Contributor: Connor Dillon
Welcome to the tenth installment of this series leading up to Ben “Smooth” Henderson’s title defense and a rematch against Anthony Pettis at UFC 164. As a Champion for the UFC, he has been one of the most divisive amongst fans; according to many MMA fans and journalists, Ben Henderson is recorded as 1-3 in his last four championship defenses. His razor close decision wins as champion have made many fans dislike him for lack of conclusive endings, as well as beating by dubious decisions fan favorite Frankie Edgar.
My quest for understanding leads me to watch his previous ZUFFA fights, for both the WEC and the UFC, to see where he changed and became the champion he is today. In his tenth fight for a ZUFFA organization, he faced the seemingly unstoppable little train that could, Frankie Edgar. Frankie Edgar had just come from a clutch of rematches; first with BJ Penn in August 2010 after winning the title from him in Abu Dhabi, then a rematch of (at the time) the only man to hold a victory over him, Gray Maynard. That fight ended in a Split Draw, forcing Dana’s hand and rematching the two once more in Houston at UFC 136, where Edgar won in convincing fashion by knocking out Maynard in the fourth round. An interesting side note, the decision to a final showdown between Gray and Frankie caused Anthony Pettis to forego a guaranteed title shot and take a fight against Clay Guida, facilitating his current position. Following his victory over Gray Maynard, many saw Frankie Edgar in a different light than they had before. Surely this little train that could, a real-life Rocky, surely he could defeat the challenger with his speed and superior boxing. What happened was the first decision in several controversial fights to end in Bendo’s favor. Several established names had it close, but clear in Edgar’s name. Let’s see what might be the reason why Bendo won that fight.
Round 1:
Nice appearance by Undercard Superstar Friend, Marc Goddard. Fist bump to start off. First appearance of Bendo’s double pump, twice over. Bendo throws it again and Frankie moves left and throws a hard right that Bendo backs away from. They circle out, and Bendo comes around, throws a couple more and again Edgar tries to counter. Nice leg kick from Edgar lands. They circle again, Frankie comes in as Bendo throws a double pump and tries to land a punch, but Bendo slips back and tries to counter but can’t land.First low kick from Bendo and Edgar catches it, then leads him across the cage. Bendo tries to throw a spinning head kick with his other leg, but Edgar ducks and Bendo lands on his knees. He twists around and tries to grab Edgar’s legs, but can’t get anything and the two stand up. The two are a little apprehensive, but Edgar looks to be taking the lead with his stick and move. Bendo lands a solid leg kick that Edgar can’t counter. Edgar circling around, he moves in to fake, but Bendo moves back. Both fighters throw kicks at the same time, and neither lands with distinction. Thank God it isn’t grapple heavy yet.
They’re moving around the center. Bendo with a couple nice head kicks. They were setup, but Frankie blocks both and grabs the second head kick. Looks to do use it, but he can’t get it down as Bendo backs up. Bendo double pumps, Frankie comes in to counter it, they clinch and then Bendo tries to take Frankie down, but he winds up being tripped and tossed to the ground. Even though Bendo looks so much larger, that seemed easy. Edgar goes in, but he slips and winds up just standing back up. Bendo does the same. Bendo throwing his double pump, Edgar looks to counter, but holds back. Bendo again, but Edgar throws a head kick that makes Bendo move back. It misses. Edgar moving well here, like always. Bendo tries to throw a hard leg kick but Edgar moves back out of the way. Edgar tries to counter a leg kick by grabbing it and taking Bendo down, but Bendo slips his foot out of Frankie’s grasp. bendo with a head kick that misses. Edgar with a nice leg kick there. Looks like a superman punch setup, but Edgar doesn’t throw it. Bendo turns it around and throws a superman punch then an inside leg kick that lands high and racks Edgar. Momentary pause in the action as Edgar counts his nuts. He’s done and they restart in the center. Halfway through this round and it’s looking like Edgar’s mobility and bounciness is taking it well. Bendo with a body kick that Edgar holds. He tries to counter with a punch but damn does Bendo have balance. He slips it out and they go back to looking at each other. Bendo’s trying to lead the pace by moving Edgar backwards, but Edgar’s still taking it. Bendo lands another body kick that Edgar catches. He tries to do his single leg sweep like he did to BJ, but Bendo’s having none of it, and he’s able to get his foot free. Edgar telegraphs a kick, but he doesn’t throw it. Bendo brings a leg up to check the nonexistent attack. Bendo backing Edgar up, throws another kick and Edgar catches it, but Bendo moving forward and trying to throw a couple punches. Nice fakes and movement by Edgar has Bendo moving backwards.
