Sherdog Remembers: Benson Henderson Dethrones Frankie Edgar at UFC 144

After the merger between Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting in December 2010, former WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson worked his way to the top of the UFC 155-pound division. And just barely two years inside the Octagon, Henderson beat then-reigning kingpin Frankie Edgar to become the new face of the weight class.

Six years ago today on Feb. 26, 2012, the UFC 144 main event between Edgar and Henderson, which was held at the Saitama Super Arena, marked the promotion’s first visit to Japan since UFC 29 in late 2000. As expected, the match was closely contested, with each fighter throwing everything they had against one another.

Here’s how Sherdog editor Brian Knapp documented the passing of the torch.

Benson Henderson completed his climb to the lightweight summit halfway across the world.

In a riveting five-round battle that showcased the best and most endearing qualities of both men, Henderson dethroned Frankie Edgar and captured the lightweight championship in the UFC 144 headliner on Saturday at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. All three cageside judges saw it in favor of Henderson (16-2, 4-0 UFC): 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46.

Based out of the MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz., Henderson leaned heavily on powerful kicks to the legs and body of the champion. To his credit, Edgar pinned many of them between his arm and body, but they served their purpose nonetheless.

Late in the second round, Henderson permanently altered the complexion of the 25-minute fight, as he delivered a searing upkick from his back to Edgar’s exposed face. The New Jersey native crumpled where he stood and Henderson leaped into action, seeking his trademark guillotine choke. Edgar (14-2-1, 9-2-1 UFC) avoided further danger, but the damage was done and it was considerable.

“I have to thank [Donald] ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone for that,” Henderson said. “He landed that on me [at WEC 43], and I told him I was going to land it on somebody because that hurt -- bad.”

Rounds three, four and five unfolded into a beautiful tapestry of skill and will between two of the 155-pound division’s premier fighters. His left eye nearly swollen shut and his nose badly damaged by the upkick, Edgar never went away. However, Henderson landed more strikes of consequence -- according to FightMetric figures, he outlanded Edgar 87-68 in terms of total significant strikes and 100-81 in terms of total overall strikes -- and unleashed his guillotine once more in round four. Again, Edgar freed himself. Henderson was not surprised.

“He went the right direction, and he did the right technique to escape,” he said. “He knew what he was doing to get out of it. I was holding on to squeeze, thinking maybe he would go the wrong direction. I was hoping I had it, but props to him.”

Neither champion nor challenger held back in the fifth, as the indomitable Edgar cracked Henderson repeatedly with short, straight punches. Henderson provided his retort late in the frame with a jumping knee and followed Edgar to the ground in the closing seconds, working for a guillotine one last time. Alas, a finish was not in the cards.

Henderson, who has won 14 times in 15 bouts, saw his size and strength advantage as keys to the most significant victory of his career.

“I wanted to use my size to my advantage,” he said. “Making weight kind of sucks for me. I have to do like eight hard weeks and then two hard days of cutting down the weight. I pay a big price for that, and I want to make sure my opponents feel that pain when we have our 25 minutes inside the Octagon.”