It was a razor close fight, and given its setting in Gilbert Melendez’ backyard, there was no way the crowd was going to support a Benson Henderson victory in the main-event of UFC on FOX.
Even if Henderson, the reigning UFC Lightweight Championship, proposed to his girlfriend after the fight.
In the main-event of Saturday’s show, Henderson won a grueling, back-and-forth battle against Strikeforce’s final Lightweight Champion in a close split decision. Two judges scored the contest 48-47 in favor of Henderson, while the defector went 48-47 for Melendez.
The crowd predictably booed the decision, and despite UFC announcer Joe Rogan’s hollow claims to the contrary, continued the boos going during Henderson’s proposal to his girlfriend after the fight.
She accepted, and Henderson proceeded to put over the toughness of Melendez and his Team Cesar Gracie teammates, but he simply could not turn the entire crowd in his favor.
Also on the main card: Daniel Cormier defeated Frank Mir via unanimous decision (30-27×3), Josh Thomson defeated Nate Diaz via second round corner stoppage and Matt Brown defeated Jordan Mein via second round TKO.
