Bellator's deepest division will kick off the promotion's latest Grand Prix with a bang. The Bellator lightweight title is on the line inside the SAP Center. Two bouts will determine who advances for a chance for gold and $1 million.
In the main event, Usman Nurmagomedov defends the lightweight belt against former MMA champion Benson Henderson on March 10.
Nurmagomedov, the cousin of former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, started his career in Russia in 2017. Since moving from featherweight to lightweight, he has gone 12-0. Joining Bellator in 2021, Nurmagomedov beat Paricky Freire, who is in the Grand Prix, for the Bellator lightweight title.
With Henderson a step up in competition, Nurmogomedov is ready for an opportunity to showcase his skills on a bright stage. A win would give him all the momentum in the Grand Prix.
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“It doesn’t really matter to me because eventually I’ll have to get through them all anyway,” Nurmagomedov stated. “Benson is a great opponent because he is a great fighter with a great legacy, so for me to defeat him first will be a great leg up. It’s a great start because he’s very well-known. It will be a good thing for my resume.”
A Jiu-Jitsu specialist and a two-time NAIA All-American, Henderson turned pro in 2006. Winning WEC and UFC lightweight gold, Henderson defended the UFC belt three times. He beat the likes of Clay Guida, Frankie Edgar, and Nate Diaz. Joining Bellator in 2016, Henderson is 7-6 with the promotion. After going on a three-fight losing skid, Henderson recovered with two wins in a row. Henderson's last bout was a unanimous decision win over Peter Queally.
At 39, Henderson knows time is almost up. He is ready to hang up the gloves following this Grand Prix and focus his time on his wife Maria's fighting career. The underdog, Henderson's only focused on the task at hand.
“I have never once in my life looked at [betting] odds,” Henderson stated. “I don’t even know how odds work. I don’t pay attention to that. But I understand the underdog thing. I’ve been the underdog for large parts of my career. People remember when I was champion, and I was the favorite in those fights, but I was the underdog for a long time before that. I have no problem being the underdog. It’s a fight: to true veterans, it doesn’t matter. It’s a fight. All the other incidentals — the home crowd, the walkouts, this and that — don’t matter.”
The co-main event is another quarter-final bout featuring Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexandr Shabliy.
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Here is all the information you need ahead of Bellator 292, including time, channel, odds, card, and more.
When is Bellator 292: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson?
- Date: Friday, March 10 | Saturday, March 11
- Prelims: 7:30 p.m. ET | 12:30 a.m. GMT | 11:30 a.m. AEDT
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. GMT | 4:15 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
Bellator 291 takes place on March 11. The prelims start at 7:30 p.m. ET | 12:30 a.m. GMT | 11:30 a.m. AEDT with the main card at 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT. AEDT. Nurmagomedov and Henderson should make their way to the cage around 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. GMT | 4:15 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch Bellator 292: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. February 4 | Showtime, fuboTV |
| United Kingdom | Sun. February 5 | BBC iPlayer |
| Australia | Sun. February 5 | 10 Play |
In the U.S., you can watch Bellator 291 on Showtime, with the prelims on Bellator’s YouTube channel. It is also available to stream on fuboTV, which includes a free trial.
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In the U.K., the event will be available on BBC iPlayer. In Australia, you can watch on 10 Play.
Where is Bellator 292: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson?
Bellator 292 takes place inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The arena can hold up to 19,000+ people.
Betting odds for Bellator 292: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson
Per Caesars, Usman Nurmagomedov is the -2000 favorite, while Benson Henderson is the +1000 underdog.
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Bellator 292 fight card
Main card
- Usman Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Benson Henderson in a Bellator Grand Prix Quarter-Final bout for the Bellator lightweight title
- Tofiq Musayev vs. Alexandr Shabliy in a Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final bout
- Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell; Heavyweights
- Michael Page vs. Goiti Yamauchi; Welterweights
Prelims
- Erik Perez vs. Enrique Barzola; Bantamweights
- Josh Hill vs. Cass Bell; Bantamweights
- Khalid Murtazaliev vs. Tony Johnson; Middleweights
- Julius Anglickas vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov; Light Heavyweights
- Laird Anderson vs. Rogelio Luna; Featherweights
- Theo Haig vs. Adam Wansley; Middleweights