Last night’s UFC 139 was one of the most exciting and stacked fight cards in recent memory.
In the main event of the evening, former Pride champions and MMA legends Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Dan Henderson battled it out in one of the craziest fights to occur this year.
For mixed martial arts fans, this war, luckily, turned out to be a five-round affair despite not being a championship fight. UFC president Dana White had recently implemented the new strategy at the last numbered event, UFC 138, when Chris Leben and Mark Munoz faced each other across the pond.
Some fans were weary of the change in the format, citing its ability to take away importance from title fight main events as well as the possibility of adding two extra rounds to potential “boring” matchups.
In both cases, last night’s war did not fall under either category. In fact, the five rounds between Rua and Henderson turned out to be nothing less than pure excitement as both legends poured their hearts out in what some are calling a candidate for Fight of the Year.
The bout turned out to be a back-and-forth battle with both former champions taking the upper hand at various points in the fight.
Henderson, the former Strikeforce and two-divisional Pride champion, came out quickly and battered former UFC champion Rua, immediately bloodying him in the opening round.
Not going down without a fight, Rua came back with a vengeance at various points in the fight, buckling Henderson on more than one occasion as well as threatening with his trademarked leg locks in the middle of the fight.
Henderson clearly won the opening three rounds while the valiant effort by Rua nearly won him the fight as the the battle waned.
What was evident on both sides was the pure exhaustion shown by both former champions. If there is any criticism to be had of holding these five-round, non-title fights, is that these warriors just plainly get tired.
But as professionals, former champions, as well as being former Pride stars, both Henderson and Rua are no strangers to drawn-out wars which, in this case, only served as more enjoyment for the fans.
It is impossible to tell whether future bouts will gain the same level of excitement from having an extra two rounds, but if this fight is any indication, it certainly cannot have a negative effect on a fight.
Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC 139. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the November 19 fight card, including results and post-fight analysis.
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