The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to HP Pavilion in San Jose, California tonight for UFC on FOX 7: “Henderson vs Melendez.” The event was headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship bout between “Smooth” Benson Henderson and Strikeforce titleholder Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez.

In tonight’s co-main event, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir battled Strikeforce heavyweight tournament winner Daniel Cormier. Nate Diaz took on ex-Strikeforce champion Josh “The Punk” Thomson in a lightweight matchup. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

 

UFC Lightweight Championship

“Smooth” Benson Henderson vs Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of leg kicks and Melendez landed two right hands. He caught a kick and tripped Henderson to the mat. Henderson used the cage to work back to his feet and Melendez landed a knee on the way up. Melendez caught another kick and landed a jumping knee to the body. Henderson held him against the cage and Melendez punched his way out.

Henderson attempted two head kicks and landed a hard kick to Melendez’s leg. Melendez answered with a punch-kick combo and followed with another one. Once again, Melendez caught a kick and used it to take Henderson down. He landed a knee to the chest as Henderson scrambled back to his feet. Melendez scored with a one-two and tripped Henderson again as the bell sounded. 10-9 Melendez.

Round 2:
Melendez remained aggressive with leg kicks and punches as he backed Henderson up in round two. Melendez flurried in close and landed another leg kick. Henderson replied with punches and a knee to the body. Henderson jabbed to the thigh and followed with a one-two. Melendez caught a kick and backed Henderson up with punches and a standing elbow. An exchange of power strikes ensued and Henderson landed an elbow and a right hook. Melendez fired back with three hooks and he landed a right cross in the late stages. Close round. 10-9 Melendez.

Round 3:
A counter left-right combo scored for Melendez in round three, but Henderson knocked him down with a chopping leg kick. Melendez stood and Henderson met him with a quick flurry. Melendez landed two hard right hands and Henderson took him down against the cage. Melendez stood and Henderson landed knees. Both fighters threw punches to the body before backing away.

Henderson landed a big left cross and ducked under Melendez’s counterpunches, but he slipped and Melendez tried for a guillotine choke on the way up. Henderson easily evaded danger and he held Melendez against the fence. Melendez repeatedly spun to break free of Henderson’s grip and he landed leg and body kicks. Henderson knocked Melendez down with another leg kick and unloaded with elbows until the bell. 10-9 Henderson.

Round 4:
Melendez countered a leg kick with a three-punch combo in the fourth round. Henderson scored with a kick and a knee to the body. Melendez caught a kick and landed a knee to the body. He stuffed a takedown, but Henderson landed a step-in elbow. Melendez replied with a combination, but Henderson knocked him down with a leg kick and tried to take his back. Melendez scrambled to his feet and landed a hard right hand. Henderson finished the round with a one-two. 10-9 Henderson.

Round 5:
Melendez landed punches in the final round, but Henderson countered nicely with kicks to the lead leg and body. Melendez pressed the action with punches and landed right hooks, but Henderson circled well and landed two knees in return. Henderson continued to kick at Melendez’s lead leg and he mixed in standing elbows. Melendez caught a kick and landed a right cross. He followed with a knee in close and a flurry. Very close final round. 10-9 Melendez, barely, due to the late rally. Fight could go either way.

Winner: Benson Henderson by Split Decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48) after five rounds. He improves to 19-2-0 and remains the UFC Lightweight Champion.

 

Daniel Cormier vs Frank Mir

Round 1:
Mir kept his distance early on and kicked at Cormier’s upper body. Cormier landed a right cross and clinched against the cage. He held Mir in a front headlock and landed a knee, then followed with more punches. Mir countered with a leg kick, but Cormier closed in again and landed punches and knees to the body. He pinned Mir against the fence and continued to target the midsection.

Cormier landed an elbow over the top and backed away. He clinched again and held Mir against the cage. Cormier backed up and threw a head kick, but fell. Mir attempted a guillotine choke on the way up and Cormier escaped. He landed punches and Mir answered with a kick in the final 15 seconds. 10-9 Cormier.

Round 2:
Mir resumed kicking at Cormier’s lead leg in round two, but Cormier backed him up to the cage once again. Cormier landed more punches and knees to the body until Mir finally managed to push him away. The fighters traded punches momentarily until Cormier pinned Mir against the fence. Cormier flurried with punches to the head and body and kept Mir on the defensive. 10-9 Cormier.

Round 3:
Cormier clinched in the final round and landed a combination, but Mir broke away and scored with kicks to the leg and body. He followed with a knee and a standing elbow. Cormier landed short right hands to the body and head. He threw looping hooks and clinched again. The fighters were separated and Mir landed another body kick. Cormier took him down and Mir sprung back up to his feet. Cormier smothered him with short punches in the clinch and he landed a right hook and a body kick before the final bell. 10-9 Cormier.

Winner: Daniel Cormier by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-0-0.

 

Josh “The Punk” Thomson vs Nate Diaz

Round 1:
Thomson landed a series of kicks to Diaz’s lead leg in the opening minute. Diaz punched his way into a clinch and Thomson circled away. Thomson landed a head kick that landed flush, but Diaz walked right through it and continued to land punches. He caught a Thomson head kick and nearly tripped him to the mat. Diaz walked Thomson down and landed a left hook.

The fighters clinched and exchanged knees in close. Thomson reversed against the fence and circled out again. He landed a nice right hook and followed with a combination. Diaz scored with a body kick and a lead right hook, but Thomson answered with another hard right of his own. He took Diaz down and landed punches and elbows. Diaz attempted a triangle choke and Thomson kicked his leg as he stood up. 10-9 Thomson.

Round 2:
Diaz was very aggressive in round two and he punched his way into a clinch against the cage. Time was called after Thomson was kneed in the groin. Action resumed and the fighters clinched again. Thomson landed knees and elbows, but Diaz countered with a combination and he took Thomson down. As Thomson stood, Diaz teed off with punches and he tried for a guillotine choke.

A bloodied Diaz pressed forward with punches and Thomson countered with jabs and hooks. Diaz clinched and Thomson landed elbows over the top. Diaz landed a right hook as Thomson broke free of the clinch. Thomson badly rocked Diaz with a head kick and dropped him with punches. Diaz tried to roll to defend, but Thomson was relentless with his punches and the fight was finally stopped. Huge win for Thomson.

Winner: Josh Thomson by TKO (Head Kick & Punches) at 3:44 of round two. He improves to 20-5-0, 1 NC.

 

Matt “The Immortal” Brown vs Jordan “Young Gun” Mein

Round 1:
Mein landed a step-in elbow and a right hook early in the fight. Brown answered with two big hooks that hurt Mein and Brown stalked a retreating Mein with more punches. Brown landed right hooks, but Mein regained his composure and fired back with a hard one-two. The fighters continued to battle and Brown landed a left hook as both fighters’ right eyes began to swell. Brown scored with a right hand and remained the aggressor.

A big right hook from Mein was answered by a left from Brown, who followed with knees. Mein flurried and Brown backed up. A hook to the body dropped Brown and Mein attempted a power guillotine choke. Mein took top position and landed punches, but Brown recovered and locked on a triangle choke. Mein fought free and the fighters stood. Brown landed a right hook, knees and two elbows. Excellent round. 10-9 Brown.

Round 2:
Brown swarmed with knees and elbows right away in round two and Mein collapsed to the mat. Brown landed punches and knees to the body on the ground. Mein tried to stand, but Brown unloaded with elbow strikes to the kidneys until the bout was waved off.

Winner: Matt Brown by TKO (Elbows To The Body) at 1:00 of round two. He improves to 17-11-0.

 

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)