Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar
Judges' Decision:
Henderson via split decision (48-47, 48-47, 46-49)
Wow. Henderson is nothing but respectful of Edgar in his victory and Edgar stays classy not questioning the judges. He is disappointed and admits that he thinks he had the decision, but thanks the fans and deserves credit for a strong performance.
Speaking of the fans, boos rain down from the rafters at the Pepsi Center. The crowd clearly thought a different decision was coming.
Makes you wonder what Dana White will have to say...
Another great night of fights. Thanks for following along.
Round 5 - The Final Round! Edgar brings it strong landing an early right hand and later another that puts Henderson on his backside. The Toms River, NJ fighter is giving Henderson a run for his belt. Henderson gets up quickly and doesn't shy away. More of Henderson patented side kicks find their target, but you can't help but feel that the judges are begging for someone to clearly take this fight.
Half the round remains and both men seem to be becoming more cautious. This is not the time! Edgar continue to counter Henderson's leg kicks with solid rights, while Henderson seems confused as to how to crack the "Edgar Round 5" code. Edgar catches Henderson with a strong kick to the shin that puts Henderson off balance. Edgar 10-9?
A few last minute flurries are thrown and this is extremely close. It's time for the judges' score cards...
Round 4 - Henderson picks up where he left off landing a strong left to Edgar's chin. Henderson seems to be trying to bait some activity from Edgar and might regret what he wishes for. Edgar takes Henderson to the canvas and while Henderson lands an upkick, Edgar has reapplied the choke.
Tons of time on the clock but the champ is the champ for a reason and escapes once again!
Mid-round the pace slows allwoing each fighter to catch their breath. Remember, the air in Denver is very thin, but both men have trained for it. A mouthpiece is lost but quickly replaced. Edgar lands a nice punch and leg kick, but his leg kicks aren't as effective as Henderson's. The round nears its close and Edgar catches Henderson's kick only to eat a few fists. Henderson brings the late round onslaught again, but Edgar counters with a great right claiming the round. Edgar 10-9
Round 3 - In what has become a thriller of a fight, kicks and knees are traded early in the 3rd with Henderson getting the better of it. Henderson realizes he has the edge and begins to charge Edgar more aggressively. Edgar lands a tough kick to the left side of Henderson, but neither man is showing signs of relenting. The kicks continue from both sides, but every time Edgar catches one of Henderson's kicks he fires back with some punishing fists. This round could easily go either way with 1 minunte left on the clock. Commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg acknowledge that this fight is very even. Henderson lands a heavy right hook at the end of the round and very well may take the champ's edge to win the round even though Edgar's kicks seemed to deal the most damage. Henderson 10-9.
Round 2 - Early in the round Henderson's leg kicks continue. He sweeps Edgar's leg out from under him and Edagr kisses the canvas again! Edgar gets up and spars for a few minutes before landing a solid punch that fazes Henderson and knocks him to the ground. Turnabout is fair play and this time it is Edgar who applies the choke. Except, Edgar has a lot more time. Henderson musters the strength to get back to his feet, but Edgar will not let go. If this goes on much longer, Edgar will burn out his arms and be in serious trouble is Henderson escapes. The choke has been applied for more than a minute and Henderson isn't quitting. Edgar does. He releases the choke and re-engages in boxing with some blood dripping from his nose. Edgar takes control again, grabbing Henderson's head, but no real damage is done this time. Henderson lands a late kick but this round was all Edgar. Edgar 10-9
Round 1 - This rematch is officially on! Edgar comes out earyl looking to find his kicking range. Henderson does the same. Edgar lands a low blow, but Henderson waves off referee Herb Dean. Henderson picks up his foot activity becoming more elsuive and Edgar is having a tough time landing his jab. Henderson meanwhile starts to land his leg kicks to the pleasure of the crowd. Another leg kick sends Edgar dropping to the ground and a scramble ensues. Neither man can get the better of it, and they rise back to their feet. Henderson has switched his stance and his continued leg kicks have incurred swelling on the calves of Edgar. Edgar, however, continues to fight unphased. You have to wonder if this will pay off down the road with this being a five round fight.
