Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson likely going to welterweight

Benson Henderson is the former UFC lightweight champion, but his time in the division is likely numbered.

Henderson's coach John Crouch told UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani that the current plan is for Henderson to take one more fight at 155 pounds and then make the move up to welterweight. He doesn't want to leave lightweight off a loss. Henderson is coming off a knockout defeat against Rafael dos Anjos last month.

"He would like to see what it feels like to not cut weight," said Crouch, who runs The MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz. "The weight cut is irritating for him."

Henderson (21-4) plans on retiring at age 33, which is in two years. Crouch believes he will stick to that. Henderson realizes it could be awhile before getting another shot at the lightweight title since Anthony Pettis, who has beaten him twice already, is the current champion. That's another reason for the move up to 170.

Pettis defends the belt against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas and if Melendez wins, that could change things. Henderson already owns a victory over Melendez and he's still ranked No. 4 among lightweight contenders. But right now, a weight-class change remains in the works.

Henderson, 31, held the lightweight title from February 2012 until August 2013, when Pettis submitted him in the first round. The Washington native defended the belt three times.