov in the Bellator lightweight grand prix quarterfinals. During his time away from the cage, the fighter known as "Smooth" has remained active across combat sports. He secured a win in Misfits Boxing earlier this year but suffered a loss to Anthony Pettis in Karate Combat in 2023 and a technical fall defeat to Aljamain Sterling in freestyle wrestling last weekend. Henderson's storied career includes a successful stint as UFC lightweight champion from 2012 to 2013, where he claimed the title from Frankie Edgar and defended it three times against opponents including Edgar, Nate Diaz and Gilbert...