UFC Fight Night Live Blog Recap: Henderson wins split decision over Masvidal
Benson Henderson and Jorge Masvidal fought close for five rounds, Saturday, going back and forth with big strikes and grappling scrambles. In the end, two judges saw it for Henderson, while one saw it for Masvidal.
Henderson won his second straight fight at welterweight, this time in front of his mother's homeland of South Korea. Masvidal only had a week to adjust from preparing for a three-round fight to this five-round main event but still managed to fight with energy for all 25 minutes.
Benson Henderson (22-5) vs. Jorge Masvidal (29-9)
Round 1
Lots of feints from both men but Henderson connects solidly with a left cross to the head. Masvidal and Henderson each land body kicks.
Good jabs from Henderson. Masvidal comes in with a one-two punch combo to the head and gets countered with a right hook.
Henderson connects with a big shot that hurts Masvidal and then shoots in for a single-leg takedown. Masvidal gets free and returns fire with beautiful body punches.
Good body kick from Masvidal, then he fires off two head kicks with the same right leg that graze Henderson. Masvidal lands a flying knee but then gets pressed against the fence by a takedown attempt from Henderson.
He defends.
Round 2
Henderson lands a body kick but then trips after throwing a low one. Masvidal pounces on him, grabs a front headlock but Henderson gets free and up.
They trade wild fire on the feet. Henderson secures double underhooks and presses Masvidal against the cage.
Masvidal once again gets free, showing great takedown defense. The get back into grappling range and exchange front headlocks.
Henderson ends the round on top, firing knees to the body from the head and arm control.
Round 3
Henderson comes out firing, first, but Masvidal returns with his own head punch combo.
Henderson lands a nice left knee to the body, then a long cross to the gut. Henderson punches his way into another takedown attempt.
He presses Masvidal against the cage while looking for a double-leg. Henderson lands a reverse up-elbow to the head of Masvidal.
Nasty.
Masvidal brings Henderson up with underhooks and then drags him to the ground. Henderson gets back to his feet and looks for another takedown against the fence.
Masvidal looking for an arm-in guillotine choke but Henderson escapes. Masvidal gets free from this latest takedown attempt and then eats a seemingly accidental strike to the groin.
Henderson eats a kick to the groin with seconds left in the round. Henderson takes time then time resumes, then...no, referee Herb Dean lets the corners come in for the break.
Round 4
Henderson lands first, and stiffly, to the head of Masvidal. Henderson shoots in for another double-leg attempt.
Masvidal works in an underhook and presses Henderson against the cage. They get back to the center of the ring and trade punches until Henderson clinches up again.
Henderson presses Masvidal and then scores his first takedown. However, Masvidal comes out the back dor, gets up and takes top position, briefly, before pressing Henderson against the cage.
The former champion moves right to get away from the cage and then ducks under a punch to score another takedown. Masvidal pops right back to his feet and then takes Henderson's back, standing.
Henderson works a Kimura shoulder lock grip from in front. He sits down to try and work the lock but also gives up the takedown.
Henderson works his right leg up over Masvidal's left shoulder, looking for a rubber guard but his left leg is limp, not on the hip and live, and Masvidal passes guard and stands.
Henderson shoots a double knee strike at the close of the round.
Round 5
Masvidal lands a knee up to as Henderson leans in to punch low. Henderson tries another flying double knee and then follows up with a takedown attempt.
Henderson presses for a takedown but Masvidal locks on a tight guillotine. he uses it to drag Henderson down for the third time this fight.
Masvidal on top, against the cage. Henderson uses his great balance to get back up to his feet.
Masvidal misses with a spinning elbow, lands a knee. Henderson gets in with a body lock against the cage, looking for a takedown.
Henderson lands several big knees to the leg. Masvidal rolls out but Henderson briefly sticks mount.
Masvidal escapes and they trade positions in the clinch during a furious scramble. Henderson presses a seated Masvidal against the cage, looking to cleanly stick top position.
