Having successfully defended his UFC lightweight title this past weekend, champ Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson (17-2) will have little time to rest as he has to start thinking about his next opponent, Nate Diaz (16-7).
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news late Saturday night to
the media at the post-fight press conference for UFC 150, “Nate Diaz is
getting the next shot.”
White did not offer an event, or an event for this lightweight title bout.
Henderson had just won a very close split decision over Frankie Edgar
in the main event of UFC 150. The victory was Henderson’s fifth
straight since losing the WEC title to Anthony Pettis in December 2010.
‘Smooth’ beat Edgar for the title in their previous bout last February
in the main event of UFC 141.
Diaz has won three straight since returning to the lightweight
division, earning exciting victories over Takanori Gomi, Donald Cerrone,
and Jim Miller. Each of those wins also earned Diaz a “Fight Night”
bonus, with a “Submission of the Night” over Miller at UFC on FOX 3, a
“Fight of the Night” over Cerrone at UFC 141, and another “SotN” against
Gomi at UFC 135.