The UFC 204 main event saw hometown hero Michael Bisping take on Dan Henderson for Bisping’s UFC middleweight title. Bisping was seeking to even the score with Hendo, who famously KO’d him in brutal fashion at UFC 100 back in 2009. For Henderson, this was his chance to win UFC gold and retire on a high note. A raucous crowd at Manchester Arena cheered on their champion, who came into this fight as the expected betting favorite.
The first 40 seconds or so was a feeling out process. Sharp jab by Henderson to back Bisping up. Bisping checked the leg kick. The H-Bomb was thrown and it whizzed by Bisping’s face. He threw it twice more and neither time did it land. Jab by Bisping connected. The champion had an active kicking game, throwing more upstairs than to Hendo’s legs. Half-hearted takedown attempt by Henderson and then a missed right hand. Bisping with a leg kick. Body kick and then Hendo answered by uncorking the right hand, which just missed. The H-Bomb landed off the counter and Bisping collapsed in a heap. Henderson went all out for the finish with massive elbows and punches and somehow Bisping survived it and got back to his feet, then threw a jumping kick as the round ended.
Bisping was a bloody mess at the end of round 1 and still had a visible cut in round 2, presumably from an elbow.Good right hand by Bisping. He landed another one a the two minute mark, then backed him up with another right. Right hand and a head kick forced Henderson to retreat, but then he caught Bisping with a right hand. Again with the right hand and left high kick by Bisping. Another head kick by Bisping landed flush, but in textbook Hendo fashion, he didn’t go down. Bisping found his range with his kicks and once again landed the head kick. Knee by Bisping. Right hand and then a body kick by Bisping hurt Henderson and Bisping went on the offensive. HUGE right hand by Hendo dropped Bisping again with 1 minute left. Bisping tied Hendo up in full guard and made sure Hendo didn’t pounce for the kill. The round ended with Bisping once again surviving a knockdown.
Replays showed the body kick that Bisping landed was actually a groin shot that Yves Lavigne missed. Right hand over the top by Bisping and then a left high kick. Left hook thrown by Hendo (a rare one). Good right by Bisping glanced off Hendo’s face. Right hand by Bisping and Hendo was a bit off balance, but that was likely due to footwork more than anything else. Jab and a right by Bisping. Excellent leg kick by Bisping to the outside of Hendo’s lead leg. Henderson with another right hand but Bisping stayed upright. Dan faked a takedown and threw a punch that badly missed. Crisp right by Bisping and evaded the H-Bomb. Body kick by Bisping. Takedown stuffed by Bisping with a little over 1 minute left in the 3rd. Bisping with a right hand as Hendo took a deep breath. Dominant round for Bisping but again he got timed with the right hand in the closing seconds.
Hendo with an outside leg kick after Bisping threw a weak let high kick. The champion was walking down Henderson and cutting off the cage effectively. They both throw and Hendo gets the right hand to land. Jumping high kick by Bisping followed by punches. Henderson with a labored body kick and then a stiff jab. Groin kick halted the action. Hendo took time to recover while Bisping taunted him. No point was deducted. Lunging left hook and a leg kick by Henderson. Bisping with the push kick to the knee. Decent combination by Henderson and then a jab. Henderson came in aggressively and ate a right hand. Lovely 1-2 combination by Bisping. Henderson delivered a knee at the end of the round.
Missed spinning kick by Bisping. Hendo again with the knee. Caught him again with the knee on the finishing end of a combination. Jab lands for Bisping. 1-2 by the champion. Good right hand by Bisping with just over 3 minutes left. Henderson just missed on the right hand and then scored with a knee to the body. Punch-kick combination and Bisping connected on each strike. Then again on another body kick. Jab, right hand and then a left hook by Bisping. Hendo whiffed on an uppercut with 2 minutes to go. Inside leg kick by Bisping. Right hand by Henderson which Bisping took well. Takedown by Henderson! Bisping got back to his feet about 30 seconds later. Nice jab by Bisping in the final minute. Hendo shot in again and Bisping stuffed it with ease on the sprawl. In the final 10 seconds, Bisping landed a flying knee and then Henderson did some rolling kick move I don’t think he’d ever tried before, and Bisping threw some ground strikes to end a terrific, back-and-forth thriller.
Official result: Michael Bisping def. Dan Henderson (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to remain the UFC middleweight champion
Dan Henderson’s final fight of his legendary career nearly ended in unlikely triumph, but he came up just short. A battered and bruised Bisping did just enough to successfully defend his UFC middleweight title, and won the rematch against an old rival. Henderson announced his retirement in the post-fight interview.