The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado tonight for UFC 150: “Henderson vs Edgar 2.” The event featured a UFC Lightweight Championship rematch between reigning champ Benson “Smooth” Henderson and former titleholder Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.
In tonight’s lightweight co-main event, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone battled former teammate Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard. Former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields took on Ed “Short Fuse” Herman at 185 pounds. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC 150 card.
UFC Lightweight Championship
Benson “Smooth” Henderson vs Frankie “The Answer” Edgar
Round 1:
The fighters traded leg kicks early on and Henderson countered a one-two with a left cross. Henderson landed a hard leg kick and followed with another one soon after. Edgar tagged him with a right hand, but Henderson dropped Edgar to a knee with a third leg kick. Edgar latched onto Henderson’s leg, but Henderson broke free.
Edgar landed a leg kick of his own and threw punching combinations, but came up short. A lead right hook landed for Henderson and he switched his stance repeatedly. Henderson scored with a knee to the body, but Edgar answered back with a right hand and a leg kick. Henderson threw a leg kick and locked on a tight guillotine choke as Edgar took him down. Edgar made it to the bell. 10-9 Henderson.
Round 2:
Henderson scored with another hard kick to Edgar’s lower leg in the second round and Edgar snuck in a short right hand counter. He caught a kick from Henderson and landed one to the body. Henderson attempted an axe kick and landed a leg kick. Edgar landed two big right hands and dropped Henderson against the cage.
Edgar locked on a power guillotine choke and Henderson rolled to escape. Edgar kept him down on the ground and landed a knee as Henderson scrambled up. He landed another one and Henderson backed away. An exchange of right hooks followed and Henderson tried for a takedown. Edgar landed a right hook and Henderson answered with a body kick. 10-9 Edgar.
Round 3:
Both fighters landed solid punches in the opening minute of round three and Henderson scored with a knee to the body. He remained aggressive with jabs and quick punches were exchanged in close. Edgar ducked under a right hook and landed a three-punch flurry. Edgar threw a series of leg kicks and caught one from Henderson. In the final 40 seconds, both fighters landed leg kicks and Henderson followed with a right hook. Very close round. 10-9 Edgar.
Round 4:
Henderson landed a kick and a knee to the body in round four. Edgar flurried with punches and countered a hard leg kick with a right cross. Edgar landed a leg kick of his own and tripped Henderson to the mat. Henderson landed a head kick from the ground and Edgar worked to secure a guillotine choke. Edgar landed a knee to the body, but Henderson stood up.
A right hook scored for Edgar and he remained active with his punches. Henderson jabbed and knocked out Edgar’s mouthpiece. Time was called to replace it and quick punches were exchanged after the restart. Edgar landed a right hook over the top and a leg kick. A stiff jab found the mark for Henderson, but Edgar fired right back with a right hand. A nice right hook landed for Edgar in the final seconds. 10-9 Edgar.
Round 5:
Edgar began round five with a nice right hand and he knocked Henderson off-balance to his back with a lunging right soon after. Henderson quickly stood and Edgar kicked at his legs. A one-two scored for Henderson and Edgar pressed forward with another lead right hook. Henderson snapped Edgar’s head back with a left cross and he countered a leg kick with another one-two.
The fighters exchanged punches in close and Edgar broke away with a right hook. He dropped Henderson to a knee with two leg kicks, but Henderson stood and landed a knee to the body. Edgar ducked under a left from Henderson and flurried to the head and body. Henderson cracked him with a hard left hand, but Edgar battled back with more quick punches. Edgar missed with a head kick and Henderson landed one in return. 10-9 Edgar.
Winner: Benson Henderson by Split Decision (48-47, 48-47, 46-49) after five rounds. He improves to 17-2-0 and remains the UFC Lightweight Champion.
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard
Round 1:
Guillard dropped Cerrone with a big left hook early on and swarmed with a knee and more punches as a wobbly Cerrone got back to his feet. Cerrone recovered and landed a head kick that badly hurt Guillard. He followed with a right cross that put Guillard down and out. Big comeback win for Cerrone after early danger.
Winner: Donald Cerrone by KO (Head Kick & Punch) at 1:16 of round one. He improves to 19-4-0, 1 NC.
