← PFL Brussels: Habirora vs. Henderson
PFL Welterweight

Patrick Habirora VS Benson Henderson

ING Arena, Brussels, Belgium

Tale of the Tape

9-0-0 Record 30-13-0
25 Age 42
183 cm Height 175 cm
— Reach 178 cm
unknown Stance southpaw
89% Finish rate 47%
89% KO rate 17%
0% Sub rate 30%

Result Summary

Patrick Habirora def. Benson Henderson KO (punches) · R1 0:20

Patrick Habirora defeated Benson Henderson by TKO at 0:20 of round one to headline PFL Brussels at ING Arena in Brussels on May 23, 2026, improving his record to 9-0. The 25-year-old Belgian welterweight needed just 20 seconds to stop the contest, landing fight-ending strikes before the referee intervened. Henderson, the former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, was attempting his first fight since a 2023 loss to Usman Nurmagomedov and had no time to settle into his rhythm. For Habirora — headlining on home soil in a card bearing his name — the finish extended a run of seven stoppages in eight professional wins and marked a breakthrough performance against a legendary opponent.

Fight Overview

Patrick 'The Belgian Bomber' Habirora (8-0), one of Europe's most electrifying knockout artists with seven stoppages, headlines his home country as he faces former UFC and WEC Lightweight Champion Benson 'Smooth' Henderson (30-12), who returns from retirement to challenge the unbeaten Belgian prospect. Habirora brings explosive power and a relentless finishing instinct, while Henderson counters with championship-tested grappling, southpaw striking versatility, and decades of elite-level experience.

Keys to Victory

Patrick Habirora

  1. Keep the fight standing and force exchanges in the pocket where his knockout power is decisive.
  2. Use his length and reach advantage to land the 'Flash-Ball' power shots before Henderson closes distance.
  3. Cut off the cage to prevent Henderson from circling away and resetting after exchanges.

Benson Henderson

  1. Use takedowns early to neutralise Habirora's dangerous hands and grind through rounds on the mat.
  2. Circle laterally behind his southpaw jab to avoid the straight power shots that have finished seven opponents.
  3. Draw on championship-level experience to weather early pressure and impose a pace Habirora has not faced.

Last 5 fights

Patrick Habirora

  1. W Kevin Jousset KO · R1 2:42 · 13 DEC 2025
  2. W Danny Roberts KO · R1 4:32 · 5 JUL 2025
  3. W Dima Glevka KO · R1 0:00 · 7 FEB 2025
  4. W Catalin Safta KO · R3 2:16 · 14 DEC 2024
  5. W Alex Aston KO · R1 1:39 · 14 JUN 2024

Benson Henderson

  1. L Usman Nurmagomedov Submission · R1 2:37 · 10 MAR 2023
  2. W Peter Queally Decision · R5 5:00 · 23 SEPT 2022
  3. W Islam Mamedov Decision · R3 5:00 · 29 JAN 2022
  4. L Brent Primus Decision · R3 5:00 · 16 OCT 2021
  5. L Jason Jackson Decision · R3 5:00 · 19 NOV 2020

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AI-generated This analysis was generated with AI and may contain errors.

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