UFC Fight Night 79: "Henderson vs Masvidal" Play-By-Play & ResultsThe Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, South Korea tonight for UFC Fight Night 79: “Henderson vs Masvidal.” The card was headlined by a welterweight bout as “Smooth” Benson Henderson faced late replacement Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal.

Also on the card tonight, welterweight contender Dong Hyun “Stun Gun” Kim took on Dominic “Snonuff” Waters in the 170-pound co-feature, and “Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama returned to face off against Alberto “Soldier of God” Mina. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the event’s main card.

 

“Smooth” Benson Henderson vs Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal

Round 1:
Kick-punch combos were exchanged in the opening minute and Henderson snapped Masvidal’s head back with stiff jabs. Masvidal landed a right-left combo, but he was dropped by a counter hook from Henderson. Masvidal stood up and targeted Henderson’s liver with punches. He landed a variety of kicks and Henderson responded with some of his own. He tried unsuccessfully to drag Masvidal down before the bell. 10-9 Henderson.

Round 2:
Henderson kicked at Masvidal’s body in the second round, but Masvidal caught one and tripped him to the mat. The fighters stood and Masvidal fired off a combination in close. Knees and heel kicks were exchanged and Henderson chopped away at Masvidal’s lead leg. Masvidal blocked a head kick and ate a stiff jab. He pulled Henderson to the mat with a guillotine choke, but Henderson spun free and landed knees while maintaining a front headlock. 10-9 Henderson.

Round 3:
The third round began with Henderson landing a front kick to Masvidal’s face. Masvidal responded with a head kick in return. Henderson shot in for a takedown and both men landed elbows in a clinch. The fighters traded knees and time was called when Masvidal was struck in the groin. Action resumed and Masvidal pressed the action with kicks. Henderson answered back with a body kick and an overhand right, but Masvidal finished the round with two body kicks. The final one struck Henderson in the groin. Close round. 10-9 Henderson.

Round 4:
Henderson ducked under left hands from Masvidal and countered with overhand rights in round four. The fighters clinched against the cage and Henderson threw knees to the body. He tripped Masvidal, but lost the position and the fighters stood up. Masvidal landed elbows before Henderson could circle away. Henderson responded with a quick takedown, but Masvidal reversed into back control. The fight returned to the feet and Henderson jumped in with a flying switch knee. Another close round. 10-9 Henderson.

Round 5:
Henderson shot in for a takedown in the final round and the fighters battled for position against the cage. Masvidal locked on a tight power guillotine choke and he used it to pull Henderson down to the mat. Henderson stood and clinched with Masvidal against the fence. He reversed a takedown and mounted Masvidal for a split second. A scramble ensued and both men worked for takedowns before the final bell. 10-9 Masvidal.

Winner: Benson Henderson by Split Decision (49-46, 48-47, 47-48) after five rounds. He improves to 23-5-0.

 

Dong Hyun “Stun Gun” Kim vs Dominic “Shonuff” Waters

Round 1:
Kim opened the action with a head kick attempt that missed and Waters clinched against the cage. Kim threw him to the mat into side control and landed punches and elbows from a top-side crucifix. He landed numerous unanswered punches until the fight was finally stopped.

Winner: Dong Hyun Kim by TKO (Elbows & Punches) at 3:11 of round one. He improves to 21-3-1, 1 ND.

 

Alberto “Soldier of God” Mina vs “Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of powerful leg kicks Mina landed two overhand rights and a front kick. More kicks and right hands were exchanged and Mina shot in for a takedown. Akiyama easily stuffed it and both men landed hard one-twos. Mina scored a late takedown into back control and he transitioned to an armbar attempt before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Mina.

Round 2:
Akiyama stunned Mina with a leg kick, right uppercut combo early in the second round. He punished Mina with more leg kicks and shrugged off a takedown attempt. A vicious uppercut scored for Akiyama, but Mina remained on his feet. Akiyama continued to chop away at Mina’s lead leg with kicks and Mina failed once again in his efforts to take Akiyama down.

Mina landed a big flurry, but Akiyama clinched and circled away. Time was called after Akiyama was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and Mina landed a hard left hook. He rocked and dropped Akiyama with a one-two combo of hooks and swarmed on him with punches on the ground. A wobbly Akiyama battled back to his feet, but Mina blasted him with more punches before the bell. 10-9 Mina.

Round 3:
Akiyama landed a solid leg kick and an uppercut in the opening minute of round three. He followed with a left hook and avoided a Mina takedown attempt. Mina tried to pull guard and failed miserably. Akiyama picked him apart with punches and an exhausted Mina flopped to his back. The referee stood him up and Akiyama landed more leg kicks until Mina dragged him down. Akiyama reversed into top position and scored with punches. The fight returned to the feet and Mina desperately dove at Akiyama’s leg. Akiyama struck from top position until the end of the fight. 10-9 Akiyama.

Winner: Alberto Mina by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 12-0-0.

 

“The Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi vs Sam Sicilia

Round 1:
Choi rocked Sicilia with big counterpunches in the opening seconds, but Sicilia recovered and knocked Choi off-balance with lunging hooks. Choi scored with another hard combination and a body kick. He knocked Sicilia down with a one-two and followed with more punches on the mat that left Sicilia unconscious.

Winner: Doo Ho Choi by KO (Punches) at 1:33 of round one. He improves to 13-1-0.

 

Undercard Fights:

– Dongi “The Ox” Yang defeated Jake “The Prototype” Collier by TKO (Punches) at 1:50 of round two. He improves to 13-3-0 with the win.

– Mike “El Cucuy” de la Torre defeated Yui Chul “The Korean Bulldozer” Nam by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 14-5-0, 1 NC with the win.

– Tae Hyun “The Supernatural” Bang defeated Leo “The Lion” Kuntz by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 18-9-0 with the win.

– Seo Hee Ham defeated Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 16-6-0 with the win.

– Freddy “Bam Bam” Serrano defeated Zhikui “The Conquerer” Yao by TKO (Arm Injury) at 0:44 of round one. He improves to 3-0-0 with the win.

– Marco “Psycho” Beltran defeated Guangyou “Smasher” Ning by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 7-3-0 with the win.

– Dominique “Non-Stop Action Packed” Steele defeated Dong Hyun “The Maestro” Kim by KO (Slam) at 0:27 of round three. He improves to 14-6-0 with the win.