Former lightweight champion Benson ‘Smooth’ Henderson relocated his training camp from MMA Lab in Glendale Arizona to a higher altitude location in Flagstaff to get him used to altitude for his fight in Albuquerque New Mexico. Four of Henderson’s teammates from MMA Lab who will be joining him on the card have also made the journey to Flagstaff to train.

Henderson spoke to MMAJunkie about training at altitude as well as his upcoming fight against Rustam Khabilov.

“What most people are sleeping on and don’t realize is that Albuquerque is a mile up. A lot of people go there for their high-elevation training. It’s a little over a mile up. That’s going to be a huge deal for myself and all the other fighters on the card.”

Henderson is no stranger to fighting at altitude however, his first fight with Frankie Edgar took place in Denver Colorado.

“It does take a lot out of you. We’re here in Flagstaff getting ready. We have five guys including myself from my gym fighting on this card, so we kind of moved our camp up here to Flagstaff to make sure we are ready and prepared for it. You have to make sure you’re ready for elevation.”