Sean Sherk, the former champ, held off the rising young star Evan Dunham to squeak out a split decision win.

Dunham threatened throughout the fight with tight choke attacks but Sherk countered with slams and controlled the location of the fight for most of the first two rounds. But Dunham controlled the action standing and pretty much beat up Sherk on the feet in the latter rounds. 

The crowd booed Sherk after the fight and cheered Dunham but the judges had the final say. 

Sean Sherk came out and immediately took down Evan Dunham who countered with a very tight guillotine choke. But the former champ refused to be choked out and powered his head free. Dunham stood up around the 2:30 mark but Sherk quickly slammed him down again. Dunham got up again and caught Sherk in a very tight front choke with no arms in. But Sherk powered free again. This time he cut Dunham with a nasty elbow from the top. Dunham tried to get up but Sherk got him in a front headlock and fired away with uppercuts to the cut. Blood flew and dripped from Dunham who was inspected by the ring side doctor with only a few seconds left in the round. 

Dunham's cut was huge and ghastly between rounds. 

Sherk shot in immediately in the second round but Dunham fought for the choke again and had it on tight but Sherk once again escaped. Dunham immediately fought his way back up and immediately threatened with the guillotine again. But Sherk spun free. Dunham went for it again but seemed to have much less power to put into the choke. At a little more than two minutes left, they began to trade on the feet for the first time in the fight. Sherk landed but Dunham landed more including a hard kick to the head and a nice knee. Sherk countered with punches on the inside but Dunham came out ahead of the exchanges handily. 

Dunham dropped Sherk with a high kick to start the third. But Sherk survived and forced the younger man back into the cage. Sherk ate some elbows before getting the take down but Dunham fought back to his feet quickly. But Sherk glued himself to Dunham before Dunham pushed free with about three minutes left. Dunham dominated on the feet as Sherk swung and missed badly. Then in the clinch Dunham threatened another choke and kneed Sherk hard to the face. Sherk repeatedly bounced back into the cage after losing striking exchanges. Dunham landed two hard knees, some punches and a front kick to the face in one especially lovely combination. But Sherk fought on gamely to the end landing punches the whole way.