UFC 144: Ben Henderson dethrones Frankie Edgar in Japan

After five grueling rounds, Ben "Smooth" Henderson dethroned Frankie Edgar, and is now the new UFC Lightweight champion.

Beaming with confidence, Henderson dominated Edgar during all five rounds, giving the champ the worst beating of his MMA career. Edgar responded with his second to none heart and endurance, but it was not enough to withstand Ben Henderson physical power and size advantage throughout the fight.

Edgar and Henderson threw an equal amount of strikes, but once again, it's the challenger's power that was responsible for the champ's swollen eye and broken nose.

The judges scored the bout unanimously in favor of Ben Henderson, as Frankie Edgar shook his head in disbelief. Edgar perhaps went toe-to-toe with Henderson during all five rounds, and was never out of the fight, but there's no doubt that Henderson not only won the decision, but also the fight itself.

Henderson improves his MMA record to 16-2, and will now face, most likely, the man who dethroned him as the WEC Lightweight Champion - Anthony Pettis. "Showtime" KO'd Joe Lauzon with a vicious head kick, which gave him the right to cash in the title shot cheque he never used since merger between WEC and the UFC.

Ben Henderson could also find himself in the cage against the winner of UFC on FOX 3 encounter between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz, who are both fresh off important victories inside the Octagon.

As for Frankie Edgar, the former champ has no choice but to move down to Featherweight, where could set himself a superfight with the reigning champion Jose Aldo.

Source: http://lowkick.blitzcorner.com/UFC/UFC-144-Ben-Henderson-crowned-the-new-UFC-Lightweight-Champ-15239

mcfadden mcfadden ponder ponder extract extract bobby jindal