UFC Fight Night 38 aired live on Sunday from Brazil. Headlined by an epic rematch between Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua, the card did not disappoint in terms of action.
In a fight that didn’t even see the main-event championship rounds, Henderson overcame a slow start against Rua to score a vicious knockout. The blow left Rua in a confused state and his nose in a crooked formation.
What did we learn from the main event? Let’s take a look at the performances and next steps of both men.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
The finish. The way in which Henderson threw that missile of a right hand at Rua’s face was pure violence.
He hit Rua square in the schnoz. It sent Rua tumbling in mass confusion, his nose in an opposite direction and Henderson back into the win column.
What We Learned About Henderson
We already knew this, but he is tough as nails. Henderson took some big shots in that fight, which was on the verge of getting stopped, but he kept his composure.
He is looking every bit of his 40-plus-year-old age these days. However, if he continues to win, the UFC will continue to give him fights. However, one day his chin will deteriorate like Chuck Liddell’s did and his fighting days will be over.
What We Learned About Rua
He does not have Henderson’s number. Rua dominated the first two rounds with striking and superior ground work. Rua looked like he was on his way to a finish a couple of times, but it was not to be.
Now, he has a mangled nose, another loss and questions regarding his future. A run at the title just took a major detour after this defeat.
What’s Next for Henderson?
A rematch with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira seems like a good move going forward. He is nowhere near a title shot and may be more of a novelty at this point. Either way, he is still a draw and should still get tough opponents.
What’s Next for Rua?
Rua needs to rebound in the most serious of ways. A bout against the loser of Phil Davis-Anthony Johnson at UFC 172 seems like a smart choice for Rua, who is still one of the best light heavyweights the UFC has to offer.
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