This is the UFC Fight Night 42 live blog for Benson Henderson vs. Rustam Khabilov, a lightweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.
Henderson, who has won four of his past five UFC fights, will face Khabilov, who has won all three of his UFC fights, on the main card.
Check out the UFC Fight Night 42 live blog below.
More Coverage: UFC Fight Night 42 Results | UFC news
Download MMA Fighting iPhone App
Round 1: Mario Yamasaki is the referee. Henderson is southpaw and Khabilov is orthodox. Henderson gets in on an underhook standing, but Khabilov uses a whizzer to hit a hip toss. Henderson manages to scramble and they go back to trading. Henderson drives forward with a blitz, but Khabilov catches him and takes him to the mat. Henderson stands, but Khabilov is behind him. The Dagestani attempts a throw, but Henderson inside hooks Khabilov’s legs. They separate, but Khabilov connects with a nice right hand. Good left hands from Henderson now. Henderson tries a jumping switch knee, but Khabilov catches him midair and dumps him on the mat.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Khabilov
Round 2: Inside leg kick from Khabilov plus a spinning back fist, but Henderson scores with a left hand. Two good left hands from Henderson and they clinch. Henderson gets double underhooks, but Khabilov pummels his way out. Nice right hand finds the mark for Khabilov. Henderson misses on a punch and Khabilov uses it to score a double leg, but Henderson pushes him off and they stand. Henderson gets Khabilov against the fence and circles behind, dragging him to the mat and full on taking his back. Khabilov escapes by reversing and Henderson is pressuring him into the fence, but is thrown aside. Khabilov wings a right hand and it scores. Hard outside leg kick hurts Khabilov, and another.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Henderson
Round 3: Left hand finds the mark a bit for Khabilov. Henderson tries to kick Khabilov, but he catches it and dumps Henderson to the mat. Henderson scrambles to his knees. Khabilov lets Henderson stand and knees him in the stomach. Henderson attempts a clinch, but Khabilov stuffs it and cracks Henderson with a left hand. Henderson tries a roll through mount-guillotine, but Khabilov kept moving, reverses position and gets out almost immediately. Khabilov circles out and times a double that works. Henderson pushes him off in a scramble and hits a peek out to come out on town before the final bell.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Khabilov
Round 4: They clinch briefly, but nothing happens and they disengage. Good one-two from Henderson out of nowhere catches Khabilov moving backwards and drops him. Almost immediately, Henderson dives on him, takes his back and gets the rear naked choke. Happened in lightning quick succession.
Benson Henderson def. Rustam Khabilov via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:16 of round 4