#1 Dan Henderson vs Shogun Rua 2:
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This clash of titans had the words blood bath written all over it the second it was announced. Both tested giants of the MMA world are reputed for their rock-solid chins and fists, and a fight that tested both their chins, far from disappointed anyone who watched UFC 139.
The blood began to flow when Hendo cleverly used a Guillotine attempt to get back to his feet and lands a neck snapping knee, followed by a flurry of H-bombs. With Shogun already busted up, he weathered the storm that followed, only to be dropped again by Henderson's cannon-ball like right hand. The experienced Brazillian, however, dropped into recovery mode by diving at the American's leg forcing him to the fence.
The first round also saw Hendo dive for a leg after being rocked badly by an upper-cut but the round ended with the wrestler edging it what was clearly a battle of the fists. The second round also followed a similar tempo with the now patched up Rua continuing wild exchanges with Henderson and forcing him into the clinch.
The American, it seems, had plans of his own as he clawed out of the clinch relatively easily only to blast off another huge combination that busts up Rua's mouth and nose. As he took a few deep breaths, Mauricio struggled on to the end of the round always continuing a stunning work rate of constant exchanges.
The exchanges continued on to the third round with Shogun looking more exhausted after the break.
Henderson capitalised on his opponents fatigue with a takedown and slammed another powerful combination the second the Brazillian sprawled his way out of it. His time the Brazillian crumpled as landed a crushing 'H-bomb' followed by ground and pound.
The ever-resilient Rua managed to cover up and stay in the fight. Eventually working is up to his feet with an instinctive sweep Shogun fired a combination in the clinch as his shorts now turned pink.
After incredibly surviving until the championship rounds, Hendo looked the more tired of the two fighters coming into the round. This was partly due to Shogun's constant takedown attempt and consequent sprawls.
Rua took advantage in the fourth rocking Henderson with another uppercut leaving the American now in recovery mode. As the blood poured on, so did the heavy exchanges as the fight drained both fighters to exhaustion.
Shogun then relied on his black belt to take him through the rest of the bout easily stepping into mount after initiating the takedown. Rua completed the round dropping bombs on his opponent, who was far too exhausted to cover up but eventually managed to escape only to be mounted again. The nail-biting extravaganza that eventually went to Henderson has been touted as one of the best fights in the UFC.
