Dan Henderson vs Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

I’ve got Dan Henderson in this. He’s a freak and he just knocked out Fedor. Shogun Rua looks like he’s been eating too much churrascaria. Definitely a dangerous striker, but he looked awful against Jon Jones. Then again, pretty much everyone does.

Henderson looks beastly tonight as always, having cut down recently from barely-heavyweight for his fight with Fedor (who is fighting Monson Saturday morning at 7am Eastern if you have 30 dollars to waste). Round-by-round scoring after the jump:

Round 1-Rua throws a leg kick. Henderson catches Rua with a right and then gets a choke. Lights up Rua against the cage and Rua is bleeding. Crowd is chanting “USA! USA!.” Henderson dumps Shogun to the ground and nonchalantly walks away, allowing him to stand up. Henderson is covered in blood, but not his own.

Shogun shoots, not sure what his tubby ass is thinking, but I don’t think he’s going to take down Hendo too easily. Shogun lands a right to the back of the right ear which staggers Henderson, but Henderson gets a leg and gives Shogun a nice right as he tries to stand up. Shogun throws a nice uppercut, but misses. Henderson lands again with the right. Shogun coming forward, has Henderson against the fence.

Henderson won that one for sure. I bet the dumbass judge gave it to him 10-8. That guy should be shot.

Round 2-Henderson with a huge right and a left uppercut. Really landing big shots on Rua, who has a solid chin. These fuckers are both throwing bombs. Rua’s face has opened back up, but Henderson is starting to breathe heavy. This is a five-round non-title fight, so I hope Henderson is prepared to keep up this pace. He’s been known for gassing in five rounders.

Henderson pins Rua against the cage and Rosenthal splits them up because they’re not doing shit. Goldberg has been saying “slip and rip” a lot. Not sure why.

Henderson again 10-9.

Round 3-Josh Rosenthal just said it was the last round and Henderson corrected him noting this fight is a five-rounder. Henderson’s corner told him Shogun is out of gas, but Henderson looks pretty tired himself. Both fighters still throwing bombs, but Henderson has Shogun against the fence. Henderson lands a big right takes Rua to the ground landing a few more shots.

Shogun’s face looks worse than when he fought Jon Jones. Jesus, didn’t think I’d be writing that any time soon.

Shogun goes for a half-hearted heel-hook and is able to stand up. Hendo lands some vicious elbows against the cage and Rua has Dan down for a hot second. Rua continuing to push the pace. Holy shit, can’t believe Rua is still on his feet.  This guy is a fucking monster. What a great fight.

Round 4-Shogun’s eyes look fucked. It would be amazing if he can pull this one out. Shogun goes for the takedown, but Dan stands up pretty easily. Rua goes for another and Dan takes his back and has him in the crucifix position. Shogun rolls out of it and they stand up.

Shogun lands an uppercut and Henderson takes him down. Henderson has side control with four minutes left. Shogun is purportedly a BJJ blackbelt, but not looking like it here. Henderson lets it go, and lands a nice right hand. Posturing up and lands another big right. Shogun lands another uppercut, but it looks like the pop is gone from his punches.

Dan looks gassed. Shogun lands a huge uppercut, but Henderson backs off and goes for the takedown. Henderson looks like he is running on brainstem, either that or he’s very, very tired. Neither fighter can really keep his hands up. Henderson got taken down and Shogun has a full mount with about thirty seconds left. Henderson is flipping over and now has top control as the round ends.

Henderson again 10-9. Probably the closest round so far, but if Shogun doesn’t finish it next round, he’s losing.

Round 5-Dan’s corner tell him to clinch and not exchange. Damn right. Dan looks like he needs oxygen. Dan clinches and the fighters go to the ground. Shogun is on the top, but they are against the cage. Shogun has the full mount. Someone lost his mouth guard. Dan is trying to hold Rua down to minimize the damage, but he is in trouble. Dan has Rua’s head, but he doesn’t have enough leverage to choke him.

Rua has the full mount again. His superior conditioning is making a big difference. Dan is still defending, but Shogun has his back. Dan is able to flip back over and hold on.  Two minutes left. If Henderson can hang on he’ll win this one. Shogun landing more shots. Henderson flips over. Henderson is staying alive and holding on for dear life.

Shogun has the full mount on the aging Henderson. One minute left. Henderson is still hanging on. Must seem like the longest minute of his life. Shogun has the full mount again, but Dan stays alive as the fight ends.

What a great fight. Even if you give Shogun that round 10-8, which he probably deserved, Henderson wins this for sure. I don’t see how the dumbass judges could find otherwise.

Joe Rogan and Goldberg aren’t sure who won. I am. Shogun only won one round. They don’t have 10-6 rounds so Henderson won. That was one of the best fights I’ve seen in a long time.

Judges score it 48-47 for Dan Henderson. Good result. Get this guy a title shot. Wow.  Great fight.