Editor’s note: Unlike most posts you’ll read from me, this one is primarily about my first-hand memories of Shogun vs Hendo 1 at UFC 139.
Throughout the history of MMA there have been moments that have awed and inspired fans all over the world, but few moments have had the chance to be recreated or even surpassed. Sunday in Brazil two of the sports best get a chance to duplicate one of the greatest fights in history.
Dan “Hendo” Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua headline UFC Fight Night 38 in a rematch of their epic 2011 bout at UFC 139. That bout was voted Fight of the Year and is considered, by many, one of the best fights of all-time. The biggest question in front of the UFC and the two fighters is whether or not the energy on that November night in San Jose, Calif. can be matched.
Since this rematch was announced fans and journalists who witnessed the fight live have reminisced on the excitement that bout offered. For this writer it was an eye-opening welcome into the world of MMA journalism.
The card itself seemed like an exciting one with several MMA legends and fighters from Northern California to excite the Bay Area crowd, but the highlight was the main event between Hendo and Shogun. For as long as the two have been fighting they had never matched up. Both were considered to be past their prime, but the two were still eager to put on a great fight for fans and for the UFC’s brass. It was obvious that both men had their eyes on a title shot with a win in the days leading up to the bout.
As the main event drew near, there was a buzz amongst the crowd and when each fighter entered the octagon the HP Pavilion (now known as the SAP Center) the atmosphere rose with excitement. Nobody… and, I mean nobody expected what would occur over the next 25 minutes. There were a total 472 strikes thrown in the fight, 14 takedown attempts and two submission attempts.
It was safe to say that neither man was looking to end this with a tap out, but wanted that highlight reel knockout finish. Looking back on it, a quick finish would have taken away a lot from the aura of the fight and the event as a whole. Henderson and Shogun left it all in the cage, both literally and figuratively. Henderson won by unanimous decision, but even he needed assistance to leave the octagon. To this day, Shogun believes he had won that fight and it can be argued that he did. All three judges that night scored the bout 48-47 and there were rounds that could have gone either way.
Heading into the post fight press conference it was obvious what was on the mind of everyone there and what questions were going to be asked of the two fighters, but to nobody’s surprise each man had been taken to a nearby hospital for examinations. Rumors were swirling that Hendo had collapsed in the locker room and Shogun was having trouble standing up himself.
With the rematch just a day away, that night is being relived and reexamined by many. Whether or not the sequel will be just as good is hard to tell but fans can expect the same type of effort by both fighters.
Since that bout both careers have gone in different directions. Henderson has lost three in a row (two by split decision), Shogun has gone 2-2 with two KO/TKO victories. Neither is really considered to be a title contender, but with pride and legacy on the line this bout will have a title fight atmosphere. With Fight Night taking place in Natal, Brazil the crowd will be pro-Shogun and the South American country has become known for its incredible atmosphere when one of their own takes to the cage.
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