Benson Henderson is determined to regain the UFC lightweight championship, and he doesn’t care who he has to go through to get it.

Prior to his most recent fight, Henderson was on the verge of becoming the most successful 155-pound titleholder in UFC history. But before he could make a record fourth defense of his belt, Anthony Pettis took the belt from “Smooth,” much like he did in the WEC a few years before.

Henderson hadn’t tasted defeat inside the UFC octagon up to that point, but in just under five minutes, “Showtime” took everything he’d worked for, most importantly the UFC title.

“The lesson I took away from the loss is I just made a mistake,” Henderson told MMAjunkie. “Everyone makes mistakes in their fights. Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre – everybody.

“Every fighter makes mistakes in their fights. The goal is to make those holes in your game smaller and smaller and smaller – make those mistakes happen less frequently.”

As Henderson said, even the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters have losses on their record, but the ability to bounce back is what separates the average from the elite. Henderson is aware of this, and while he certainly isn’t happy with losing in one of the most important moments of his career, he knows things can only get better.

“I made a mistake, and he capitalized on it,” Henderson said of Pettis. “He did a great job. Hats off to him. That’s why he has the belt right now. He was able to capitalize on a small mistake and finished the armbar. So the lesson from that fight is the same as all fights. How do I get better? How do I improve? How do I learn how to not make the next mistake?”

Henderson (19-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) hopes for a mistake-free performance in his next outing, where he faces former Strikeforce titleholder Josh Thomson (20-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in UFC on FOX 10’s main event, which takes place Jan. 25 from Chicago’s United Center in Chicago.

Thomson was supposed to challenge Pettis for the lightweight belt this past month, but the champion was forced to undergo knee surgery, and the fight with Henderson was booked instead. “The Punk” is one of the division’s more well-rounded and experienced fighters, which is why Henderson expects to be involved in one of the most action-packed fights of his career.

“I see this one being a war,” Henderson said. “I know he can go five rounds. He’s a true veteran of the game. You know he’s going to be prepared, going to be ready. He’s trained with so many guys in his MMA career and fought so many guys that there’s not going to be a whole lot that surprises him.

“I see this fight being a tough, knockdown, drag-out war – a battle of attrition. I need to make sure I win that battle.”

While there is limited tension between Henderson and Thomson going into the network-televised fight, the two fighters do have a bit of a history that was rehashed when the matchup was signed. A few years ago, Henderson was WEC lightweight champion, and Thomson was in Strikeforce. At the time Thomson questioned whether Henderson and the WEC’s other 155-pound fighters were deserving of the top-10 rankings they were receiving.

Little came of the situation at the time since the fighters were in different organizations, but years later, Henderson said he hasn’t forgotten those comments.

“I have a pretty good memory, and I remember when guys talk smack about me,” Henderson said. “I remember when other fighters say something derogatory about me. I don’t forget that stuff.”

The UFC on FOX 10 main event marks the sixth consecutive UFC headliner for Henderson. However, it’s also one that comes during a special moment in his personal life. Those who follow Henderson’s career will remember when he proposed to his then-girlfriend inside the octagon after his split-decision victory over Gilbert Melendez at UFC on FOX 7 this past year. Their wedding took place just a few weeks ago, though Henderson said it’s been far from a distraction.

“[The wedding] didn’t really take my attention away,” he said. “I knew I can do a pretty good job of having my work life be work and my home life be home. I was able to keep the two separate, stay concentrated on Josh on the 25th. That’s the only thing I need to do.

“It took a little bit of advanced planning. I had to wake up a little earlier to get training sessions in or have a little bit later workout session – make sure I get in on time, leave on time to do this or do that. But there were no distractions or anything like that.”

With the wedding behind him and the honeymoon not taking place until after the fight, Henderson’s sole focus is now on the task at hand, which it to avoid losing two consecutive bouts for the first time in his seven-year pro career. UFC President Dana White has said it’ll take a lot of work for Henderson to get another fight with Pettis, but regardless, the ex-champ doesn’t let that deter him from his goal of becoming the UFC’s first multi-time lightweight champion.

“I’m the No. 1 contender, so after I beat Josh, I think I’m at No. 1 still,” Henderson said. “There’s nowhere to go for me except a title shot. I’m the No. 1 contender, and after I beat the next guy, I’ll stay No. 1 contender.

“I will have that belt around my waist again.”

For more on UFC on FOX 10, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.