HIGHLIGHTS: St-Pierre defeats Hendricks in controversial decision
Fight Blog Recap:
Round 1
Well, this is going to be fun. Can St-Pierre hold onto the belt or is Hendricks the man to end the legend's reign? Can't wait to find out.
Mario Yamasaki is the referee for this welterweight championship fight.
A little difference in the intros from Bruce Buffer. Lights go down and spotlights on the fighters. I like it. Nice touch.
Here we go.
Big left attempt from Hendricks and GSP takes him down. Guillotiine by GSP, but Hendricks slips out. Back up.
They fall into a clinch, throwing knees. Yamasaki breaks it up.
Hendricks throws and GSP goes for another takedown. Stuffed. GSP eating punches.
GSP still holding the takedown, Hendricks is landing elbows. Hendricks is a beast. So physically strong.
Hendricks takes GSP down. Wow.
GSP is up. Clinch again against the cage.
Hendricks throws a big left. Blocked. Round over.
Hendricks 10-9 -- Punches and elbows in a clinch plus a takedown. Hendricks opened up a cut on GSP's left eye. Good round by the challenger. Time for St-Pierre to adjust.
Round 2
Hendricks is smiling a lot.
GSP is opening up on the feet a bit. Hendricks hurts him with a left. Two, three uppercuts with that left hand.
GSP is hurt bad. The two are in a clinch and Yamasaki stops the action. Hendricks' mouthpiece fell out.
Hendricks is teeing off! No one has done this to GSP in a long time, if ever.
GSP's face is lumped up. Hendricks presses him against the cage.
GSP back to the jab. He's getting more comfortable striking. Good right by GSP.
Hendricks comes back with another left. Head kick by GSP.
They end up in a clinch. Loud "GSP!" chant. Hendricks' round though.
10-9 Hendricks -- The challenger tattooed GSP a couple times with that left hand. GSP looked way more smooth on the feet toward the end of the round and Hendricks slowed down. No idea what will happen from here.
Round 3
Good leg kick by GSP. Hendricks narrowly misses a knee to the head.
This is purely a boxing match.
Hendricks is a little tired. Nice right by GSP.
Left hook by GSP. Georges has really never had to come back before.
Good left by Hendricks. GSP is controlling the striking right now, though.
Good combo by GSP. And another.
Hendricks shoots in, pushes GSP against the cage. GSP is trying to stuff it, but he does not. Hendricks on top.
That could be enough to win him the round. GSP gets up. They're clinching.
10-9 GSP -- Hendricks might have stole the round late with that takedown, but I don't think so. GSP controlled the action standing, landed more strikes and did more damage.
Round 4
When was the last time GSP only landed one takedown? Unreal.
GSP counterpunching.
GSP slips and Hendricks is in top position. Bad break there.
GSP holding Hendricks in his guard. Elbow from Hendricks. Ground and pound. Good elbows by Hendricks.
Hendricks lets him up. Weird. GSP is busted open badly. Wow.
Hendricks lands a pair of lefts. Not as powerful as earlier, but still.
Hendricks has found a second wind here. GSP doesn't look good at all.
Big right hand by GSP. He shoots in for a takedown. No dice. Hendricks is a bull, man.
Hendricks looking for the takedown now. Didn't get it. A clinch against the cage. Now or never in this round for Georges.
Hendricks pushes him against the cage. The end will round there.
10-9 Hendricks -- Hendricks got top control and landed some nice ground and pound. GSP is busted up. Bad cut under his right eye. This is Johny's fight right now unless something incredible happens.
Round 5
GSP's face is all marked up. Hendricks doesn't have a bruise on him. Wow.
GSP has to go for broke. Never said that before.
GSP goes for a takedown. Hendricks' balance is uncanny. Cannot take the guy down.
Another clinch. Hendricks going for a takedown. I'm sure he's cool with staying in this clinch against the cage.
GSP hurts Hendricks with a combo and takes him down. Wow. Hendricks got a little cocky.
Hendricks sneaks out. GSP has him in a front headlock. Hendricks is up. Midway through the round now.
More clinching. Time is running out on GSP's title defense.
Yamasaki breaks them up.
Ninety seconds left now. Can GSP turn it on?
GSP going for a takedown against the cage. Nothing doing here. But he got him down briefly.
GSP still going for a takedown. You need a finish, dude. Stop going for a takedown.
GSP grabs for a kimura, but it's too late. That's it. The horn sounds.
Firas Zahabi picks up GSP likes he won. What?
10-9 GSP, 48-47 Hendricks -- We should have a new champion. Hendricks did more damage throughout, couldn't be taken down and pretty much dictated the entire fight. Let's see if the judges agree.
Official Result: Georges St-Pierre defeats Johny Hendricks by Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
