Written by Mike Wilkerson
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Tuesday, July 14 2009
In the climactic battle between opposing coaches on season 9 of 'The Ultimate Fighter', Dan Henderson thoroughly dominated Michael Bisping. Here, 'Hendo' clobbers Bisping shortly before the end of their UFC 100 fight. (Photo: UFC)
The Ultimate Fighter: Season 9 EXCLAMATION POINT:
The Count is Counted - OUT. Henderson's Pocket Full O' Pain...A month has passed since the last intake of The Ultimate Fighter program and the finale provided a decidedly UK-based, bitter outcome. Tonight, The UFC provides viewers with what will be one of the most prolific Mixed Martial Arts offerings - UFC 100 - that becomes the frame for an EXCLAMATION POINT of a season of The Ultimate Fighter by giving us the clash of the coaches! Tonight, it's US Coach, Dan "Hendo" Henderson, against Michael "The Count" Bisping who coached a very successful The Ultimate Fighter team from the UK this season. Who will win? Will Bisping put deeds behind the "douchebag mouth that will not stop?"
We'll find out tonight as we cap off a great The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 with a review of this great bout from UFC 100 LIVE!
The evening is already electrified as Dan "Hendo" Henderson and Michael "The Count" Bisping make their way to the Octagon. The surface of the 8-sided ring provides an already bloody veneer that beckons even more
They both enter the ring, in tip top shape. At the weigh-ins yesterday I almost didn't recognize Bisping, because it looked like he's that much more fit than when he was coaching the UK team earlier this year. Dan Henderson came into the arena this evening with one of the coolest faces ever, confident and truly just taking in the evening. when the hat and cowl came off however, it was nothing but business. Dan Henderson's face tells a tale of skill, fighting and legacy and he truly brings something completely different than what Bisping brings this evening.
THE FIGHT STARTS:This fight is set for three 5 minute rounds but I truly don't see it going that far tonight. There are two very heavy hands for the US coach, and a physically fit question mark in the UK corner and it's time to see which of these fighters will come out on top.
ROUND 1Bisping enters the center of the ring against the screaming chat of the crowd, "USA, USA!" and while the "improved footwork" is talked about by both hosts, it looks to me like Bisping is just ensuring that he doesn't stand still long enough to be hit. Henderson continues to move forward AND to cut the ring off to get Bisping into a face off and engage. He's clearly loading up on punches, and eventually one slips on through! Bisping is wobbled and again comes up square but Henderson takes it to him again.
While Henderson comes forward on almost everyone there's a renewed sense of purpose in this fight. Bisping lands several right hands and an occasional jab here and there, but Henderson continues to push forward. Two more solid straight lefts hit their mark for Bisping as he loosens up and does something incredibly strange - he's pedaling LEFT, around the ring and has since the beginning of this round -- walking straight into the power region of Dan Henderson's concrete punching power.
Will that eventually mean his destruction?
A crisp high kick and punch combination by Bisping offers up some distance for Bisping but again, Henderson marches forward and they clinch on the fence wall. Bisping spins and is able to land a couple of knees but the Olympic wrestling skills of Henderson take over and now Henderson hands a trunk full of knees, and a couple of ribs left intact. Bisping shoots and nothing doing there as they come to the end of a fists full of furious for Henderson Round 1.
During the break, Bisping clearly is winded and his corner tears his "arse" widely open as he sits on the stool, trying to talk some sense into their fighter before he catches a maelstrom of leather from Henderson.
ROUND 2Quick kicks are the name of the game here for Bisping. Henderson absorbs them like the millions he's already made part of his collection of pain over the years and continues to move forward and two giant fists narrowly miss Bisping's head. Henderson is essentially zeroing in and lands two great hands giving Bisping a telegraph of what is to come unless he decides to choose a difference course. A very solid uppercut lands on Bisping's chin and you have to wonder, what is Bisping thinking at this point?
Nothing that he's doing is being successful. Bisping's corner is decidedly irritated with his left-jumping performance and Bisping dumps off a couple of giant hands that never had a chance. Henderson continues to walk forward moving Bisping into corners that shouldn't exist in the Octagon, and jabs continue to land hard on Bisping's chin. Bisping clearly doesn't know what he needs to do to even participate in this bout. Henderson is seemingly measuring the way of leathered traffic to Bisping's head and -- 5-glove-fingers and duct tape leave a permanent indentation on Bisping left chin! Bisping's life freezes for an instant - actually two seconds, and then BOOM! A second leathery lovely hits the same mark as if to put staples into the mouth that would not stop running all during The Ultimate Fighter season 8, during the press conferences for months, and yes - even during the taping of the threat reels prior to tonight’s bout. There is one certainty as they left Bisping off the mat and try to explain to him where he is, what happened and WHO he is - HE is the LOSER of the fight between US Coach and future UFC Legend, Dan "Hendo" Henderson, and the recently timber'd Michael Bisping.
The Savage Science Review Moral: For those of you that feel the need to talk trash or perhaps never shut your mouth when you know you probably should, you now have a sample of what usually happens to people that run their mouth. Sure, while you may not have a 4oz leather glove with a 38-year-old grizzled hand in it waiting for you, but you WILL be knocked down a notch in one way or another.
Quote of the Fight: "Those of you that know me, know that I'm not usually like that in a fight. That one as just hoping to shut up a little more." An honest, guilty-pleasure admission from winner and US The Ultimate Fighter Coach for the US, Can "Hendo" Henderson on tossing in another solid, crushing blow on opposing coach and meatbag-douchebag with mouth, Michael "Counted Out" Bisping. I don't usually revel in things like this and "fighters being hit when defenseless" is huge in the news now, but if I had the opportunity, I TOO would have gladly dropped a gloved fist on the unconscious Bisping.
Overall Show Rating: This fight was a tiny little piece of what I would have LOVED to have seen during the entire The Ultimate Fighter season 9. A US-based fighter taking it to their UK opponent so color me completely satisfied. This knockout of Bisping will appear on knockout-reels around the world - forever. The lights went off in the Bisping and are probably flickering as we write this review less than 24 hours later. I give this fight 10 of 10 Savage Skullies that provides us another in a linkage of solid, entertaining, vibrant views inside of the realm of The Ultimate Fighter.
I'm still wondering what YOU thought of this UFC 100 Fight and the previous episode reviews of The Ultimate Fighter and hope that you'll take just a moment to fill out the comment section below to tell us what YOU think, or send me your details to
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