Cage fighters tend to experience a bell curve of progression as they work their way through a fighting career—skills are learned in the early years, then utilized in the quest for a title and gradually honed as they peak and move down the other side of the curve.
Sometimes the process is subtle; other times the slope is slippery and chaotic.
At UFC 161, savvy veterans Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson stepped into the Octagon and ended up demonstrating that they’re neither crashing into retirement nor surging into a second awakening of their respective careers.
When announced, the bout was considered to be evenly matched. After 15 minutes of combat, Evans’ quick-twitch reflexes narrowly awarded him a split-decision victory.
It wasn’t particularly pretty.
It wasn’t even the resounding return-to-form that “Suga” had hoped for. But it got the job done, and after a pair of consecutive losses, that’s what counts most.
After the event came to a close, vital takeaways were revealed—lessons that might resonate outside of the fight itself.