With 1 minute to go Edgar lands a nice kick of his own. Both fighter engage in the center of the Octagon and Henderson catches Edgar with a last second guillotine choke! It takes everything Edgar has to avoice tapping as the clock counts down. Mercifully the round ends and we move to round 2. Henderson 10-9
Preview - It's the champ vs. the former champ in a lightweight battle for the ages. Last time Edgar brought Henderson to the canvas 5 times, but still walked away with the loss. What will it take to dethrone Benson Henderson? Can it happen? We're about to find out.
Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard
Cerrone's ace in the hole is his grappling skills, but 'The Cowboy' has indicated that he's keen to have a standup war against his former training partner. If Cerrone gets Guillard to the ground it's game over given Melvin's poor submission/defensive skills, but will he work towards that advantageous position?
Does he need to?
Cerrone starts a high kick but Guillard catches him and he is badly hurt. Guillard is swarming all over him but Cerrone is able to weather the storm. Guillard catches him with a right cross but Cerrone knocks him out with a straight left after landing a glancing high kick. A total reversal in what may likely be fight of the night.
Winner: Cerrone via knockout (Round 1 - 1:16)
Jake Shields vs. Ed Herman
Round 3 - Herman gets an early takedown after the clinchfest but Shields gets back up quickly. Shields gets his own takedown and quickly moves to side control. Shields doing his usual pathetic ground and pound which is as good as nothing against Herman. Shields moves to mount. Working for an arm triangle. Herman moves Shields back to guard. Shields maintain position as the clock runs out playing the judges' scorecards as effectively (and boringly) as possible. I have it 29-28 to Shields with the judges having it 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 to Shields as well.
Winner: Shields via unanimous decision
Round 2 - They quickly clinch up again but Shields takes Herman down. Shields on top looking to work position. He's working towards a kimura but Herman does a good job defending. Shields then looks to mount Herman. Shields ground and pound is an ineffectual as always - which is the one saving grace for Herman. Crowd is starting to boo. Herman almost rolls out but Shields is equal to the challenge. Shields not doing much inside of Herman's guard but Herman is not able to do anything to escape. We have, in other words, reached a stalemate. Shields' round as the crowd boos more. Shields 10-9
Round 1 - Shields only got to Denver this week. So he has not trained at altitude for a fight against somebody who trains there all the time. That could prove telling. Shields lands first with a kick but Herman is throwing more early. Herman takes down Shields but they quickly rise back to their feet. They're jockeying for position and Shields takes control first, returning the fight to the ground. Still, little to write hom eabout. Back up again, Herman lays in some knees to Shields' mid-section and some elbows in the clinch. Shields goes for a late takedown, but Herman successfully blocks it. Herman 10-9.
Buddy Roberts vs. Yushin Okami
Round 2 - Roberts tries to push the action but is buckled by Okami. He does however fire back with a solid left. Okami bull-rushes forward to tie up Roberts. He drags Roberts to the floor but its so unclean that it shows why he cannot perform against anyone with any takedown defense. Okami on top in half-guard but is not really mounting much offense. Okami manages to move to full mount. Roberts gives up his back and Okami has the same positional advantage he had towards the end of the first round with Roberts complete flat on his stomach as Okami lays in the punches. Herb Dean has seen enough and ends the fight at three minutes and five seconds.
Winner: Yushin Okami via TKO (Round 2 - 3:05)
Round 1 - HERE WE GO! Roberts rushes Okami. Roberts looks undersized. Roberts clips Okami with an overhand right. Clips him again. Roberts wings another punch but misses. Okami connects with a straight punch. Okami takes center stage but Roberts connects with a left hook and hurts Okami. Okami ties Roberts up and looks for the takedown up against the cage. Roberts is fighting it but Okami has his back. Okami finally gets him down after Roberts puts up a hell of a fight. Roberts attacks off the back. Okami is in Roberts guard but at the moment unable to really mount any offense. Okami looking to move to side control but Roberts resisting. Okami manages to move to full mount and defensively rolls onto his stomach. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Okami rains blows onto Roberts with Roberts mounting almost no defense. Lucky for Roberts, the round ends. 10-9 Okami.
