Henderson hammers Diaz, MacDonald pounds Penn

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Jeff Chiu / the associated press Benson Henderson unloads a kick on Nate Diaz during the fifth round of their lightweight title fight. (CP)

SEATTLE -- Benson Henderson came home and impressively retained the UFC lightweight championship Saturday night during UFC on Fox, unanimously outpointing a flustered Nate Diaz.

Henderson controlled the main event from the start, just a few miles from where he grew up in Federal Way. With the partisan crowd chanting Henderson's name throughout the fight, he took a decisive 50-43, 50-45 and 50-45 decision, his second successful title defence.

Prior to the main event, rising Canadian star Rory MacDonald took apart former champion B.J. Penn in a decisive unanimous decision that left Penn's face blooded and his body throbbing from body shots.

In the light heavyweight division, Sweden's Alexander Gustafsson won a unanimous decision over former champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, likely earning himself a shot at the light heavyweight title next year.

Henderson had a shaky first defence of his lightweight title when he took a decision in a rematch with Frankie Edgar in August. Henderson was showered with boos after the split decision in his favour was announced during UFC 150 in Denver, a fight the crowd believed Edgar had won.

There was no debate this time. Henderson left Diaz's face bruised and bloodied, while it was tough to tell if he'd even been in a fight. Henderson regularly got Diaz on the mat and retained control from the top, unloading punches and elbows at will. At one point, Henderson was on top just far enough away that Diaz's flailing punches couldn't land. Diaz got frustrated to the point of making an obscene gesture that forced Fox to cut away from its television coverage.

The only moment of concern for Henderson came in the third round when both grappled on the mat trying for ankle submission holds. Henderson eventually wiggled free and retained control.

Henderson improved to 6-0 with the UFC and 18-2 in his MMA career. Diaz fell to 16-8 after winning his last three fights.

Penn (16-9-2) could not break down the faster, younger, longer MacDonald (14-1) despite having huge fan support. Instead it was the Canadians who made the short drive across the border who were left cheering the unanimous decision in favour of the rising star.

MacDonald's jabs and combination punches, combined with snapping kicks left Penn's face bloodied and swollen and his ribs aching, especially in the second round. MacDonald caught Penn with a left-kick midway through the round that nearly doubled Penn over in pain. Penn was left protecting his ribs the rest of the fight, while MacDonald showed off for parts of the third round dancing and flailing his arms, mocking the former champion.

MacDonald won 30-26, 30-26 and 30-27, then immediately asked for a rematch against Carlos Condit following the victory. Condit is the only fighter to beat MacDonald back in June 2010.

Penn, a former champion in both lightweight and welterweight classes, was fighting for the first time in 13 months.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 9, 2012 B2