Benson Henderson searches for opponent at UFC 186 on Twitter

After a disappointing and controversial split decision loss to Al Iaquinta last weekend, it appears Jorge Masvidal wants to put it all behind him by getting right back in the saddle. The lightweight journeyman had reached a tentative agreement via Twitter to a welterweight bout with former 155-pound champion Benson Henderson later this month.

However it now seems like Benson has received an opponent and it’s not Masvidal after all. Who Henderson’s opponent will be is still unknown but he did tweet thanking Masvidal and Cathal Pendred for the offer but that it “looks like I just got my dance card stamped”.

Thx for the offer boys, @GamebredFighter @PendredMMA, but looks like I just got my dance card stamped…#Respect #RealRecognizeReal

— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) April 8, 2015

With T.J. Dillawshaw injured and the recent injunction preventing Quinton Jackson from fighting Fabio Maldonado at UFC 186, Henderson issued an open call to welterweights in an effort to rescue the card. No 170-pound fighters responded, except for Pendred who fights at 170lbs and Masvidal who had no hesitation in stepping up despite the jump in weight class.

We were scheduled before lets do it now!! #UFC186 @BensonHenderson @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta

— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) April 7, 2015

170 sounds good to me #UFC186 @BensonHenderson @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta

— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) April 7, 2015

Masvidal (28-9 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was originally scheduled to take on Henderson (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 63 last weekend, but when Henderson chose instead to take a last-minute welterweight bout against Brandon Thatch back in February, Al Iaquinta stepped in to face Masvidal. Henderson was victorious in his welterweight debut, while Masvidal slumped to a loss shrouded in controversy. Now, despite their divergence in fortunes, it seems the two fighters may have the opportunity to face off as first intended.

Irishman Cathal Pendred also accepted the challenge from the former champion, however this match up seems less likely with Pendred already scheduled for the Mexico main card against Augusto Montano.

@BensonHenderson @ufc I would be down for that. It would be an honour to fight a former UFC champ.

— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) April 7, 2015

@PendredMMA @ufc done…

— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) April 7, 2015

Nothing is official yet of course, but one would imagine the UFC will jump at the opportunity to bolster a card that has been plagued by injury and misfortune. UFC 186 is set to take place on April 25th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.