--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know that I would be the UFC…" description: "\"I didn't know that I would be the UFC champion. Did I intend on being the UFC champ? Yeah, absolutely. I didn't exactly see myself doing this as a full..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/benson-henderson-4558_champion_i-didn-t-know-that-i-would-be-the-ufc-ch_1089035.jpg" --- # I didn't know that I would be the UFC champion. Did I… ![“I didn't know that I would be the UFC champion. Did I intend on being the UFC champ? Yeah, absolutely. I didn't exactly see myself doing this as a full time job or career but I certainly intended for it when I started down this path.” quote by Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/benson-henderson-4558_champion_i-didn-t-know-that-i-would-be-the-ufc-ch_1089035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/benson-henderson-4558_champion_i-didn-t-know-that-i-would-be-the-ufc-ch_1089035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/benson-henderson-4558_champion_i-didn-t-know-that-i-would-be-the-ufc-ch_1089035.jpg) > “I didn't know that I would be the UFC champion. Did I intend on being the UFC champ? Yeah, absolutely. I didn't exactly see myself doing this as a full time job or career but I certainly intended for it when I started down this path.” [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He never imagined becoming champion, yet he pursued the goal despite uncertainty. **In simple terms:** He didn’t expect success but kept aiming. Key Takeaway Set ambitious goals even without certainty. Themes sports ambition self‑belief Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career transitions - athletic training - personal development Key Concepts goal setting career planning psychology Questions to Reflect On - What fuels perseverance despite doubt? - How do you handle unexpected success? A Different Perspective Success may require external support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Champion Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion-did-2562028/) [Intend Ufc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intend-ufc-2804990/) [Know Ufc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-ufc-1028961/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [UFC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc/) [Ufc Champ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc-champ-325543/) [Ufc Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc-champion-876235/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [Talking to my trainer Eric Turner like my second or third amateur fight, I'm like how far can I make it? He said you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/talking-to-my-trainer-eric-turner-like-my-second-or-third-amateur/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [I've never turned down a fight in the UFC. Even when I was champ, I never turned down a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-lesnar/i-ve-never-turned-down-a-fight-in-the-ufc-even-when-i-was-champ-i/) [Brock Lesnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-lesnar/) > [I know the UFC's a big organization, the best athletes and fighters are here, so... every third or fourth month, I'm ready to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-know-the-ufc-s-a-big-organization-the-best-athletes-and-fighters/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I don't know if I will take the UFC title, but I will die trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-don-t-know-if-i-will-take-the-ufc-title-but-i-will-die-trying/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [I know that UFC doesn't have the best fighters, especially in the lighter weight classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/i-know-that-ufc-doesn-t-have-the-best-fighters-especially-in-the/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [Fighter, father, husband - it's all the same person. I know the UFC stereotype is that we're all thugs. But I'd like people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/fighter-father-husband-it-s-all-the-same-person-i-know-the-ufc/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [Of course, we all know what UFC stands for - Undefeated Floyd's Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/of-course-we-all-know-what-ufc-stands-for-undefeated-floyd-s-champion/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [I've let go of the dream of becoming a UFC champion that I held in my heart my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/i-ve-let-go-of-the-dream-of-becoming-a-ufc-champion-that-i-held-in-my/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [We're not making millions and millions of dollars doing this, so for me it's more of a goal for me to say that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/we-re-not-making-millions-and-millions-of-dollars-doing-this-so-for/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [When I started fighting I've always thought about being a UFC champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-manuwa/when-i-started-fighting-i-ve-always-thought-about-being-a-ufc-champion/) [Jimi Manuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-manuwa/) > [Will I become a UFC champion some day? I know I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/will-i-become-a-ufc-champion-some-day-i-know-i-will/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [If no one knew that I was trans - let's say that I made it very, very far. Let's say I went to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-fox/if-no-one-knew-that-i-was-trans-let-s-say-that-i-made-it-very-very/) [Fallon Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-fox/) > [My dream has always been to be a UFC champion. It wasn't to be a main event fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-benavidez/my-dream-has-always-been-to-be-a-ufc-champion-it-wasn-t-to-be-a-main/) [Joseph Benavidez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-benavidez/) > [I feel great being the first Mexican heavyweight UFC champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cain-velasquez/i-feel-great-being-the-first-mexican-heavyweight-ufc-champion/) [Cain Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cain-velasquez/) > [I've got to be motivated. I've got to fight whoever I've got to fight because in my mind and in my heart, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-luque/i-ve-got-to-be-motivated-i-ve-got-to-fight-whoever-i-ve-got-to-fight/) [Vicente Luque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-luque/) ## More by Benson Henderson > [It's about how much hard work you put in and who works harder - that's who wins the fights. The fight itself, when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/it-s-about-how-much-hard-work-you-put-in-and-who-works-harder-that-s/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [Of course to be a legend of the sport you have to truly have to have a love for MMA. You can be successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/of-course-to-be-a-legend-of-the-sport-you-have-to-truly-have-to-have/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [Once you reach a certain point in your career, every fight is a new big fight, biggest fight of your life, biggest fight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/once-you-reach-a-certain-point-in-your-career-every-fight-is-a-new/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [You want to be on TV, I want to be on TV, I want to be a part of 20 million viewers, new fans.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/you-want-to-be-on-tv-i-want-to-be-on-tv-i-want-to-be-a-part-of-20/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I've never been one of those guys who is going to hold out and wait for a title shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-guys-who-is-going-to-hold-out-and-wait/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I will fight Chandler again and I will make him quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-will-fight-chandler-again-and-i-will-make-him-quit/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I do my talking inside the Octagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-do-my-talking-inside-the-octagon/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I just go out there and do what I do and the reason I think the Diaz's are so great, the reason they're so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-just-go-out-there-and-do-what-i-do-and-the-reason-i-think-the-diaz/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I'm always trying to add new tricks, work on my fundamentals, and get better and improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-m-always-trying-to-add-new-tricks-work-on-my-fundamentals-and-get/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [A lot of guys need to get back in shape, I'm in the gym all the time so I don't really lose my conditioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/a-lot-of-guys-need-to-get-back-in-shape-i-m-in-the-gym-all-the-time/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [Do you want to be famous, or do you want to have actual money to take care of your family down the line? I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/do-you-want-to-be-famous-or-do-you-want-to-have-actual-money-to-take/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I'm always in the gym, six hours a day. I'm in the gym all the time, six days a week. It's one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-m-always-in-the-gym-six-hours-a-day-i-m-in-the-gym-all-the-time-six/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I would like to fight for the Brazilian fans. I would like to fight Aldo in Brazil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-would-like-to-fight-for-the-brazilian-fans-i-would-like-to-fight/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [If it comes it comes. But you can't look for a finish. If you look for a home run ball you'll never hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/if-it-comes-it-comes-but-you-can-t-look-for-a-finish-if-you-look-for/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [You want to say you're the best on the planet? Well, prove it by beating this person and that person. Beat everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/you-want-to-say-you-re-the-best-on-the-planet-well-prove-it-by/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) [Explore all 109 Benson Henderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) ## More Champion quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The truth is the Vintage Vitor never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/the-truth-is-the-vintage-vitor-never-left/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Winners are born, Champions are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/winners-are-born-champions-are-made/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) [Toshihiko Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toshihiko-seko/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 2,649 Champion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know that I would be the UFC champion. Did I intend on being the UFC champ? Yeah, absolutely. 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