BY NISAR KHAN
Dan Henderson opened up a new chapter in his storied career as he knocked out Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the Third Round of their rematch in Natal, Brazil.
Dan Henderson was down in scoring as he lost the two previous rounds, suffering knock downs in both. Hendo’s chin held up.
Shogun scored the first round with a knockdown although Henderson found his range at time. This would be similar in the second round too, with a flush uppercut landing to drop Henderson. In the third round, though, as they broke off from an exchange, Henderson landed a huge shot that sent Rua tumbling, and referee Herb Dean stopped it on the ground as Henderson hammered away.
Yet again, we learn the lesson – never underestimate the power of Henderson’s right hand, it really is a stick of dynamite.
Dan Henderson also won the fight prior, by decision whereas this was an emphatic TKO victory. Many had written off the former PRIDE Champion, and arguments were further strengthened when he was down in the first two rounds.
“It means a lot to me more than other fights to beat a guy like Shogun”, said a relieved Dan Henderson, who admitted that he was too patient in the earlier rounds.
Aged 43, Henderson still has some left in the tank, another huge win to bounce back after a bad string of fights last year, including a loss to Vitor Belfort.
The fight was the main event of a tremendous card of action in Natal, Brazil,
In the co-main event, CB Dolloway prevailed as the underdog to defeat Cezar Ferreira with a TKO victory merely 39 seconds into the fight. Dolloway managed to hold up to take some shots, in exchange to land some, eventually dropping Ferreira with a left-hook before proceeding to finish the fight.
There was plenty of ferocious action to get the Brazilian crowd pumped up throughout the night. Fan favorite Fabio Maldonado dispatched Gian Villante in a gutsy fight that went the distance. Despite being rocked in the inaugural round, Maldonado had Villante in dire straits to conclude the fight, although Villante would hold up just enough to go the distance. Thiago Santos finished his fight within 53 seconds, as he put away Rony Markes while Rony Jason followed the same pattern in his win over Steven Siler, within 1:53 of Round 1. There were four first-round finishes in the prelims, a more than appropriate way to fire up the crowd. Further up the card, Leanardo Santos and Norman Parke’s fight was ruled a majority draw.
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