While it took a split decision with two of the judges scoring it three rounds to two for the champ the other judge saw it as three to two but for the former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. It was an ultra close fight with Melendez clearly taking round one and Henderson clearly taking round four other than that it really could have gone either way.

Melendez started out setting the pace early in the fight. Melendez was able to catch a good chunk of the kicks that came to the body. Henderson used a stepping elbow over and over through out the fight and seemed to switch from the body kicks that were being caught to knees. Henderson did work the jab as Melendez would close the distance but the stats that were being showed through out the fight clearly showed it was all Henderson as he out struck Melendez and out kicked by a huge advantage. Part of it being so deceiving was that Melendez spent most of the time as the man coming forward bringing the fight to the champ.

In what turned out to be a great fight I hope to see a rematch of but not too soon; as it is getting tiresome of having the champions tied up with the same opponents and jamming up the rest of the division. After the scores are read the HP Pavilion showed their displeasure in the verdict and showered Henderson with boos. As Rogan tried to get the post fight interview Henderson stopped him got the ring from one of his corner men, dropped to a knee and purposed to his girlfriend who had joined him in the cage. She of course said “yes” which momentarily stopped some of the crowd from booing but only long enough to give a real quick applause before the boos erupted in full force again.

The big men had their opportunity in the cage as Daniel Cormier finally got to get his hands on Frank Mir. In a match up between the two time Olympic wrestler and one of the greatest UFC submission artist ever it was all Cormier in this fight. In what seemed like a highlight of Hall of Famer Randy Couture fights Cormier stacked Mir up against the cage he put all his weight on Mir, he dirty boxed him and kneed him. This technique was very successful as Mir was helpless against it for three rounds and Cormier took the unanimous decision 30-27 on all three of the judges scorecards.

Josh Thomson made it a successful return to the UFC where he had gone 2-1 during 2003 and 2004. Also in the process Thomson became the first person to ever stop Nate Diaz at any weight. Thomson started off the fight with switching stances over and over while landing the leg kick to keep Diaz from using his range. Diaz ate a pair of head kicks from Thomson, the first he smiled and ate while the second turned out to be the end of his night. Diaz tried to duck under the one in the second but all he did was put the side of his head directly inline with the shin of Thomson. Thomson swarmed and pounded away as but the ref gave Diaz a chance before he jumped in but eventually had to bring it to a stop and he did so as you see the towel fly into the cage from Diaz’s corner.

In the first fight of the evening for the FOX portion of the broadcast “The Immortal” Matt Brown came out and showed the occasional fans who watch the free events exactly what it is that he does. He makes a fight a brawl! He swarmed one of the top welterweight prospects Jordan Mein right from the beginning as he usually does and never backed off. Brown chased Mein lunging at him with punches as he did so. Mein landed some sharp elbows when they were in close and even dropping Brown with a body shot. Brown the ever wise veteran immediately latched on to a leg of Mein and pulled him in close while threatening a triangle choke while he cleared the cobb webs. At the beginning of round 2 Brown swarms once again and brutalizes Mein as he pounds away on a turtled up Mein with elbows to the side of the head then standing over him elbowing his back till “Big John” McCarthy steps in at 1 min of round 2. That is what Brown does he wants to stand and punch till some one drops and with someone like Mein who uses more technique it really can pull them out of their game.

The first fight on Facebook ended in stunning fashion as the Cuban Olympic silver medalist in free style wrestling, Yoel Romero, landed a flying knee to the chin of Clifford Starks. Romero wasted no time diving on top and pounded away on till the ref was able to get over and protect Starks. The middleweight Romero picked up his first UFC win just 92 seconds into round 1.

In the only other Facebook fight lightweights Roger Bowling made his UFC debut against Anthony Njokuani. Bowling was making his transition to the UFC ranks from Strikeforce and controlled the fight up to the 4:20 mark of round one when Njokuani was able to get up off the mat and stepped his game up to give the judges something to remember as he landed clean and often. However the judges wouldn’t be needed as the second round the two fighters stayed on their feet and as Bowling charged in Njokuani placed a perfect short left to the chin that knocked out Bowling and Njokuani being the veteran could tell the fight was over and just stood above rather than delivering more punishment as the referee raced over. Anthony Njokuani is now 3-3 in the UFC with this knockout victory at the 2:52 mark of round 2.  To cap it off Njokuani busted out a big spinaroonie after it was over.

