UFC 129 Results Recap: Ben Henderson vs. Mark Bocek

by Brent Brookhouse on May 2, 2011 2:00 AM EDT in UFC News

Former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson defeats Mark Bocek by unanimous decision at UFC 129.

What was the high spot of this fight?

It's hard to pick a single "defining moment" of the fight but late in the second round saw Henderson display his trademark choke defense before doing big damage to Bocek with a flurry of strikes. In that flurry he cut open the scalp of Bocek.

Where do these guys go from here?

Henderson is going to be a tough fight for anyone on the UFC roster with his well-rounded game, but his striking is improving very rapidly. Rather than rushing him into the title picture like the UFC seems to want to do with Anthony Pettis, I'd say let him get some more wins and build up his profile. I think he'd work over Mac Danzig and I would have liked that fight as a "profile builder" but Danzig is being fed to Donald Cerrone. Henderson vs. Jim Miller would be awesome, but probably go against my "don't rush him" statement.

Bocek is still very good and a fine fit for the UFC lightweight roster. I'm not sure where you go with him exactly but the UFC style is to match up guys coming off losses and the only lightweight coming off a loss that I can think of off the top of my head is Kamal Shalorus (thanks to talking about Jim Miller a moment ago).

Watch it now, later, or never?

It's entertaining but not "must see." Watch it later.

More UFC 129 Results and Analysis from Bloody Elbow after the jump.

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Im starting to like Ben he brings it everytime

tough fight for anyone for sure .

by TigerTD on May 2, 2011 2:05 AM EDT reply actions

He really mauled Bocek at the end of round 2. He seemed legitimately pissed. Even Rogan commented on it.

"Every time I talk on the phone with someone who doesn’t know me, they call me "ma’am"." - Scott C. Broussard

by Earl Montclair on May 2, 2011 2:07 AM EDT reply actions

Why is this a watch later?

It was hands down the best fight on the entire card

by DarthKitty on May 2, 2011 2:09 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

aldo and mark?

by TigerTD on May 2, 2011 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Nope

It was not nearly as good, sure the ‘story’ was better, but the Bendo fight was far more back and forth and Aldo frankly dominated most of the fight. I have no idea why people are trying to make it sound more competitive then it was

by DarthKitty on May 2, 2011 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't remember Bocek doing any significant at all

by av1o3 on May 2, 2011 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Achieved dominat position multiple times

And had Bendo is some very nasty look submission holds, particularly that Anaconda choke. You might be numb to whenever someone latches a submission hold onto Henderson, but when it’s a guy like Bocek, I still get nervous

by DarthKitty on May 2, 2011 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions

The whole anaconda choke, to roll-over, to Bendo getting up and unleashing knees from hell moment was undeniably awesome!

by MMAussie on May 2, 2011 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Bendo’s grappling, to put it in Mike Golberg’s words, sick just sick

by DarthKitty on May 2, 2011 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Definitely. I loved their fight but marginally preferred the Aldo fight. Unfair comparison though because one had a distinct advantage of 2 extra rounds.

by MMAussie on May 2, 2011 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Ohh

yeah kinda forgot about that. Mainly because Bendo was always able to get out of those positions after a few seconds and then proceeded to beat Bocek up in the stand up.

by av1o3 on May 2, 2011 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Bendo is that dude.

He was my favorite WEC fighter. His stand-up looked great and you really just can’t sub him at all.

CHAMPION 2011

by BonesBloodyElbow on May 2, 2011 2:14 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats to all. Osama is dead!

by Konartist on May 2, 2011 2:42 AM EDT reply actions

Sources close to the White House say that it was the mustache of Don Frye that killed Osama

He saw a picture of Don Frye on the internet, and the mustache jumped out of the computer screen and strangled him to death. Don Frye and his mustache are expected to be commended by the president, photograph of Don Frye enclosed

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m287/bigpacey/ufc/ufc7.jpg[/IMG]

by DarthKitty on May 2, 2011 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Always liked Bendo

Further proof that he belongs in the UFC. A hard worker who deserves to be champ.

by Rug Rug on May 2, 2011 2:48 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

he may be a good fighter but his new affliction shirt tattoo is ridiculous

by BROCKLESNAR!!!!! on May 2, 2011 5:02 AM EDT reply actions

that choke defense roll into popping up and punching

was pretty G

I love myself a good scramble

¬_¬

by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on May 2, 2011 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

Not gonna lie,

watching Bendo tough out that submission, then just get pissed and start unleashing his fury was the most memorable moment of the night. There is nothing better than a fighter with a fire lit underneathe him and getting pumped.

"I guess I'm 13-Maynard, and Maynard..."- Frankie Edgar

by Dustin Luff on May 2, 2011 8:32 PM EDT reply actions