Thanks to Sherdog.com for this match result:
Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares
Round 1
The fighters calmly size each other up in the center of the Octagon. Palhares shoots and is blasted with a right hand. Palhares attempts a foot lock but Henderson jumps out of it. Palhares shoots twice and Dan sprawls strong and punches the head. Palhares lands a body kick and misses with a wheel kick. Henderson continues to stop the takedown. Henderson jabs and looks to set up his right hand. Palhares lands a left-right combo but he pays for it as Henderson gets wild with punches and crumbles Palhares to the canvas. Henderson lands a hammerfist. The Pride veteran jabs the head and is taken down with a single-leg. Palhares takes side-control with 30 seconds remaining. Henderson gets to half-guard, and as time expires, Palhares spins for a kneebar.
Round 2
Palhares fails on two shots before picking Henderson up and slamming him hard to the canvas. The Brazilian works from Henderson’s closed-guard with punches. Henderson goes high with his hips and Palhares immediately goes to a kneebar-heelhook combo. The hold is deep but Henderson escapes. Palhares pulls guard and is hit with a right hand. The action slows, which prompts referee Herb Dean to stand the fighters to their feet. Both middleweights miss head kicks before the horn sounds.
Round 3
The final frame starts slow. With 4:30 left on the clock, Palhares fails on a shoot but he manages to land a knee to the chin on exit. Palhares looks sloppy with his punches as he grows frustrated from not being able to score a takedown. Henderson cracks the BJJ black belt with a right cross. Palhares looks to tie up the wrester, but Henderson backs away and fires a right hook that glances. The crowd starts to shower the cage with boos as the action slows. Palhares nearly scores a takedown, but Henderson shows excellent use of hips to keep the top position. He punches the head with his right hand and stands. Palhares pulls guard and nearly secures a heel hook. Henderson escapes. Punches rain down from the Team Quest fighter to put the stamp on what should be a clear victory.
The official judges’ scorecards were 30-27 (twice) and 29-28 for Dan Henderson.
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