Max Holloway vs. Justin Lawrence
Round 2 - Of course if Holloway wants to prove he's a true
Kempo Karate specialist then he will move from the low blow to the
eye poke at some point. Otherwise he's some lame anorexic Cheick
Kongo wannabe. Lawrence tries some non-kempo karate and actual
lands something. Not only that but it's above the waist. Who would
have thunk it! Nothing is really happening - yet another reason to
regret the lighter weight classes leaving the smaller WEC cage.
Crowd is noticing nothing is happening - SO YOU KNOW NOTHING IS
HAPPENING! Holloway connects with a clean right hand and a body
kick. Lawrence misses with a right hand but ducks under a Holloway
counterpunch. Holloway does well with a double jab and right cross.
Statistics say Lawrence is landing but I haven't seem him doing
anything of note. So I DEMAND an excel spreadsheet to prove he's
landing something. Back off Joe Rogan - I ain't looking at his face
- I want a spreadsheet. Lawrence tries a takedown but it is
unsuccessful. Holloway's doing well in connecting with his lead
punches. Lawrence tries to fire back but Holloway is fighting
within himself and yet is still comfortable. Holloway tags Lawrence
with a knee and then a "Biden Talking About Obama Before He Was His
Boss" left hand, and all of sudden Holloway is all over him to
secure the finish.
Winner: Max Holloway via TKO at (Round 2 - 4:49)
Round 1 - Why is this on the man card again? Another kinda kempo kick again. Holloway lands a straight punch. Holloway clips Lawrence. Lawrence kips ducking and moving when Holloway mounts offense. Holloway throws the jag and some kicks. Lawrence tries the overhand punch but it's blocked. Holloway attempts a kick to the body but it lands low. ANYONE WOULD THINK HE DOES KEMPO KARATE!!! Lawrence walks off balls death. Well done. Holloway is pushing the action. Holloway tries a hook but Lawerence attempts a takedown. Doesn't work and we're back in the center of the Octagon. Lawrence lands a low kick. Lawrence lands a nice overhand punch. Holloway misses but apparently that means he's finding his rhythm according to Rogan. Lawrence is winning this standup battle. Holloway tries a flying knee and catches Lawrence low - did I mention he did KEMPO KARATE!?! Lawrence 10-9.... although it'd be a 10-7 round if low blows were legal as in KEMPO KARATE!!!!
Tommy Hayden vs. Dennis Bermudez
Round 1 - Dennis 'The Menace' is ready to put Hayden to the test and does it early literally muscling Hayden off the ground and flat onto his back with a single leg takedown. No damage on the canvas as the fight quickly returns to standing. After a brief exchange, Bermudez attempts to take Hayden's back, but is unsuccessful. Bermudez hits Hayden with a knee getting up, but it's 20 seconds later when Hayden floors Bermudez a knee of his own. With Bermudez stunned, Hayden goes for the choke, but Bermudez defends that and the subsequent armbar attempt during the escape. The fight flips again with Bermudez landing a late front kick and applying a front choke to Hayden. 10 seconds later, it's tap time. A solid win for the TUF finalist caps of a great set of prelims.
Winner: Bermudez via guillotine submission (Round 1 - 4:43)
Michael Kuiper vs. Jared Hamman
Round 2 - Hamman revealed to his corner that he has a torn muscle in his leg, and Kuiper makes him pay immediately with a solid leg kick. Hamman grimaces in pain, but soldiers on. The guys trade blows in the center of the Octagon and then Kuiper lays Hamman out at the sied of the cage. Somehow, Hamman find the strength to get up. This is all heart, but all Kuiper's fight. It's actually painful to watch Hamman fight to stay in this. Fortunately, the ref steps in.
