The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to United Center in Chicago, Illinois tonight for UFC on FOX 10: “Henderson vs Thomson.” The event was headlined by a lightweight bout between former UFC champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson and ex-Strikeforce champ Josh “The Punk” Thomson.
Also on the card, heavyweight rising star Stipe Miocic took on Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga in the co-main event. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone faced Adriano Martins and Darren “The Damage” Elkins battled Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
“Smooth” Benson Henderson vs Josh “The Punk” Thomson
Round 1:
Thomson secured a body-lock takedown into back control early in the first round. He flattened Henderson out and worked for a rear-naked choke. Henderson stood with Thomson on his back. He turned into the clinch and tried to trip Thomson to the ground. He eventually got Thomson down, but Thomson quickly returned to his feet. Henderson locked on a standing arm-triangle choke and pulled Thomson back down to the ground. Thomson pulled his head free and took Henderson’s back. He dumped him to the mat before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Thomson.
Round 2:
Henderson threw a jumping switch kick in round two, but Thomson caught it and the fighters clinched. Short knees were exchanges and a stalemate ensued. Referee John McCarthy separated the fighters and Henderson stepped forward with more kicks. Thomson suplexed him to the ground and took his back again. Henderson stood up and landed a lunging right hand to the body. He followed with kicks, but Thomson answered back with a combination. Thomson caught another kick and landed a knee to the body. Another close round. 10-9 Thomson.
Round 3:
The third round began with a clinch against the cage and Thomson threw occasional right hooks despite indicating between rounds that his hand was broken. Henderson landed quick one-twos and a body kick. Thomson tried for a takedown and Henderson stayed on his feet. He landed more punches and another body kick, but Thomson clinched again and took his back. Thomson fell after landing a body kick and Henderson punched from North-South position. Thomson attempted a spinning wheel kick before the bell. 10-9 Henderson.
Round 4:
Thomson caught a body kick to begin round four and he landed two counter kicks in return. He took Henderson down and punched from half-guard. Henderson scrambled and trapped him in rubber guard. Thomson pulled his head free and attempted a guillotine choke. He used it to push Henderson back down, but Henderson escaped to his feet and wound up on top.
The fighters stood and Henderson kicked at the back of Thomson’s leg. Henderson broke free with an elbow, but Thomson took him down into back control. Henderson stood with Thomson on his back and Thomson dragged him down just as time expired. Yet another close round. 10-9 Thomson, barely, due to the late rally.
Round 5:
The final round began with an exchange of kicks and punches and Henderson landed a hard knee. Thomson repeatedly switched stances in order to mix up his strikes. Henderson threw a lunging one-two and Thomson knocked him down with a leg kick. Henderson stood and pressed forward with kicks. Thomson caught one and pushed him backwards. Henderson lost his balance and fell down. Thomson took his back and Henderson reversed the clinch. The fighters separated and Henderson landed a step-in hook to the body. Very close round. 10-9 Thomson.
Winner: Benson Henderson by Split Decision (49-46, 48-47, 47-48) after five rounds. He improves to 20-3-0.
Stipe Miocic vs Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga
Round 1:
Miocic began the fight with leg kicks and the fighters exchanged hard right hands. More leg kicks landed for Miocic and he began to establish his jab. Gonzaga replied with right hooks of his own. He caught a kick and tried for a takedown, but Miocic pulled his leg free. Gonzaga cracked Miocic with another huge right hand, but Miocic appeared to be unfazed. Gonzaga caught a kick and landed two counter right hooks. He took Miocic down and tried for a guillotine choke. Miocic stood and ate a right hook. 10-9 Gonzaga.
Round 2:
Gonzaga shot in for a takedown in round two, but Miocic defended and landed a combination on the feet. Gonzaga began to slow down and Miocic took advantage by backing him up with quick punches. He stuffed another takedown and pressed forward with jabs. Miocic scored with a liver kick and he sprawled out of a Gonzaga takedown attempt. More jabs and leg kicks landed for Miocic in the final seconds. 10-9 Miocic.
Round 3:
Miocic put together more punching combinations early in the final round. Gonzaga threw leg kicks, but Miocic tripped him to the mat and struck from the top. Gonzaga tried to stand, but Miocic kept him down and landed a right hand. He stood over Gonzaga and threw more punches, then dropped down into half-guard. Miocic rained down hammerfists and punches to the head and body. Gonzaga stood and attempted a takedown in the final 20 seconds. 10-9 Miocic.
Winner: Stipe Miocic by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 11-1-0.
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Adriano Martins
Round 1:
Martins landed a nice body kick to open the fight and Cerrone replied with a leg kick. The fighters traded more kicks and Cerrone alternated between kicks to the lead leg and upper body. Martins scored with a solid combination and he countered a flurry from Cerrone with a crisp left hand. Cerrone briefly took him down and tried for an armbar from mount, but Martins quickly scrambled back to his feet. Cerrone landed a chopping leg kick, then knocked Martins out with a vicious head kick.
Winner: Donald Cerrone by KO (Head Kick) at 4:40 of round one. He improves to 22-6-0, 1 NC.
Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens vs Darren “The Damage” Elkins
Round 1:
Stephens opened the fight with a series of kicks to the lead leg and body of Elkins, who tried unsuccessfully for a takedown. Elkins slipped while throwing a kick and Stephens dropped down into his guard. Elkins scrambled up and threw a kick to the upper body. Stephens tagged him with a counter one-two. Elkins clinched and Stephens broke free. He landed another hard two-punch combo and followed with a leg kick. He continued to press the action with kicks until the bell. 10-9 Stephens.
Round 2:
Stephens scored with a counter right hand that wobbled Elkins early in round two. Elkins recovered and closed the distance, then tried for a takedown against the fence. Stephens circled out and landed leg kicks as Elkins looked to set up overhand rights. Stephens scored with an uppercut and he rocked Elkins with another one soon after. In the final 30 seconds, Stephens landed yet another uppercut and a right hand just before time expired. 10-9 Stephens.
Round 3:
Stephens caught a kick and took Elkins down in the final round, but Elkins locked on a guillotine choke from the bottom. Stephens spun to escape and returned to his feet. Both men landed right hands and Stephens slipped while attempting a head kick. The fighters traded punches and Stephens landed a hard left hook. He followed with two right hands and more power punches were exchanged. Elkins rushed forward with a combination, but Stephens took him down and tried for a guillotine choke. Elkins scrambled free and locked on a guillotine of his own. Close round. 10-9 Stephens.
Winner: Jeremy Stephens by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 23-9-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres defeated Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:39 of round three. He improves to 10-5-0, 1 NC with the win.
– Eddie Wineland defeated Yves “Tiger” Jabouin by TKO (Punches) at 4:16 of round two. He improves to 21-9-1 with the win.
– Chico “King” Camus defeats Yaotzin Meza by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 14-4-0 with the win.
– Hugo “Wolverine” Viana defeated Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 8-1-0 with the win.
– Daron “The Detroit Superstar” Cruickshank defeated Mike “The Wolverine” Rio by TKO (Wheel Kick & Punches) at 4:56 of round two. He improves to 14-4-0 with the win.
– George Sullivan defeated Mike “Biggie” Rhodes by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 15-3-0, 1 NC with the win.
– Nikita “Al Capone” Krylov defeated Walt “The Big Ticket” Harris by TKO (Head Kick & Punches) at 0:25 of round one. He improves to 16-3-0 with the win.