Team Alpha Male had an absolutely great showing from their fighters tonight as TJ Dillashaw started off the action when he took on Hugo Viana in the bantamweight ranks. Viana was able to drop Dillashaw 45 seconds into the fight with a right hand but the wrestler quickly turned it into his favor taking Viana to the ground. Dillashaw would go on to get his striking working as he was able to hurt and drop Viana a couple times in the 60 seconds leading up to the final right hand and ground and pound that would give the Alpha Males the first of three victories at 4:22 of round 1.

Next up for the team of fighters out of Sacramento, CA was the flyweight Joseph Benavidez who lost to the champion Demetrious Johnson in the fight to crown the first champion. It would take Benavidez nearly two full rounds of punishing Darren Uyenoyama to put him away but he was able to. In the second round Benavidez landed a left kick to the body that connected right under the ribs that you could just see hurt. Benavidez heard is coach say go to the body and a thudding left hand in the same spot dropped Uyneoyama. Benavidez dove on top and landed a couple more body shots and head shots as the ref rushed over. Benavidez would spend the longest time in the cage going to the 4:50 mark of round 2.

Chad Mendes would cap off the night for the Alpha Males as the number one contender at featherweight took on Darren Elkins who filled in for Clay Guida. It took “Money” Mendes 1:08 to land one overhand right to the temple and then dive on top to finish off Elkins for the TKO. After Mendes finished of Elkins he motioned at his waist for the belt. Mendes wants the rematch with the featherweight king Jose Aldo and their is no one left standing between the two. Having Duane “Bang” Ludwig as their new head coach has really been paying off.

The two former Ultimate Fighter competitors met as Ramsey Nijem and Myles Jury faced off at 155 pounds. The first round was dominated by grappling as neither man landed double digit strikes and they fought for position. In the second round though Nijem and his reckless striking would pay. Nijem charged forward winging punch after punch and Jury connected with an right to the face that shut off the lights for Nijem before he even hit the mat. Myles Jury with the win at 1:02 in round 2 is now 11-0 in his mixed martial arts career.

Jorge Masvidal is the latest transplant from Strikeforce to successfully step inside the octagon. He was at a distance disadvantage to the taller Tim Means and ate a few elbows when he was able to get in close but after the first round Masvidal was successful in take down after take down and that is where a majority of the last two rounds were spent. Means defended from really taking any punishment but he had spent too much time on his back and Masvidal took home the 29-28 decision from all three judges.

In the other bout to go the distance Georges St. Pierre’s teammate Francis Carmont was able to extend his winning streak to 11 fights by picking up the unanimous decision two rounds to one on all cards over Lorenz Larkin. Larkin looked to have this fight as he punished the legs of Carmont and defended 7 of the first 8 take down attempts. Larkin even pulled off a sweet looking spinning heel kick to the thigh of Carmont. When Carmont got the fight to the ground he was never there long and Larkin put up a fight from the bottom utilizing the rubber guard attempting submissions and almost locking in a kimura. Carmont was the aggressor in this fight with out a doubt; he was consistently moving forward and that had to be what stood out in the mind of the judges.

The 29-year-old Henderson is 6-0 in the UFC, including two consecutive title defenses over Nate Diaz and Frankie Edgar. He’ll look to cement his status as the world’s best 155-pounder when he meets Melendez, a San Francisco resident riding a seven-fight winning streak.

“Benson Henderson wants to beat Gilbert Melendez to prove once and for all that he’s the best lightweight in the world,” UFC President Dana White said. “Gilbert was a champion in Strikeforce and he’s been on an incredible tear. Benson wants this fight badly and I’m excited that it’s headlining such a stacked card.”

In addition, this outstanding card also features:

·         Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir vs. highly touted Olympic wrestler and winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, San Jose’s Daniel Cormier.
·         Stockton’s Nate Diaz vs. San Jose’s Josh Thomson in lightweight action
·         A welterweight collision between Dan Hardy and Matt Brown

The main card airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, preceded by the prelims on FX at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. FUEL TV previews the card the week before on signature shows UFC TONIGHT and UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER, and also carries the WEIGH-IN SHOW on Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and provides post-event analysis.
Tickets for UFC® on FOX: HENDERSON vs. MELENDEZ go on sale Friday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, and $50. Tickets are available at the HP Pavilion Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Feb. 14, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com.  All bouts live and subject to change.