Jake Shields vs Ed “Short Fuse” Herman
Round 1:
Shields landed a series of kicks early on and Herman clinched. Shields briefly took him down and the fighters battled against the fence after Herman stood up. Shields looked to set up a standing guillotine choke and he took Herman down soon after. Shields moved to back control, but Herman scrambled out and got to his feet. The fighters battled in the clinch and Herman landed short knees. Shields again looked for a guillotine choke and tripped Herman to a knee. The round ended in the clinch. 10-9 Shields.
Round 2:
Shields opened round two with more body kicks and the fighters clinched. Shields took Herman down near the cage and moved to side control. He locked on a Kimura, but could not wrench it behind Herman’s back. Shields landed elbows and tried again to move to mount. Herman scrambled and got back to guard. In the final minute, Shields used punches to set up a move to half-guard and he closed out the round with more short strikes. 10-9 Shields.
Round 3:
The final round began with an exchange of hooks and Herman sprawled out of a takedown attempt. He landed an uppercut in the clinch and both fighters threw knees. Herman took Shields down, but Shields immediately stood back up and landed a left hook. He took Herman down into side control and landed short punches and elbows. Herman got back to full guard, but Shields stayed on top and both fighters struck until the end of the fight. 10-9 Shields.
Winner: Jake Shields by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 28-6-1.
Yushin “Thunder” Okami vs Buddy Roberts
Round 1:
Roberts was aggressive with punches and head kick attempts early on. He landed a hard right hand and the fighters traded left hooks. Roberts kicked at Okami’s lead leg and wobbled Okami with a lead left hook. Okami recovered and took Roberts’s back in the clinch. He picked him up and tried to slam him down, but Roberts regained his footing.
Okami tripped Roberts to the mat and looked to transition from back control to mount. Roberts countered with an omoplata attempt, but Okami wound up on top. He passed to half-guard and nearly made it to mount. Okami settled for side control and landed short punches. With 30 seconds to go, Okami moved to mount. Roberts gave up his back and Okami landed punches until the bell. 10-9 Okami.
Round 2:
Roberts was buckled by a counter right hook early in round two, but he recovered and scored with a hard left hand. Okami clinched and took Roberts down. Roberts countered with a guillotine choke, but let it go and stood up. Okami tripped him again and moved to mount. Roberts gave up his back and Okami threw a series of punches. Roberts blocked nearly all of them, but referee Herb Dean had seen enough and stopped the fight.
Winner: Yushin Okami by TKO (Punches) at 3:05 of round two. He improves to 27-7-0.
Max “Blessed” Holloway vs Justin “The All-American Kid” Lawrence
Round 1:
Lawrence opened the fight with a side kick to the body and the fighters traded left hooks. Lawrence landed an overhand right and a lead left. Holloway answered with jabs and two leg kicks. A nice left hook scored for Holloway and time was called after Lawrence was kicked in the groin. The fight resumed and Lawrence missed with a spinning hook kick.
Holloway landed a left hook as Lawrence shot in for a takedown, but Lawrence briefly got him down. Holloway stood and Lawrence began to bleed heavily from the right side of his forehead. Holloway landed a knee and Lawrence countered with a right cross. Hard left hooks landed for both and Lawrence connected with another overhand right. Very close round. 10-9 Lawrence, barely.
Round 2:
Lawrence landed another side kick to the body in the second round and Holloway replied with a head kick that was blocked. A leg kick from Lawrence set off an exchange of power punches. Lawrence threw a spinning backfist that landed with the forearm and Holloway kicked to the body. Two right hooks grazed the top of Holloway’s head and Lawrence tried unsuccessfully for a takedown.
Lawrence missed with wild punches, but he landed a front kick. A one-two landed to the nose of Holloway and Lawrence followed up with more punches. He attempted a weak takedown and Holloway stuffed it. Punches were exchanged and Holloway landed a knee to the body as Lawrence threw a left hand. Holloway put the pressure on with punches and dropped Lawrence with a left hook to the liver. He teed off with punches on the ground and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Max Holloway by TKO (Punches) at 4:49 of round two. He improves to 6-1-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)