UFC 150 Live: Frankie Edgar vs Benson Henderson

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

Frankie Edgar must have won more rematches than anyone in UFC history.  Frankie looks a little bulkier than usual. Benson Henderson looks absolutely enormous.  Always amazing to be reminded how much smaller Frankie is than his foes. Live updates after the jump:[[MORE]]

Round 1: Frankie with a right. Frankie landed a kick near Henderson’s junk, referee Herb Dean tries to stop it, but Henderson just pushes him off. Edgar lands a left. Edgar lands another left. Henderson lands a big leg kick. Another big leg kick from Henderson. Frankie ducks under a punch and lands a right hand.

Benson lands a leg kick and Frankie gets a single as he goes down. Benson gets out of it. Benson lands a jab. Benson knees the body, Frankie lands a right. Frankie lands a leg kick. Benson kicks, Frankie shoots and falls into a tight guillotine. Frankie sits in it until the round ends.

Close round, but I guess I’ll give it to Henderson 10-9.

Round 2: Henderson is pumping the jab, but not landing it much. Benson lands another big leg kick and knocks Frankie down, but Edgar pops up. Frankie grabs a kick and lands two kicks of his own. Looks like he practiced that after his last fight. Axe kick by Benson misses. Frankie coming forward. Benson lands another leg kick, Frankie grabs it, but can’t do anything.

Frankie lands a huge right and Benson goes down. Frankie has a front choke and is looking for for a standing choke, but Benson is tough. There are two minutes left left. Frankie has his neck and Benson is trying to keep his hand down to make the knees illegal. Benson gets up and Frankie lands a knee as he stands. Frankie’s face looks much worse, even though he landed the better shot. Henderson shoots and Frankie grabs his neck. Benson is on his hands and Frankie lands an uppercut. Benson lands a kick as the round ends.

Round 3: Benson with a head kick. Benson letting the head kicks fly. Benson coming forward, but Frankie evades him. Henderson punches over Frankie and gets lit up. Frankie catches a kick and eats an uppercut. Frankie landing leg kicks. Benson lands a leg kick of his own. Benson with a jab. The fighters exchange, Frankie gets the better of it. Frankie lands a body kick. Benson with a head kick, it’s blocked. Every time Ben comes in, Frankie ducks under and lands body shots.

Frankie with a bodyshot. Frankie coming forward, not a lot of action. Frankie lands a leg kick. Frankie ripping leg kicks. Benson with a kick that is caught. Frankie keeps on catching the kicks and getting hit. Frankie rips a bodyshot. Frankie with a leg kick. Benson with a leg kick. Frankie with a body kick. Frankie chasing Benson around the ring. Benson lands a big right.

10-9 Edgar I guess. Benson was backing up the whole time, but that round could have gone to anyone.

Round 4: Benson kicks and Frankie shoots, but Frankie doesn’t finish it. Benson is landing leg kicks. Frankie is coming forward and chasing Benson. Benson is ripping the leg kicks. Benson with a jab. Frankie with a leg kick.  Frankie catches a kick and takes Benson down. Benson goes for a big upkick and Frankie grabs Benson’s neck. Benson is trying to sit up against the fence. Frankie is going for a standing guillotine, but can’t get it. Frankie lands a big right counter. Henderson whiffs.

Frankie lands a leg kick. Frankie lands a big bodyshot and eats a jab, which knocks out his mouthpiece. Benson lands a big left. Frankie lands a big right. Frankie lands a right on a Benson head kick. The fighters exchange. Frankie’s face looks way worse, but he’s landing a lot of good punches. Edgar catches a leg and Henderson keeps pushing forward, but doesn’t land much. Frankie lands a nice counter right. Frankie lands a leg kick.

10-9 Edgar. This is going to be controversial if it goes to decision, but from where I sit, there are two rounds the Edgar won clearly, the 2nd and the 4th. The other two are a lot closer. I think Benson took the first. The third was practically a draw.

Round 5: Benson lands a left. Edgar lands a bigger punch in return. Edgar coming forward, but misses. Edgar comes forward and Benson falls down. Benson is back up. Frankie with two big punches. Two leg kicks from Frankie, who seems to be getting stronger as the fight goes on. Three minutes left, neither fighter really pushing the fight. This fight is so close, a takedown could win it right here.

Frankie lands a punch and catches a kick. Frankie coming forward. Benson lands a left. Frankie comes forward and lands a body  punch. Frankie lands a right. Benson with a leg kick. Benson punches, Frankie ties him up and lands another punch. Frankie lands a right. Frankie lands two nice leg kicks. Benson lands a left jab. Kick by Benson. Benson needs to do something here. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I guess he’s willing to take his chances with the judges.

Frankie is ripping the body. Benson lands a big left hand. Frankie has to put his mouthpiece back in. Right hand by Frankie. Big kick by Frankie, who slips and eats a kick to the face as he goes back.

This fight was close. There is going to be controversy online no matter what, but I think Edgar won it.

I’ve got Edgar winning 49-46, but I bet a few of the judges will give the third to Henderson. In my mind, Edgar took rounds 2, 4 and 5 clearly, which should be enough to win the fight. If Frankie wins this one, how the heck are they going to tell Henderson he can’t have a rematch?

Judges score it 49-46 Edgar, 48-47 Henderson, and 48-47 Henderson. Wow. What a discrepancy.

One judge had Edgar winning four rounds, the other two had him winning two. I don’t see Henderson winning the fifth. I just don’t. Henderson won round one for sure. Round three was pretty close. The fifth was Edgar. Ben really didn’t move forward enough to win it.