Benson Henderson Gets Lightweight Title Shot Against Michael Chandler at Bellator 163

It might not have been the way he wanted to earn it, but Benson Henderson will receive a lightweight title shot against Michael Chandler at Bellator 163 on Nov. 19.

The matchup was announced following the Bellator 160 main event on Friday night. Henderson earned the No. 1 contender position with a bizarre stoppage victory over Patricio Freire at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Friday night. The Brazilian appeared to be winning the fight until he turned away from Henderson and asked out of the fight in the second round due to an apparent leg injury.

Bellator 163 takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and will also include a welterweight contest pitting Michael Page against Fernando Gonzalez. The evening’s main card will air on Spike TV.

The former UFC lightweight king, Henderson dropped a lopsided five-round verdict to Andrey Koreshkov for the welterweight title in his Bellator debut this past April. Chandler claimed the lightweight strap recently vacated by the UFC-bound Will Brooks with a vicious knockout of Patricky Freire at Bellator 157.