Seattle is to be entertained once again upon the second coming of the UFC to the Key Arena on December 8th, 2012. This time around a main event title fight populates the card with a lightweight championship bout between current champion Benson Henderson, and top contender Nate Diaz.
Henderson defending the belt for the second time will have his hands full with his opponent Diaz. Diaz, known for his unorthodox striking and slick submissions, solidified his top contender status returning to the lightweight division with dominant performances against Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone and Takanori Gomi. Henderson, on the other hand possesses the wrestling skills that troubled Diaz in his previous run at lightweight. Both fighters seem durable as they have never tasted defeat via knock out, although they both have been finished once by submission early in their careers.
Keys to defending the belt for Henderson:
- Focus on wrestling and ground control while staying out of submissions.
- Attack the legs when standing and not let Diaz get comfortable on the feet.
- Utilize his foot work and head movement to counter Diaz’s reach.
Winning the title for Diaz relies on:
- Using his reach and keeping Henderson on the outside.
- Good take down defense.
- If it goes to the ground; neutralize Henderson’s ground and pound and looking for a submission.
Will Henderson defend his belt or will there be a new lightweight champion to crown? Whatever the outcome of the fight, the clear winners are the fans. The Pacific Northwest will once again rejoice with the sounds coming from The Octagon.
Reporting: Saeed Bawaney