When UFC president Dana White wrapped the UFC lightweight title belt around the waist of Anthony Pettis following UFC 164, the newly crowned champion raised his arms to the sky. While Pettis celebrated inside the Octagon, Ben Henderson stood and watched, his right arm hanging limp by his side.
The reason Henderson’s arm was useless to him that night in Milwaukee was due to the fact that Pettis had applied a devastatingly effective armbar from his guard. The technique forced Henderson to verbally submit and relinquish the title that he had held since defeating Frankie Edgar in February 2012.
When asked about his damaged arm, Henderson told Joe Rogan, “My arm’s killing me, dog.”
On Friday, Henderson revealed that he had the arm examined by Dr. Brian Shafer, the Los Angeles Dodgers team physician. Following the visit with the doctor, Henderson released a statement that said:
My elbow isn’t going to be an issue. Dr. Shafer said I can resume training immediately, but to take it slow and steady for a couple of weeks and do my rehab work. Of course, I am anxious to get going full speed again but I will be smart and patient about it as well.
I want to thank my hardcore fans for their awesome support, not just in the past week, but throughout my career. I can be better. I will be better.
Henderson fared better than Pettis in the injury department. UFC president Dana White tweeted that the new champion suffered a “Grade 2 sprain” to his knee. The injury will put Pettis out of action for seven weeks.
Pettis knows that he will be matched up against No. 3 ranked T.J. Grant in his first defense of the lightweight title. Henderson, the No. 1 ranked lightweight does not have an opponent for his next fight.
SBN coverage of UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis
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