UFC 164: Benson Henderson vs Anthony pettis

**Kemal** · 21-08-2013, 18:44

NASCAR's Phoenix International Raceway sponsors UFC champ Benson Henderson

UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has a new sponsor – as well as pace-car duties at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix race in November.

Officials recently announced that Phoenix International Raceway, which hosts NASCAR's second-to-last event of 2013, has sponsored Henderson for his headliner with Anthony Pettis next week at UFC 164.

Henderson then will take a lap in the pace car at the Nov. 10 race, which airs on ESPN.

"We are truly delighted to be supporting Benson Henderson in his upcoming title fight," stated Phoenix International Raceway president Bryan R. Sperber, who's also sponsored Anderson Silva and Dominick Cruz ahead of past UFC title fights. "Having a local champion represented PIR in this important bout will be an exciting moment for all our NASCAR fans across the valley and around the state."

Working in conjunction with Niner Sports Marketing President and Founder Craig Conley, PIR's logo will be on Henderson's walkout T-shirt and fight banner for his Aug. 31 title fight.

Henderson, who lives in Phoenix, fights out of the MMA Lab in Glendale.

"I am so happy and honored to be part of the PIR family," Henderson stated. "Phoenix has become home for me, and I am so excited to be part of such a great event in my adopted hometown."

Henderson (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who looks for his record fourth consecutive UFC lightweight title defense, and Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a late replacement for injured T.J. Grant, first fought in 2010. In the WEC's final show, Pettis earned a unanimous-decision victory, aided by his late-fight "Showtime" kick, to take the WEC title. It remains Henderson's only loss in the past six-and-a-half years and his past 18 fights. He looks for revenge in next week's pay-per-view headliner.

**Kemal** · 23-08-2013, 08:03

Ben Rothwell gets TRT exemption for UFC 164, Frank Mir also gets TUE

A new fighter has been added to the list of MMA competitors with permission to use testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT).

UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell applied for and received a therapeutic use exemption in advance of UFC 164, a representative with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services told MMAjunkie.

Although the commission did not reveal if the exemption was for testosterone replacement therapy, sources close to Rothwell told MMAjunkie.com his TUE was for TRT.

Heavyweight Frank Mir also received an exemption for the event, which takes places Aug. 31 at Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The ex-UFC champ previously got permission to use TRT for a fight against then-champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 146. It's unknown whether he received any additional exemptions in earlier fights.

Rothwell and Mir were unavailable for comment at the time of this writing. Brandon Vera (12-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC), who fights Rothwell (32-9 MMA, 2-3 UFC) on the event's pay-per-view main card, simply said, "It won't help."

Former UFC champ Josh Barnett (32-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who fights Mir (16-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC), couldn't be reached for comment. But his manager, Leland LaBarre, said, "Josh has not requested or will he request any type of exemption whatsoever."

Earlier this month, MMAjunkie.com filed a public records request with the WDSPS, whose chief legal counsel, Michael J. Berndt, supplied a response.

Rothwell most recently appeared in the octagon at UFC on FX 7, where Gabriel Gonzaga submitted him in the second round. In five appearances with the promotion, he has hopscotched between wins and losses.

Mir most recently fought at UFC on FOX 7, where he lost a unanimous decision to Daniel Cormier in a lackluster affair. It was his second straight defeat, which included a TKO loss to dos Santos at UFC 146.

Other currently known users of TRT include Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson.

Initially neutral on TRT use, UFC President Dana White took a hard line against hormone therapy earlier this year, promising to "test the s--t" out of anyone using it and expressing his wish that athletic commissions would ban the treatment.

In June, the California State Athletic Commission put on hold all applications for TRT exemptions. It plans to rewrite its policies to make the approval process stricter.