Winner: Kuiper via TKO (Round 2 - 2:16)
Round 1 - Hamman starts off exhibiting his kickboxing with some leg kicks and establishes himself as the attacker. Kuiper presses forward but doesn't throw many blows. Kuiper tries to work Hamman agains the cage to throw some fists, but doesn't find much success. Kuiper changes plans, puts Hamman in the clinch and takes him down to the ground using some nice judo. This is a control shift. As the fight moves back to standing, Kuiper lands some heavy fists and has Hamman is dazed. Hamman wobbles around the Octagon, but Kuiper can't seem to land that finishing blow. The round ends and Hamman limps back to his corner. A leg injury? 10-9 Kuiper
Erik Perez vs. Ken Stone
Round 1 - This bantamweight brawl begins with Perez ranging Stone with an inside leg kick. Stone lands a right, but then BOOM! Perez returns the favor rocking Stone to the ground with a vicious right. Perez, chases Stone's fallen body to the ground landing a few more blows before Herb Dean jumps in to stop the fight. Stone looks like he recovered and could continue, but Perez definitely put Stone out for a few seconds there. It's the fastest bantamweight TKO in UFC history!
Winner: Perez via TKO (Round 1 - 0:17)
Chico Camus vs. Dustin Pague
Round 3 - Pague rushes Camus in round 3 taking Camus' back and locking in a triangle within the first 30 seconds. Camus rolls to his side trying to weaken the body lock, but Pague maintains position. After 2 minutes, Camus flips around and assumes top position and fights his way into half guard. It's a grappling match with a few elbows. Camus showing some solid control from both offense and defense and with 1 minute to go, he takes Pague's back landing multiple fists to Pague's face. A late rear naked choke attempt goes unfinished, but Camus clearly placed the round in his favor.
Winner: Camus via unanimous decision
Round 2 - And reverse it. Pague catches one of Camus' kicks and takes him down. Both fighters return to their feet before Camus delivers a big hook to Pague returning the fight to the ground. Camus moves from half guard to side guard and rains occasional blows, but Pague forces Camus back into full guard, showing some solid defense. Pague tries to return some damage, but Camus is owning this round. Too bad the crowd isn't pleased as boos bring an end to the round. 10-9 Camus
Round 1 - Both guys come out of the gate on some serious caffeine with Pague throwing an early spinning back first, but missing. Camus lands an early jab, grabs a misplaced kick and takes Pague to the canvas. Pague takes over from there placing a triangle on Camus and landing some heavy elbows. Camus may be on top, but he's facing serious danger. After spending half the round in this spot, Pague loses the triangle and Camus returns the favor with some punches and elbows of his own. Pague rolls to a shoulder lock but fails on two attempts. Camus cuts Pague witha nasty elbow and now we have to wonder how exhausted each guy will be headed into round 2. 10-9 Pague
Eiji Mitsuoka vs. Nik Lentz
Round 1 - With Arianny's walk, UFC 150 is officially on. Lentz brings the aggression early putting Mitsuoka in a early headlock. Mitsuoka keeps attempting to shoot for a leg, but Lentz' sprawl is on point. Lentz takes Mitsuoka's back and is dominating the round. On the ground, Lentz exhibits some solid grappling and it's all Mitsuoka can do to simply mitigate damage. Welcome to the Lentz show. 4/4 on takedowns and some pounding to the face late in the round is all Nik needed to make the ref step in.
Winner: Lentz via TKO (1st Round - 3:45)
Preliminary Card:
Eiji Mitsuoka vs. Nik Lentz
Chico Camus vs. Dustin Pague
Erik Perez vs. Ken Stone
Michael Kuiper vs. Jared Hamman
Tommy Hayden vs. Dennis Bermudez
Main Card:
Max Holloway vs. Justin Lawrence
Buddy Roberts vs. Yushin Okami
Ed Herman vs. Jake Shields
Melvin Guillard vs. Donald Cerrone
Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson
