Former two-time Bellator title challenger Benson Henderson is moving back up to welterweight.
Henderson is set to meet Jason Jackson in the co-main event of Bellator 253, which takes place next Thursday, Nov. 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the news to MMA Junkie after from Jackson initially revealed the matchup on social media.
Henderson (28-9 MMA, 5-4 BMMA), who fell short in capturing the welterweight title against Andrey Koreshkov in his Bellator debut, has competed at 155 pounds in his last eight fights. The former UFC lightweight champion saw his four-fight winning streak snapped by Michael Chandler in August at Bellator 243 and will be returning to 170 pounds when he takes on the streaking Jackson.
Winner of five of his past six, Jackson (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is coming off back-to-back unanimous decision wins over UFC veterans Kiichi Kunimoto and most recently Jordan Mein at Bellator 242 in July.
With the addition, the Bellator 253 lineup includes:
- Darrion Caldwell vs. A.J. McKee
- Benson Henderson vs. Jason Jackson
- Joey Davis vs. Bobby Lee
- Keith Lee vs. Raufeon Stots
- Matt Bessette vs. Jeremy Kennedy
- Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Shane Krutchen
- Kevin Ferguson Jr. vs. Kaheem Murray
- Gaston Bolanos vs. Johnny Soto
- Mark Lemminger vs. Jaleel Willis
- Ricardo Seixas vs. Marcus Surin
