Looks like it will be trial by fire for the WEC vets, as former lightweight champ Ben Henderson has been booked to throw leather with Mark Bocek at UFC 129 in Toronto on April 30, according to MMAWeekly.com.
Henderson was close to earning himself a title shot in his debut with the world's largest fight promotion. That is until Anthony Pettis decided it was "Showtime" at WEC 53 and went all Mortal Kombat on "Bendo's" face.
Liu Kang would have been proud.
Now Henderson is left to pick up the pieces and attempt to make a "Smooth" transition to the UFC.
There's a red-headed Canadian with home-field advantage standing in the way of that.
Mark Bocek's last two victories have resulted in wallet-padding "Submission of the Night" winning performances. His triangle-armbar that sent Dustin Hazelett to the unemployment line after UFC 124 was a work of art.
After the win, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt asked for two things: to test his mat skills against George Sotiropoulos and a booking on the card when the UFC hit Toronto.
"Sots" already has plans in his native land of Australia but the higher ups obliged Bocek's wish to fight in his homeland on what should be he biggest event the organization has ever put together.
No pressure, fellas.
UFC 129 is expected to be headlined by the long-rumored welterweight title fight between Champion Georges St. Pierre and number one contender Jake Shields. Randy Couture vs Lyoto Machida is in the works to represent the co-main event of the evening.
Stay tuned to MMAMania.com for more on this still-developing fight card.
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