One thing I will note, is that when Edgar is coming in, Bendo does tag him with a jab. Edgar with a head kick that misses. Nice straight right from Edgar makes Bendo bounce backwards. Nice little clashes in the center, pretty evenly fought. Bendo tries a push kick to the body that lands, but Edgar catches it. Can’t really get anything from it and he lets it go. Edgar totally ducks under a jab from Bendo and moves for a takedown. Bendo is defending, looks like he’s got an underhook, but he doesn’t and Edgar finishes the takedown. A second later Bendo shoots back up, Edgar on his back, but a kimura attempt from Bendo has Edgar let go. They come together a little closer to the center and Bendo lands a nice knee. Edgar’s left eye looking a little red, as is his leg. Edgar tries to do a jumping head kick, but spins around at the last second and tries a spinning backlist that misses. Bendo once again throwing a leg kick that Edgar tries to counter with a straight right, but he doesn’t land. Bendo brings his front leg up and it looks like he might try a front kick, but he doesn’t throw it. Edgar throws a spinning heel kick, Bendo sees it coming and moves forward, trying to take his back. Bendo leaves too much room though and Edgar twists around. Looks like Bendo moving for a trip takedown, but Edgar is the one to get it. They move around, Edgar tries to take Bendo’s back in a clinch, they separate, come back to the center and the bell rings.
Score: 10-9 Edgar. He was leading majority of the striking, controlled the distance, he got two takedowns, dodged Bendo’s cool spinning kick, and didn’t seem to have many issues with Bendo. A note going forward, Edgar’s left eye does look a little banged up.
Round 2:
Lol before the round starts Rogan says that Efrain Escudero dropped weight to emulate Frankie Edgar during the training camp. What the fuck. No glove touch on this round. Edgar with a left-right hook combination but it doesn’t land. He’s leading the pace, but Bendo is moving him backward. Bendo comes in with a left-right, Edgar tries for a single leg, but can’t get it. Edgar lets go and moves to the center. Bendo joins him. Edgar comes in with a overhand right, doesn’t land. Bendo and his double pump. Edgar comes in and gets hit with a body kid, that he catches. He throws a leg kick, then lets it go and throws a high kick that Bendo blocks. Bendo trying another leg kick but Edgar’s moved back before it hits. Edgar comes in, throws some punches that miss and Bendo counters with some strong strikes. Edgar circling around the outside, but he keeps getting into strong positions, with his front foot outside Bendo’s. Edgar with a nice leg kick. Edgar throws another jumping head kick but Bendo has moved out of the way in time. Nice high kick lands, though Edgar catches it. The two literally thow punches at each other with Bendo’s leg being held. Edgar pushes Bendo back but let’s it go and nothing comes of it. Nice body kick from Edgar. Edgar moves in after a bit of circling, but misses everything and Bendo’s left hook finds a home. Bendo steps in on a punch that Edgar dodges and then they clinch. Bendo’s back is against the cage. They don’t do anything significant, and then Edgar releases and goes to the center.
Couple strikes from both mean get thrown and miss. Bendo’s double pump leg kick misses. Bendo backs Edgar against the fence, almost lands a head kick as Edgar ducks down, but Edgar circles out and gets away. Edgar again goes for a spinning backfist, but Bendo already moving in on a clinch that is only momentary. Edgar gets free and then turns back to face Bendo. Bendo with a jumping kick to the body. Edgar circling around. He steps in and gets hit with a solid knee to the body. He throws a leg kick that Bendo checks. After a couple moments of little action, Edgar comes in again and tries for a stepping in combo, but misses and Bendo counters with a nice right hook. Finally Edgar lands the single leg and gets Bendo to his back. Immediately though Bendo moves onto a knee. Edgar has a front headlock and he’s trying to move into a back control as Bendo stands up. Bendo working for that kimura, but Edgar recognizes it and lets it go. Bendo with a nice head kick that misses. Edgar steps in a lands a nice right hands and Bendo pushes him back (literally). Edgar with a nice leg kick to the inside. He throws an outside leg kick as Bendo steps in with a combo that lands. Bendo steps in with a left then a right body kick that lands. Edgar backs to the cage then circles out. Edgar with a superman setup for a right hook that lands. Bendo tries to clinch but nothing’s doing.
