The main event at UFC 161 between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans featured some big moments, even if the fight didn’t end by knockout or TKO and went the distance.
This was an incredibly close fight to watch, and an even harder one to watch. In the end, Evans was able to win by split decision 28-29, 29-28, 29-28.
In a fight this close, there were a few moments that shifted the fight, if only for a moment. Let’s break down the biggest moments from the main event.
Hendo Throws Evans Off Balance In Round 1
There were a few nice shots by both fighters in the first round, but Henderson almost had the chance to end the night early.
After getting pressed against the cage, Henderson was able to get out and circle around Evans. Once he got free, he was able to land a nice shot on Evans, throwing him off balance.
As soon as Evans went down, it felt like Hendo could have ended the fight quickly. However, Evans was able to avoid the home-run shot and get back up. He was able to finish the rest of the round without much trouble.
Had Evans not acted quickly after falling, he could have been done. Luckily for him, he reacted on instincts and saved himself to continue the fight.
Evans Lands a Flurry of Shots in Round 3
It looked like Evans had won the second round, and then he looked to finish the deal in the third.
After getting hit by a counter punch from Henderson, Evans was able to quickly shift the momentum with a series of shots. In fact, this flurry was able to drop Hendo on one knee for a brief moment.
After that, it felt like Evans had control of the round. He landed a few more shots throughout the round, but nothing as significant as that flurry.
After that exchange, it started to feel like Evans would pull out the win. Even though it was an incredibly close match, Evans had landed enough significant shots to earn the victory.
The Decision
Even though it felt like Evans would come away with the win after the third round, no one could be certain.
The time in between the final round and the official decision must have felt like an eternity for both fighters. Both walked up looking like the felt that they had won the match.
The first judge’s score had Henderson up, and you could tell that after that he was certain that he had won the match. As soon as they called the second judge’s score, you quickly saw his expression change.
Once the third judge’s score was called, Henderson was clearly upset. Meanwhile, Evans was ecstatic and began the celebration.
After a close match, Evans came out victorious. You could see the relief on his face, and the drama of the decision was easily one of the biggest moments of the fight.
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