Not everyone agrees with the decision of the Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar bout, but you cannot doubt Henderson’s record.
The UFC lightweight champ has been a part of some incredible fights, and his most recent one was no different. The two men went toe-to-toe for five full rounds, but Henderson was able to come out on top at the end.
Many fans have argued with this decision in what was obviously a very close match. According to Fight Metrics, Edgar landed more strikes, but it was by a very narrow margin. The site lists Edgar having a 70-65 advantage on strikes and 66-62 advantage on significant strikes.
However, UFC aired statistics directly after the match, and it said that Henderson had actually landed more strikes. This is why there are multiple people making the final decision.
Fight Metrics also has a “Total Performance Rating,” in which Henderson edged his rival by a score of 41-40 out of 100.
This sport allows for some controversy in its style, but the two fighters have now faced each other twice and Henderson has been declared the winner each time.
“Smooth” has done his best over the past two years to earn the top spot in the lightweight division, and he should be considered one of the better competitors in the sport.
Since losing his WEC championship to Anthony Pettis, Henderson has won his last five fights, spanning almost two years. His overall record is a very respectable 17-2, including eight wins by submission.
His style rarely looks pretty. He has succeeded by avoiding bad situations and usually just having more endurance than his competitor. However, he has the most important skill in MMA: he knows what it takes to win.
Judges obviously like his performances, as he has earned the nod on multiple close contests. He is solid at landing strikes with both his hands and feet, and he does everything necessary to get the victory.
Henderson has not been dominant in his individual matches, but his current run can be considered dominant. He should start earning the respect of a champion.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com