Good clash on the outside. Bendo steps in and lands some solid strikes. Edgar steps in, looking like he’ll strike, but instead ducks under Bendo’s punches and shoots for a double. He gets Bendo to his back. Bendo tries a butterfly guard sweep, but Edgar has a good base, so he transitions to a normal closed guard. Bendo with some elbows from the bottom that has Edgar being very defensive. Edgar sitting up now, looking for some damage. Bendo’s guard has opened up and he keeps bring his legs up. Bendo looking for a sweep, but Edgar defending. Bendo on his side. Edgar stands up and then throws a kick to the legf. He moves in and gets hit with a perfect up kick that drops him. Bendo immediately recognizes it and takes advantage. He grabs a guillotine and rolls, lands in side control and starts throwing some hard shots. Edgar scrambles and gets into a shooting position but Bendo has a great sprawl. The round ends with Bendo throwing down some hard leather. Dayum, Frankie’s face is looking all fucked up.
Score: 10-9 Bendo. He was landing the cleaner, stronger shots. He was the more aggressive fighter as well, and though he was taken down twice, Edgar didn’t get much out of either. Bendo did land the up kick and subsequently starting throwing heat till the end of the round. Other highlights were Bendo’s clinch attempts after Edgar threw spinning things, which I’d like more fighters to do. Close round until the up kick. (19-19 Overall right now).
Round 3:
Edgar’s face looks better, if that can ever be truly said. He took Maynard’s shots, but man, Bendo’s legs are the size of my waist. Nice little step in combination from Edgar lands most of his punches. Edgar throws a body kick that Bendo blocks and counters with a stiff jab (actually a jab not a double pump). Edgar steps in, but can’t land, just like the Russians (Ivan Drago notwithstanding). Edgar steps in and lands a couple more punches as Bendo tries to establish a double collar tie. Bendo trying to clinch but Edgar circling out, wanting no part. Edgar tries a front kick, but it misses. Edgar slaps his hand out there. Edgar tries to step in but doesn’t land this time and Bendo gets a stiff right in. Edgar’s face is getting bloody again. Edgar tries to shoot a single off a Bendo jab, he almost gets control of the hips, but can’t establish enough control and Bendo gets out. Edgar with another high kick that Bendo defends. Bendo with a high kick that lands under the arm of Edgar, who can’t get his arm wrapped around it. Bendo lands a jab. Edgar ducks under for a single and pushes hard for it, but Bendo’s got too much balance for him. As soon as they hit the cage he releases and circles away. Edgar lands a nice step in right, but Bendo responds with a right of his own that lands. Nice combination for both fellows. Bendo playing the aggressor once more, but Edgar is getting better positions and angles. Edgar looks like his blood has allergies right now, as it’s leaking from his nose. They both throw kicks at the same time, but Bendo’s hits Edgar’s legs and he goes down. Bendo follows him and throws as many shots as he can. Edgar defending, but Bendo slips into back control and then they stand up, Bendo clinching from the back. He gets Edgar down again and they start working from a half guard like position. After a couple good shots from Bendo, Edgar scoots back to the cage. Edgar uses it wisely and stands up. After a moment against the cage standing up, Edgar is able to escape. On the way out though Bendo gets a nice high kick up that Edgar barely defends. Nice tactical movement from both fighters here.
