Saturday night’s UFC 161
headliner proved a tense, evenly matched clash of veteran fighters.
However, in what proved to be
a deciding third round, Rashad Evans (18-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) took the striking
edge and ultimately edged fellow ex-champion Dan Henderson (29-10 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
via split decision.
The decision, which easily
could have gone either way, seemingly caught Evans by surprise when the 28-29,
29-28 and 29-28 scores were read. Perhaps it was the satisfaction of knowing he
won a round when he truly needed it.
“After getting dropped in the
first round, I knew I won the second, but I needed to come out strong in the
third,” said Evans, who entered the fight while coming off the first
back-to-back losses of his career.
Despite Evans’ win, Henderson
landed the first substantial blow of the fight. After an initial feeling-out
process and the occasional firefight, Henderson caught his opponent with a
stiff jab just as Evans was moving in. Evans hit the deck and ate some
follow-up punches, but he quickly returned to his feet and shook off the cobwebs
before the round ended.
Evans returned the favor in
the second round with a powerful right hand, but Henderson answered with a
solid knee that forced both fighters to reset. Evans, clearly the quicker
fighter, remained the aggressor in the round, but with solid takedown defense
and quick footwork, Henderson proved game for a late-round exchange of punches
and elbows.
As a close contest entered the
final frame, Evans knew he needed the final round. He quickly buckled Henderson
with a quick flurry of blows but wisely reset once the veteran regained his
wits. (Source)
