UFC 139 Results: Henderson and Rua Prove UFC Is in Great Shape

UFC officials took a big risk when they decided to make non-title headliners five rounds instead of three.

There were questions whether non-title fights were worth it, whether they could entertain for five rounds and whether it would only extend disappointing fights.

But there's no need to fear. The UFC is going to be just fine.

On Saturday at UFC 139, we were treated to one of the most spectacular fights in UFC history when Dan Henderson battled for a victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

There were so many huge blows, takedowns, submission escapes and brutal counter-punches that it was frankly amazing that both fighters stood on their feet the entire 25 minutes.

From the very start, Henderson attacked Rua, bloodying him with a series of blows that could have stopped the fight right there. But Rua battled back, knocking Henderson down with an uppercut.

So that was the end, right?

No. Henderson battled back for the remainder of the round.

It became a trend, with each fighter trading blows in a historic moment for the UFC. Historic not only for the sheer excellence of the fight, but for the fact that this was only the second five-round non-title headliner in UFC history. And it delivered magnificently.

Said UFC president Dana White after the fight, via SI.com:

"

That's without a doubt one of the top three best fights ever in MMA. I have so much respect for both of those guys to dig down that deep in a five-round fight. That was like our Ali-Frazier III. It was incredible.

"

He wasn't far off.

There were so many moments in the fight where the refs were on the border of stepping in. Like in the third round, when Henderson dropped Rua to the mat and began unloading on him. Or when Rua almost had Henderson in the fourth, landing a pair of punches that came this close to ending it for Henderson. Or, in the fifth, when Rua just began to wail on Henderson from the mount, but Henderson stayed just alert and conscious enough to make it to the end.

The judges scored it 48-47 Henderson, and it very well could have gone the other way.

But on this night, there was no place for controversy. Both men deserved this fight, and they both will be remembered for what they showed in UFC 139.