UFC lightweight champ Henderson connects with fans

Images of fantasy sports players as nerdy shut-ins and stat geeks with nothing better to do with their lives are cliches of the past.

If the stereotype had any kind of validity, Benson Henderson smashes it just like he does challengers to his Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title.

The 28-year-old is entering his "seventh or eighth" season as a devoted player, and he has found a way to combine his passion with his strong connection to his legions of fans.

Henderson is one of the most active fighters on Twitter. He constantly interacts with his more than 72,000 followers, and his "Insomniacs Unite" hashtag has become a staple among his fans who share his penchant for late-night discourse on everything from movies to religion.

After Henderson posted a few thoughts on fantasy football, a fan responded that he should participate in a league with some of his fans, and Henderson loved the idea.

Henderson posted trivia questions, and 11 followers earned entrance into the league by coming up with the correct answers. Fans flooded him with responses to each question hoping for the opportunity to participate.

"The fan reaction has been amazing," he said. "I thought it was a cool idea and would be a hit, but my tweeps went nuts. I definitely undersold how big I thought it'd be."

The social aspect of fantasy sports is what drew Henderson to the hobby in the first place.

"It's another way to just hang with my friends and have a good time," he said. "I've always been big in the NFL and the NBA and stats. Playing in fantasy leagues is a way to show off some of your useless sports knowledge."

With the NFL season kicking off tonight, most leagues already have selected their rosters. Henderson has a few sleeper selections for late drafters, though.

"I would say Jared Cook of the Tennessee Titans, Sam Bradford and whichever receiver he finds a good rapport with, Eric Decker of the Denver Broncos and, lastly, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks," Henderson said.

He also offers words of wisdom for any potential newcomers to fantasy football.

"My advice would have to be to stay away from playing in a league with me," he said.

If you enter a league and see the team "SmoothMoves," be prepared for a fight this season.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.