Henderson takes Masvidal's back, on the feet, and then drags him down with a trip. On the mat, Henderson looks for the back, but Masvidal turns towards him and scores his own little scoop takedown.
Henderson gets back to his feet and defends a single-leg takedown against the fence by going into full splits.
Official Decision: Henderson wins a split decision with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 47-48.
Round 1
Waters presses Kim against the cage, looking to take his back and then to score a double-leg takedown. Kim scores his own hip toss and lands in side mount.
Kim secures a crucifix position and hammers away to the face with punches. Waters trying to get his right arm free but Kim doing a great job of keeping it secured with his legs.
I wonder why Kim isn't trying short elbows instead of these punches. Oh well, the punches are enough to force the referee to step in and stop the fight.
Official Decision: Kim wins by TKO (ground strikes) at 3:11 of the first round.
Round 1
Akiyama and Mina trade leg kicks to start things off. They continue. Akiyama has a slight buckling of his right leg.
Mina lands a big overhand right. Mina certainly looks smoother and more comfortable on the feet, though no one is pouring it on, yet.
Mina shoots from far away for a double-leg takedown but Akiyama defends easily. Mina lands a big right cross to the head.
Mina shoots again and does score a double-leg. At the horn, Mina is on Akiyama's back, looking for a face-down arm bar.
Round 2
Akiyama backs Mina against the cage with punches to the head, hurting the Brazilian. Akiyama continues to score with his kicks to the lead leg of Mina, and they are doing serious damage.
Akiyama lands a huge uppercut to the head. Both men try to enter the clinch for judo throws off of punches, but neither secure the position.
Much better head movement from Akiyama now, in the second round. He scores another leg kick, then defends a takedown try from Mina, and the crowd roars.
Mina scores to the head with a big barrage of punches that hurt the Korean. Mina kicks Akiyama straight in the cup with a front snap kick.
He's down and out for a bit, taking his rest time. They resume action after a couple minutes.
Mina lands a big left hook to the chin and hurts Akiyama. The Korean gets free but eats more shots and falls again!
Mina continues his assault and takes Akiyama down at the round. Mina wins his second-straight round with that nasty near-finish.
Akiyama is cut open on his face, dazed, and wobbly on his feet. With just a few more moments that fight would have been over.
Another reason that rounds suck. Akiyama going to come out and possibly take more damage, in round three.
Round 3
Akiyima lands a huge uppercut to the head and then several more that hurt Mina. Mina works for takedowns but Akiyama defends.
Akiyama has somehow recovered enough to be fighting with energy. He lands another one-two to the head.
Mina's lead left leg is purple with welts from the leg kicks of Akiyama. Akiyama lands a one-two punch combo and then eats a cross to the head.
And, another from Mina! Mina having problems standing because of his lead leg being so bruised.
Mina a standing target because of limited mobility from his injured leg. He shoots in again, Akiyama defends and ends up on top in half guard.
Akiyama rains down punches and then stands and walks away. Mina slow to rise.
Mina shoots, misses, then Akiyama stands and walks away. The ref doesn't step in this time to give Mina space to get up, and Akiyama surprises him by lunging in with punches.
Akiyama finishes the round and fight with punches from on top.
Official Decision: Mina wins a split decision with scores of 29-28 (twice) and 28-29.
Round 1
Choi strikes first, with a two-one punch combo to the head. Sicilia answers back with a cross but then Choi drops him with another punch to the head!
Sicilia gets back up and rocks Cho with his own punch to the head! Choi lands a huge uppercut to the chin but Sicilia remains upright.
Choi attempts a takedown but the American defends well. These guys are throwing nothing but heat.
Choi lands a big right and then left hook that drops Sicilia once more, just as the crowd begans to chant for him. Choi follows up with ground strikes, knocking Sicilia out, cold, and the ref stops it.
They are calling it a TKO but that was a clean knockout.
Official Decision: Choi wins by knockout at 1:33 of the first round.
