Nate Diaz vs Ben Henderson
by Dr. Octagon, J.D.
I want Nate Diaz to win this fight, so I’m biased, but I recognize that Ben Henderson is easily the stronger man. The line’s been moving in Nate’s favor for a while, and now the odds are almost even. Henderson’s a beast though. I’m so pumped for this fight. I hope Diaz wins, but I like Henderson too, so I won’t be too bummed if Diaz loses. Live updates after the jump:[[MORE]]
Round 1: Henderson with the leg kick. Diaz is taunting him already. Classic. Diaz misses a leg kick and Nate ties him up; he’s throwing knees from the clinch. Henderson turns him around, but he’s taking more punishment than he’s giving out. Diaz looking for a judo throw, but Benson isn’t having it. Nate turns him around, Benson is going for a takedown, but Diaz sights it off. Diaz with a nice knee to the body. The crowd is booing.
Diaz is more active from the clinch. Diaz lands a nice elbow off the break. Henderson shoots and has Diaz on his back; he falls in landing shots. Diaz give up his back, but stands up. Diaz turns Benson around and pops him. Benson lands a big leg kick and Diaz goes down. Benson pops Nate as he stands up. Nate is taking some serious leg kicks here. Bendson lands a punch and gets a clinch. Nate pushes him against the fence and lands some knees. Ben turns Diaz around.
10-9 Henderson.
Round 2: It drives me crazy that I can’t hear what the corners are saying in a championship fight. Diaz is coming forward and takes a leg kick. Ben throws and Nate avoids the strike, but Ben gets the takedown. Henderson throwing punches and a big leg kick. Big knee to the body by Ben Henderson. Ben landing knees. Nate keeps punching and kneeing while pushed up against the cage. Nate eats an elbow. Ben lands a nice elbow. Nate lands a punch. Ben lands a leg kick. Ben lunges in with a punch. Ben lands an uppercut.
Nate is following Ben around the ring, but not throwing punches. Ben lands a big left hand and Diaz is on his back. Diaz gives up his back, but he’s able to stand; Nate doesn’t mind giving up his back. Ben has him against the cage. Ben is throwing shoulders. Nate working for the trip, but Ben is too strong. Nate finally gets the toss he’s been working for, but Henderson pops right back up. Nate’s still following Ben around the ring, but not landing.
10-9 Henderson.
Round 3: Nate’s got to start throwing punches, but the leg kicks have slowed him down. Nate is still following Ben around the ring without landing much. Benson gets the takedown and Nate goes for a leglock, but Diaz eats some big shots. Benson is chopping down on that leg; he gets the takedown and is posturing up. Nate’s tough from his back, but these guys are slippery now that it’s going to be hard to sink anything. Benson has good positioning; Nate rolls and is going for a leg lock, but Benson is out of it and has his back. Nate goes for the leg again, but Henderson steps out.
Benson lands a huge right hand and Nate goes down. Ben swings wildly, but Nate is okay and is working on another leg lock. The problem with a leg lock is that when you don’t get it, you eat a ton of shots. Nice axe kick by Benson.
Round 4: Diaz needs a knockout now. Diaz is not keeping his distance well and is getting taken down again by the champ. Nate is turtled up on the ground; he takes a few more shots. Ben gets another takedown into side control. Nate tries for a kimura and eats some shots. Benson gets another takedown and is working some vicious ground and pound. Benson is now in half guard and landing elbows.
Nate goes for a kimura, which is going to be hard to sink from his back, and Henderson muscles out of it. Nate taunting Henderson, who doesn’t want to go into the guard. He’s puching Nate’s legs. Referee Herb Dean should stand them up. Benson is just standing there. Herb needs to stand them up. Nate gets up and takes another leg kick.
10-9 Benson. Nate’s getting beat up badly here. The Diaz gameplan isn’t working. Nate needs a big finish here.
Round 5: Nate’s eye is fucked and the doctor is looking at it, but they’re going to let him keep fighting. Henderson looks fine. Ben misses with the leg kick. Ben misses a punch and then locks Nate up against the cage. Henderson picks Nate up and drops him; now Ben is on top. Henderson is pounding on Diaz from the top. Henderson is trying to finish this fight. The fighters get up and go to the ground again, then Diaz gets back up. Henderson has the body lock in.
Nate is throwing body punches and gets a trip, but he’s on his back again and getting lit up. Henderson lands a big head kick and pushes Nate against the fence. Nate is swinging wildly and taunting with 10 seconds left. He doesn’t accomplish much.
10-9 Henderson.
50-45 Ben Henderson by my card. Not even close. ’m bummed about that one, but I like Henderson so it’s okay.
The judges 50-43 and 50-45 (twice). That judge with the 10-8’s needs to be fired. There weren’t two 10-8 rounds in there.