UFC 139: Classic Clash

Dan Henderson (Photo: mmafighting.com)

UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson – San Jose, Calif. – HP Pavilion – Nov. 19, 2011

One of the greatest fights in UFC history saw Dan Henderson triumph over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139.

All three judges saw the fight 48-47 in Henderson’s favor, and nearly everyone who watched the fight called it a classic.

UFC President Dana White called it “one of the top three best fights ever in MMA.

The win moved the 41-year-old Henderson closer to a title shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva or light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones Jones.

In the co-main event, “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva knocked out Cung Le in Round 2.

Uriah Faber used a guillotine choke to beat Brian Bowles in the second round.

Martin Kampmann beat Rick “The Horror" Story in a welterweight battle by split decision.

Stephan Bonnar opened the pay-per-view with a unanimous decision over Kyle Kingsbury.

Both fights on Spike TV ended in first-round knockouts. Ryan Bader beat Jason Brilz in 77 seconds; and Michael McDonald kayoed the debuting Alex Soto in 56 seconds.

On the Facebook pre-show, Chris Weidman beat Tom “Filthy” Lawlor by technical submission to a D’Arce choke at the 2:07 mark.

Miguel Torres won a unanimous decision over Nick Pace. Gleison Tibau beat Rafael dos Anjos by split decision.

Seth Baczynski beat “The Immortal” Matt Brown by submission to a guillotine choke in the second round. Danny Castillo beat Shamar Bailey by TKO with eight seconds left in Round 1.