UFC 150 Results: Close Decisions and Robberies Are Two Different Things

Benson "Smooth" Henderson and Frankie "The Answer" Edgar put an end to their short-lived rivalry by completing their title rematch.

The fight may not have been as exciting as the first one, but it was certainly much more competitive. So competitive, in fact, that some people are already calling the split-decision victory for Henderson a robbery.

Let me begin by saying that, even though I believed Henderson would beat Edgar heading into this bout, I ended up scoring the fight 48-47 for Edgar by the end of the last round. In fact, I almost scored it 49-46 for the former champion.

But I was in no way shocked when Benson Henderson won. I couldn't be. The fight was too close for me to be confident that the judges would see the fight my way.

The strike counts were close for the final three rounds, with few or no strikes by either fighter indisputably sealing any one of those rounds for either of them.

Henderson's deadly leg kicks made the difference in the first round. Edgar's powerful right hand and control clinched the second round.

To those who claim that the decision was a robbery, I only ask this: which two of the last three rounds indisputably went to Edgar, and what were the deciding factors in those rounds?

I don't think a case can be made for any one of those rounds undeniably going to Edgar. And I certainly don't think an undeniable case for any two of those rounds can be made.

It was a close decision. A controversial decision, even. It may not have been the most popular call. Any other three judges might have given the fight unanimously to Edgar.

Three judges had one chance to look at three very close rounds, and two of them gave two of those rounds to Henderson. It was certainly a controversial decision. But it was no robbery.