They both step in, but neither lands. Edgar steps in and lands a right, Bendo gets in a left then whiffs hard on a right elbow. Edgar circling on the outside of the cage. Bendo steps in with an uppercut elbow, but Edgar has a hand up that defends. Edgar steps in, trying to get another right in, but gets popped with a couple jabs. Both come in on an even exchange. Edgar lands a good leg kick. Bendo with a high kick that Edgar tries to catch. Bendo’s knee does connect with Edgar’s face. Edgar drops the leg and then tries for a head kick of his own. Edgar ducks down and goes for a takedown. He gets control of Bendo’s hips, lifts up….and Bendo defends and gets to his feet. They come together on strikes and they clinch. Bendo going hard for a trip, but Edgar slips out and steps back. Bendo steps in, lands a couple shots, goes for a double collar tie but Edgar ducks down and circles away. Bendo with a high kick that actually does land, though it doesn’t look like it since Edgar’s moving away. Good exchange. Bendo throws some punches and then Edgar ducks under for a takedown. It takes a moment for him to get control, and then he gets Bendo down. Bendo immediately working to stand up. He lands some nice elbows. Bendo stands up and then Marc Goddard steps in as the bell rings.
Score: 10-9 Henderson. Standing up was pretty even about now, I won’t lie. Edgar has a nice steady pace, but Bendo is keeping up and landing as many clean shots as Edgar is, while being more aggressive with it. What made the difference for me was the fact that when Bendo got a takedown, he actually did something offensive with it, rather than lay there in guard. When he got taken down, he immediately started working for something offensive, be it elbows or getting into a position to work for a submission. (29-28 Bendo right now).
Round 4:
Edgar’s left eye looking a little swollen. Edgar with a switch leg kick. Damn. Bendo with his double pump jab again. Edgar steps in and tries to land a right, but can’t get it. Edgar hops in and throws a high kick that Bendo blocks. Bendo with a combination that backs Edgar up and ends it with a leg kick that Edgar catches, but can’t get anything with. Bendo lands a stiff jab. Bendo with a superman punch leg kick combo. The punch misses but that leg kick lands hard. Edgar circling out now. Edgar trying to force a combo through but misses and Bendo lands a nice right. Edgar’s nose is leaking some more. Bendo with a straight to the body. Oh damn, another nut shot to Edgar, this one looks a little worse. Edgar’s got a look of like, “Fuck me, everything is going wrong tonight.” Yeah, as Bendo threw the kick, Edgar was stepping back and it landed straight in the cajones. Wacky question, has any fighter ever waited out the full five minutes for a nut shot? That should be the first Undercard Superstar raffle question. Edgar is all good now and they step in to touch gloves.
Edgar lands a nice right hook after a moment of movement. Both are missing on some of these shots. Edgar misses on an inside leg kick. Edgar tries to play with Bendo’s right to step in with a shot, but Bendo gets an inside angle and he steps away. Bendo throws a jab and Edgar comes in with a combo to counter. They both hit each other with a hook. They circle around. They come together and Edgar tries to get a single, but Bendo has an underhook and defends perfectly. After a couple moments of back and forth, they separate. Edgar comes in again and gets hit with a great knee to the body, one that he grabs. He ducks in and Bendo jumps up going for a guillotine, Edgar slams him to the ground but it only gets tighter. They end up rolling to their side, Bendo still looking for the choke, Edgar trying to squeeze his head out. And fucking ref steps in front of the camera, but nothing happens. Edgar pushing the leg down and gets Bendo to release the hold. Bendo tries to stand up, but Edgar pushes him down. They’re working from Bendo’s guard, Bendo with some nice elbows, Edgar looking to pass. Eventually Bendo starts standing up and Edgar has a back clinch that Bendo counters with another kimura attempt that Edgar recognizes and releases. They circle around and meet in the center. Bendo getting into a side-on stance and boom, throws a sidekick that doesn’t connect with much force. He gets into that position again and Edgar circles to the left, throws a right but gets countered with a straight left. Bendo lands a nice leg kick that Edgar grabs. Edgar throws a straight right that lands, but Bendo gets his foot free after a moment of frenangling. They come together in an exchange and it ends with Edgar eating a knee from Bendo, and I literally saw blood splash out from Edgar’s face. No fucking lie. There’s a minute left and Edgar is mostly working on the outside. Crazy exchange, Bendo tries throwing a knee but Edgar swept him off his other leg, but fell down and couldn’t capitalize, and Bendo almost grabbed back control on the ground, but Edgar stood up too quickly, beautiful little sequence. A few minor exchanges here and there, nothing really landing. Bell rings to end this round.
