Former Champion Rashad Evans Halts Skid, Outpoints Dan Henderson at UFC ... - Sherdog.com

His career at something of a standstill, onetime Ultimate FightingChampionship light heavyweight boss RashadEvans came away with a win he desperately needed.

Evans bounced back from consecutive defeats to Jon Jones andAntonioRogerio Nogueira with a split decision victory over formertwo-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder DanHenderson in the UFC161 headliner on Saturday at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg,Manitoba, Canada. All three judges struck 29-28 scores, two of themsiding with the more active and aggressive Evans (18-3-1, 13-3-1UFC).

Henderson (29-10, 6-4 UFC) had his chance in the first round, wherehe staggered the Blackzilians representative with a stinging leftjab and follow-up right uppercut. However, Evans regained his witsand recovered enough to fire back with some offense of his own.

'I didn't know what hit me,' he said. 'I thought the ref kicked meor something. I asked my corner, and they told me he caught me witha shot. I said, 'No s---?' It was surprising. Some punches Ithought would have power didn't, and ones I didn't [think wouldhave power] did.'

Evans slowly but surely turned the corner in round two, and the33-year-old Niagara Falls, N.Y., native entered the third withrenewed purpose and some newfound confidence. He sent theiron-chinned Henderson into a backpedal with a rapid-firecombination against the cage, and from there, he stifled thetwo-time Olympian in the clinch, never allowing him to unleash hishowitzer of a right hand.

'Only fools rush in with DanHenderson,' Evans said. 'When he's hurt, he can still hit youwith a good shot.'

Henderson, who turns 43 in August, has suffered back-to-back lossesfor the first time in more than five years.

'There's nobody to blame but myself,' he said. 'That third round, Islowed down. I should have been more active. He didn't hurt me atall, though. This [loss] I can swallow a little easier than lastone [to LyotoMachida]. [Evans] stood there and fought me. I can't say thatfor the last guy I fought.'

Miocic Dominates Nelson in Co-HeadlinerStipeMiocic locked down the most significant victory of hisprofessional career, as he ripped into 'The Ultimate Fighter'Season 10 winner Roy Nelsonwith straight punching combinations and notched a well-earnedunanimous decision in the heavyweight co-main event. All threejudges scored it the same: 30-27 for Miocic (10-1, 4-1 UFC).

Nelson (19-8, 6-4 UFC), who entered the cage on the strength ofthree consecutive first-round knockouts, stumbled out of the gateand never recovered. Miocic lit into him with two-, three- andfour-punch volleys, wobbled him more than once with his right crossand snuck in leg kicks and knees for good measure. At theconclusion of the first five minutes, Nelson was a winded and spentforce.

Miocic followed his game plan to perfection, steering clear of theformer International Fight League champion's famed overhand right.The combinations kept flowing and Nelson became less and less of afactor as the talented Ohioan dragged him into the deep.

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Jimmo moved to 2-1 in the UFC.

Former MFC Champion Jimmo Outduels PokrajacA stifling clinch game drove former Maximum Fighting Championshiptitleholder Ryan Jimmo toa unanimous decision over MirkoFilipovic protégé IgorPokrajac in a light heavyweight showcase. Jimmo (18-2, 2-1)swept the scorecards by identical 30-27 counts, as he won for the18th time in 19 appearances.

Pokrajac (25-10) was a step slower against the Canadian, and itcost him. Jimmo backed up crisp, accurate strikes with clinches andtakedowns, working mild but effective ground-and-pound from insidethe Croatian's guard. The 31-year-old Blackzilians representativestaggered Pokrajac with a right cross in the second round andblitzed him with follow-up punches but when the finish failed tomaterialize, he returned to the comfort and familiarity of theclinch.

Davis Downs Sexton on ScorecardsAlexisDavis won for the sixth time in seven outings, as she procureda unanimous decision over former Cage Warriors FightingChampionship titleholder Rosi Sextonin a featured women's bantamweight scrap. All three judges sidedwith Davis (14-5, 1-0 UFC): 29-28, 29-27 and 29-28.

Davis utilized her size advantage and considerable grappling skillsthroughout the 15-minute encounter. She went after Sexton with atriangle choke in the first round and transitioned to her back inthe second, nearly finishing it with punches and hammerfists in theclosing seconds. Sexton (13-3, 0-1 UFC) made her move in roundthree, where she scrambled into top position on the weary Canadianand attacked her with ground-and-pound. It was not enough in theeyes of the judges.

'I've seen a lot of her fights, and she's pretty tough insubmissions,' Davis said. 'She's tougher than I thought. I'm alittle tired right now.'

Jordan Waylays Barry in 59 SecondsJackson's Mixed Martial Arts representative ShawnJordan needed less than a minute to dispatch Pat Barry withpunches in a heavyweight showcase. Barry (8-6, 5-6 UFC) succumbedto the blows 59 seconds into round one.

Jordan (15-4, 3-1 UFC) unleashed a series of right uppercuts on hisfellow Louisianan, driving him to the ground in full retreat. Barrycovered up at the base of the cage, only to absorb a fight-endingvolley of savage left hands from the former Louisiana StateUniversity fullback.

'He's a friend, but this is our job and we had to go to work,'Jordan said. 'It just sucks that one of us had to lose. He wastrying to load up and throw another kick on me, and I tried to beathim to the kick. I caught him with the first [uppercut] and justkept going.'

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