Benson Henderson came away with a controversial victory over Frankie Edgar at UFC 150, and the outcome is taking away from the rivalry between the two fighters.
UFC 150 showcased a battle between the two fighters for a second time, and the outcome was the same as the first.
Henderson walked away from both fights as the victor, but it was close both times. As Fox Sports lists the results of UFC 144, he came away as the clear winner in the first matchup. The three judges all agreed he won, and he came away with a unanimous 49-46, 48-47, 49-46 decision.
The second meeting managed to be even better than the first.
Jeff Wagenheim of Sports Illustrated breaks down the latest fight, and he believes Edgar should have been named the new lightweight champion.
While two judges ruled 48-47 in favor of Henderson, one judge scored the fight 49-46 in Edgar’s favor. It was about as close as it gets, but the controversial outcome now overshadows the great battle.
Round 1 belonged to Henderson, but Edgar got stronger as the fight went on. Edgar appeared to take command in the fight during Round 4 with a great showing, but two of the judges awarded the round to Henderson. Round 4 was the turning point in the match, but it ended up going against Edgar on the scorecards.
Henderson and Edgar are about as evenly matched as it gets. The first two matches were scored closely, and it now creates even more drama. Whether or not the second outcome was the right decision, the Henderson-Edgar rivalry will be known for the controversy.
This has the making to be one of the best rivalries in UFC, but they will need to move on from this decision. The two fighters could not have had closer fights than what they had in UFC 144 and UFC 150.
One positive may come from this controversial result: a third fight. The close fights will lead to demand for a rematch, and Edgar will be pushing for a chance to win.
Controversy can set the stage for a rematch, and Henderson also has something to prove. People are questioning the decision of the latest fight, so he needs to show he was the better fighter.
A third fight will not change the outcome in this fight, but it will allow Henderson and Edgar to battle again to see who is the rightful lightweight champion.
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