Score: 10-9 Bendo. He was the aggressor, ended up in the better positions in all the grappling exchanges, and almost had a guillotine. One thing I will love to note is that despite Edgar catching these knees and kicks, they are still landing and hurting. They are still doing damage even though Edgar is catching them. I think that’s why Edgar is losing a little bit of his mobility. (39-37 Bendo right now in my book).
Round 5:
Bendo steps in with a double pump and Edgar makes him eat a right in exchange. Edgar with a good inside leg kick. Another nice right from Edgar lands. Bendo gets a body kick in that Edgar catches but nothing significant comes out of this. Couple exchanges here, Bendo goes for a leg kick but Edgar darts out of range. Edgar ducks under for a single, but boy, Bendo has some balance. Edgar lets go, but lands a great uppercut as they part. Edgar with a solid left, but Bendo doesn’t even seem affected. A minute fifteen in and Edgar seems to be getting the upper hand here in the final round. Bendo jabs and then steps in with an elbow that lands to the temple, but Edgar clinches up and spins him around to get Bendo’s back to the cage. Bendo with one of the heel kicks to the leg, but Edgar trips him down. Bendo immediately starts to stand up but Edgar zips around to the back. Bendo stands up with Edgar clinching him from the back. Edgar lets go and the two separate, then meet in the center. Bendo gets side-on again and lands a side kick. The two are circling around. Edgar steps in and almost lands a great right, but hits Bendo’s chest. Bendo with a jab that Edgar counters with an inside leg kick. Two minutes left and Edgar is really working this round well. They throw kicks at the same time again, but Bendo’s trips Edgar to the ground. Edgar starts standing up, with Bendo’s leg in his grip, then he throws a high kick that Bendo blocks.
After a few moments of little action, Bendo tries to step in with another elbow uppercut, but doesn’t get it. Edgar steps in and gets Bendo off-balance and drops him with a right. Bendo doesn’t immediately stand up, but he’s just sitting there. Edgar then comes in and tries to work his guard but can’t get anything significant going before Bendo gets up and Edgar steps away. A little bit of work from them both and it hits the one minute remaining mark. Edgar with a lunging left hook that barely misses. Bendo almost gets a head kick, but Edgar’s gloves got in the way. A leg kick from Bendo lands. Bendo comes in with a couple punches and a knee that Edgar catches, but Edgar can’t get any significant advantage with it and Bendo gets free. Bendo throws a left straight and Edgar drops down for a single but can’t get it. Edgar comes in again and gets hit with a knee to the body. Bendo lands a jumping knee there. Edgar drops down and tries for a takedown but Bendo defends excellently, gets guillotine roll in and wins up in Edgar’s half-guard throwing some leather as the round ends.
Score: 10-9 Edgar. This round was really close, but I think what did it for me this time was Edgar’s aggression and control of the cage and distance. He landed the better shots this round, got a couple takedowns (even though he didn’t do anything with them), and came out just slightly above. (48-47 Bendo on my card).
The Judges Score It: 49-46, 48-47, 49-46, for the new UFC Lightweight Champion of the World, Ben “Smooth” Henderson.
Fighter Thoughts: I think Bendo had a tough time dealing with Edgar’s mobility and speed, something that showed in his last fight against Clay Guida. Maybe it’s just him being a tad too slow for it, maybe it’s just they are a tad faster than him, but Bendo definitely seemed to have issues there. A couple good things I saw was the guillotine roll as I am now dubbing it (hey kids, I’m pulling a Joe Rogan). He’ll get a guillotine choke attempt in, but roll with it and get an extremely advantageous top position. Bendo has done this in several of his fights and I think at this point it’s one of his best offensive moves (from all positions) from a typically defensive position (sprawling). His knees were definitely very hard hitting, but something I didn’t like was his immediate instinct to reach for a double collar tie while Edgar threw punches. If it didn’t work the first round, why do it every other round, you know? He gave Edgar time to score with punches or to duck under into a takedown, and that’s not something you’d want to do. At this point in time I think he’s hitting his stride as a championship caliber lightweight.
(Keep checking back daily for more editions of The 13 Days of Bendo leading up to his title fight with Anthony Pettis!)
-Connor can be reached @connorhavok.
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