The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its way to Manchester Arena in Manchester, England tonight for UFC 204: “Bisping vs Henderson 2.” The card was headlined by a UFC Middleweight Championship rematch between champion Michael “The Count” Bisping and Dan “Hendo” Henderson.
In tonight’s middleweight co-feature, Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort took on Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi. Ovince “OSP” St. Preux battled Jimi “The Poster Boy” Manuwa at 205, and Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve met Daniel Omielanczuk. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Michael “The Count” Bisping vs Dan “Hendo” Henderson
Round 1:
Cautious kicks were exchanged in the opening minute and Bisping pawed out with jabs. Henderson missed with an overhand right and Bisping fired back with inside-leg kicks and short punches. Both men landed stiff jabs and Bisping countered an overhand right with a body kick. A big right hand sent Bisping crashing to the canvas and Henderson swarmed on him, but a bloodied Bisping recovered and battled back to his feet. 10-9 Henderson, if not a 10-8.
Round 2:
Bisping pressed the action with lead left hooks in the second round and he followed with straight right hands. More rights landed for Bisping and he sent Henderson off-balance with a head kick. Henderson retreated and Bisping jumped in with a knee. Big right hands landed for Bisping and he kicked Henderson in the groin, but Henderson managed to recover and he dropped Bisping with a counter right. The close round ended with Henderson on top in Bisping’s guard. 10-9 Bisping, barely, in spite of the knockdown.
Round 3:
Bisping picked his shots with head kicks and right hooks in round three. Henderson landed inside-leg kicks, but Bisping landed with greater volume and he put together kick-punch combos. An overhand right landed for Henderson, but Bisping countered with a flurry. Henderson tried for a takedown after landing a right hand, but Bisping stuffed it and cracked him with straight rights. Henderson staggered him briefly with an overhand right in the final ten seconds. 10-9 Bisping.
Round 4:
A kick-punch combo landed for Bisping early in the fourth round and Henderson tagged him with a counter right hand. Body kicks landed for Henderson and time was called after he was kicked in the groin. Action eventually resumed and Henderson pressed forward with lead left hands. Bisping replied with head kicks that were blocked. A right hand and a body kick landed for Henderson, and he just missed with an overhand right. Bisping landed quick kicks and jabs late in the round. 10-9 Bisping.
Round 5:
Henderson missed with a right hand and landed a knee in round five. He backed Bisping up with a flurry and followed with another knee. Bisping scored with a leg kick and a one-two. Henderson grazed his chin with a right hand and scored with a knee to the body. Another punch-kick combo landed for Bisping, who missed wildly with a spinning back kick. Henderson closed in with a right hand and took Bisping down to the mat. He held Bisping in a half-nelson until Bisping scrambled up to his feet. Bisping stuffed a takedown and landed a knee. Henderson threw a cartwheel kick at the bell. 10-9 Henderson.
Winner: Michael Bisping by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) after five rounds. He improves to 30-7-0 and remains the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi vs Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort
Round 1:
Belfort caught a kick and rushed at Mousasi with left hooks early on, but Mousasi countered with a right hook that halted his momentum. Mousasi picked his shots with single punches and tried for a takedown, but Belfort easily avoided it. An exchange of kicks to the upper body followed and Belfort landed a left hook. He missed with a head kick, but landed a dashing left hand and Mousasi fired back with right hands. A big combination scored for Mousasi and he clinched with Belfort against the fence. 10-9 Mousasi.
Round 2:
Mousasi jabbed in round two and Belfort replied with a kick to the body. Mousasi attempted a takedown and Belfort stuffed it. More stiff jabs landed for Mousasi and he rocked Belfort with a head kick. Belfort stayed on his feet and survived a barrage of punches, but Mousasi took him down and dropped a series of punches and elbows from the top. He mounted Belfort and landed right hands until the fight was waved off.
Winner: Gegard Mousasi by TKO (Punches) at 2:43 of round two. He improves to 40-6-2.
Jimi “The Poster Boy” Manuwa vs Ovince “OSP” St. Preux
Round 1:
Both men landed body kicks in the opening 30 seconds and an exchange of knees ensued in a clinch. St. Preux broke away and landed a kick-punch combo. Manuwa closed the distance again and scored with two hard knees. St. Preux took him down into back control, but Manuwa scrambled up and he secured an arm-in guillotine choke as he fell to his back. St. Preux stayed calm and shook him off, and he took Manuwa’s back again. In the dying seconds of the round, Manuwa stood and landed a knee and an elbow. 10-9 St. Preux.
Round 2:
Manuwa opened round two with a hard one-two and a body kick that prompted St. Preux to shoot in for a takedown. Manuwa stuffed it and he scored with a left hook. He targeted St. Preux’s legs with kicks and body with lead left hooks. Manuwa wobbled St. Preux with a right hook and sent him crashing to the canvas in violent fashion with a final left hand.
Winner: Jimi Manuwa by KO (Punch) at 2:38 of round two. He improves to 16-2-0.
Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve vs Daniel Omielanczuk
Round 1:
Omielanczuk opened the fight with kicks to Struve’s rear leg and body, and he followed with a lunging combination. Struve responded with front kicks and a head kick that was blocked. Omielanczuk darted in with a hard left hand and the fighters exchanged kicks. Big power punches landed for both men and Struve reversed a takedown. The fighters stood and Struve tripped Omielanczuk to the mat. He took Omielanczuk’s back and worked for a rear-naked choke, but Omielanczuk defended until the bell. 10-9 Struve.
Round 2:
The fighters battled for position in a clinch against the fence in round two. Struve landed a nice knee to the body and he took Omielanczuk down into mount. Omielanczuk scrambled, but Struve trapped him in a Brabo choke and Omielanczuk had no choice but to submit.
Winner: Stefan Struve by Submission (Brabo Choke) at 1:41 of round two. He improves to 28-8-0.
Mirsad Bektic vs Russell Doane
Round 1:
Bektic landed quick combinations early in the fight and he shot in for a takedown. From his back, Doane threw rapid-fire upkicks until Bektic settled into his guard. Doane stood and Bektic slammed him down again. The process repeated itself and Bektic maintained back control as Doane stood up for a third time. Bektic nearly finished the fight with a rear-naked choke, but Doane managed to break his grip. Bektic adjusted his position and secured another choke, and this time Doane was forced to submit.
Winner: Mirsad Bektic by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:22 of round one. He improves to 11-0-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)