New UFC Champ Ben Henderson was rejected from The Ultimate Fighter's ninth season in 2009

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Every fighter has to start somewhere to make their way to the top. For most, it's a tough and grinding road where continued success in the cage is only the first step towards gaining recognition.

For some others, they get their shot earlier through The Ultimate Fighter, with a chance to make a splash with some exposure. Many don't even make the show, but some of those rejected fighters still work their way onto the big stage.

In one rare case, one of those rejects has found himself all the way at the top.

Newly crowned UFC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson tried to get his first big break through The Ultimate Fighter's ninth season, and his audition video has been uncovered and is making the rounds. Check it out below:



Video URL: http://youtu.be/_SWVEJ-LqiE

Instead of making it onto the show or even being brought into the UFC, Henderson's shot was in the UFC's sister promotion World Extreme Cagefighting. He made his debut in the WEC right around the time TUF 9 began filming, and took the long road to stardom. Still, the long road was well worth it for Henderson, as it has culminated in the UFC Lightweight Championship around his waist, while only TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson remains in the UFC from that season's lightweight cast.

[Ben Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12641.shtml

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