Benson Henderson picked up the latest in a growing list of contentious split decisions on Saturday night, this time narrowly outpointing former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson to emerge victorious at UFC on FOX 10.
Judge Gabriel Sabaitis scored the contest 48-47 in favor of Thomson, however judges Brian Puccillo and Sal D’Amato scored it in favor of Henderson, with D’Amato even awarding Henderson four out of the fight’s five rounds — a score which nearly left UFC President Dana White at a loss for words.
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“It was way off,” White said on FOX Sports Live. “You know, at the end of the day, did… I don’t know. I mean, it definitely wasn’t that wide of a margin. If you had Henderson winning it, it wasn’t by that wide of a margin.”
Thomson, who also suffered a broken hand midway through the bout’s first round, was expected to receive a title shot against UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis if he defeated Henderson.
Although afterward White made it clear, that offer did not apply to both main event fighters.
“No,” White responded flatly when asked if Saturday’s win would propel Henderson into a rematch against Pettis. “But, I mean, that was a Ben Henderson fight. When Ben Henderson has the title, or he’s trying to get back to the title, that’s a Ben Henderson fight. I mean, we’ve seen that fight a million times.
“It’s not about even being more aggressive. He’s a talented fighter. He’s just one of these guys — he’s a grinder, he’s not a finisher.”