Federal Way native Benson Henderson will defend his UFC lightweight championship against Nate Diaz on Saturday, Dec. 8 inside Seattle's KeyArena. The fight will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Henderson, a Decatur High School graduate, is fresh off back-to-back victories over former champion Frankie Edgar and is also unbeaten since joining the UFC in 2011. Meanwhile, Diaz has reeled off three consecutive wins over Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone and Takanori Gomi.

Tickets for the UFC on FOX 5 fight go on sale Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. and are priced at $300, $200, $125, $75 and $50. Tickets are available at the KeyArena Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

Henderson, 28, began his wrestling career during his time at Lakota Middle School and continued wrestling at Decatur, where he competed under head coach Mike Bressler.

His prep career culminated with a second-place finish at the 2001 Mat Classic state wrestling championships inside the Tacoma Dome, losing in the 135-pound title match.

Three other outstanding fights round out the main card in Seattle. Former light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua meets Alexander Gustafsson in a bout that could secure the winner a title shot, while former two-division UFC champion BJ Penn meets rising Canadian star Rory MacDonald in welterweight action. Mike Swick also battles Matt Brown in a bout between two of the sport’s most exciting 170-pounders. All of the main card action airs live on FOX at 5 p.m.

“The fans in Seattle are amazing and I love holding events there,” UFC President Dana White said. “This is an incredible card for the fans in Seattle.”

 

Contact Federal Way Mirror Sports editor Casey Olson at sports@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565 ext. 5056.

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