UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson Thread

Shogun/Henderson has now become my favourite fight of ALL-TIME. I didn't even have one before, but now I'll definitely refer to this if asked the question.

I scored the last round a 10-8 for Shogun, which would have made it a draw. Either way, a rematch is a must in the future.

^ Yeah, the decision was definitely tight. Before it was announced, I had it either a split for Hendo or a draw. I almost couldn't decide between the two. It was close. I was surprised it was a unanimous decision for Hendo. I don't think there was a unanimous loser in a fight like that. Both guys fought their friggin' asses off and left everything they had in the Octagon.

I would've been happy either way had Shogun won instead. I am definitely happy Hendo won, don't get me wrong, but it was a very close fight. I think it should've been a draw.

I too, would LOVE to see a rematch at some point. I don't think they'd do one right away though. They got to go their separate ways for now, but I have a feeling they'll meet up again and what a fight that will be all over again.

Even though Hendo won the fight by UD, I believe the REAL winners are us, the fans. We were treated to an incredible 5-round Main Event. I think it'll be a LONG time before a fight matches that kind of quality again.

I thought the Unanimous Decision/exact scores was a bit odd - it looks like Hendo won the first 3 rounds 10-9, then Shogun the next 2, 10-9. I think judges are too afraid or unwilling to give out 10-8 rounds though... it just seems unfair to score a round where someone "just nicks it" 10-9 the same as a round where a fighter is close to finishing a fight (ie. Hendo in the 3rd), or totally dominating a round (Shogun in the 5th) - those rounds could and probably should have been scored 10-8, imo.

I don't think the judges are scared of giving out 10-8 rounds because they gave Bonnar 2 of them in his fight. One of the judges scored the Bonnar fight 30-25. If Bonnar was 30-25 then how the hell is Shogun still only 48-47?

There weren't even any 10-8's given.

Good card, though the venue I watched it at had come of the most dubious punters ever...one whistlign for Shogun to 'finish the other bloke'....*tsk tsk*

That aside, the main event was great, as was Wanderlei and Cung Le; Faber/Bowles was good too, wasn't impressed with Bonnar/Kingsbury or Kampmann/Story.

Looking forward to UFC 140.

Why is it such a bad thing that he got knocked down by Cung Le? The dude isn't some jello-armed fluke, he's a Tae Kwan Do black belt and he hits hard. I'm sure that spinning backfist woulda dropped many dudes, not just Wanderlei. I'm actually impressed at how Wandy was able to pace himself and pick his shots instead of diving in head first and getting KO'd.

No reason he shouldn't continue fighting as long as he's winning. Especially in TKO/KO fashion.

Dan Henderson (29-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC) had prepared himself for a five-round fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC). But a bug he'd caught the week prior to UFC 139 sapped his strength and left him so dehydrated that he needed IV fluids following a bout that's been called one of the best in UFC history.

On his way to a unanimous decision over Rua in the headliner of this past Saturday's event, Henderson also suffered a sprained thumb but managed to escape a trip afterward to the hospital with no more than a few Motrin. A small cut underneath his chin didn't require stitches.

"He'd been ill throughout the week, so the five-round fight was pretty tough on his body," Aaron Crecy, Henderson's business partner, on Sunday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He was having trouble breathing because he was so dehydrated."

UFC 139 took place at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and its main card aired live on pay-per-view.

Henderson noticeably slowed and at one point teetered unstably after taking punches in the championship rounds of the fight, which allowed Rua to surge back on the scorecards after falling behind in the first three. All three judges called the contest 48-47 in Henderson's favor.

Crecy said the bug Henderson caught, possibly the flu or a chest cold, also had stricken several fighters on the Nov. 19 card. UFC president Dana White said he was under the weather in advance of the event and took to giving fighters fist bumps at the weigh-ins instead of hand shakes.

"Going into this fight, Dan felt like a five-round fight was to his benefit," Crecy said. "He was in great shape. It was just unfortunate. And the other thing was that 'Shogun' was just tough, man."

Crecy, who caught the bug himself, was unaware of whether a medical suspension was immediately issued to Henderson by the California State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the event, thought it's all but certain the fighter will receive some sort of sanction.

Henderson and Rua were almost immediately shuttled to the hospital at the conclusion of the fight and took a picture together at the hospital. Henderson then made an appearance at an event afterparty before retiring to get some much-needed rest.

"I want a title shot next," the former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion tweeted Saturday night.

Sales of a limited edition walkout T-shirt made by Clinch Gear, a clothing company owned by Henderson, soared after the fight. Clinch Gear this past week announced a drive to feed needy families by subsidizing a Thanksgiving meal for a family of four for every shirt sold. The drive, which benefits the San Diego Rescue Mission and the Denver Rescue Mission, ends on Thursday.

White said he scored Henderson vs. Rua a draw for its back and forth action but was effusive in his praise of both fighters.

"Every time you come off a fight like that, you're going crazy, but that's without a doubt one of the best fights ever in MMA – without a doubt," he said. "I have so much respect for both of those guys to dig down that deep in a five-round fight."

As for what's next, Henderson has expressed openness to fighting at either middleweight, where he's spent the bulk of his career, or at light-heavyweight, though his distaste for weight-cutting would probably push him toward the latter.

A rematch with middleweight champ Anderson Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) has long piqued Henderson's interest, though it appears Silva is headed to a rematch with former Henderson teammate Chael Sonnen (26-11-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC). Meanwhile, light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones (14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) meets Lyoto Machida (17-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) at December's UFC 140 event in Canada.

And while Rashad Evans (16-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) is expected to be next in line for the 205-pound belt, White said anything could happen when it comes to the upcoming title schedule. The executive estimated Henderson's choice would boil down to the biggest opportunity that was available the soonest.

Right now, rest is the only thing on the docket.

"The fight was so long in coming," Crecy said. "Had PRIDE not folded, they probably would have fought back in 2007. So because of that, and how heavily anticipated it was and how it was, I think Dan was really aware that it was a really special fight."

mmajunkie.com/news/26207/illness-sprained-thumb-rua-no-match-for-ufc-139-winner-henderson.mma

What a ing champion.

I think Hendo should wait man. He does not like the cut at 185. So, if he wants a fiight at the champ he needs to wait.

Let Machida try and beat Jones..because Hendo won't...let Evans try and beat him. Because you wont. Good news is..he might beat Evans or Machida.