Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson

Welcome to MMAFrenzy.com’s live coverage of UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson, which takes place today at the O2 in Dublin, Ireland and features Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Mark Coleman, and eight additional bouts.

The UFC announced during the UFC 93 broadcast that Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine will headline UFC 96 on March 7th in Columbus, Ohio.

QUICK RESULTS

• Dan Henderson def. Rich Franklin via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
• Mauricio “Shogun” Rua def. Mark Coleman via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 4:36
• Rousimar Palhares def. Jeremy Horn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Alan Belcher def. Denis Kang via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 2, 4:36
• Marcus Davis def. Chris Lytle via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• John Hathaway def. Tom Egan via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 4:36
• Martin Kampmann def. Alexandre Barross via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 3:07
• Eric Schafer def. Antonio Mendes via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 3:35
• Thomasz Drwal def. Ivan Serati via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 2:02
• Denis Siver def. Nate Mohr via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 3:27

PLAY-BY-PLAY

DAN HENDERSON VS. RICH FRANKLIN

Round 1 — Good kick by Franklin opens the action. Franklin blocks a kick by Henderson, who slips to the canvas but still gets the top position. Henderson tries to get into side control but Franklin keeps him tied up. Franklin works to escape but Henderson takes his back and delivers some punishment in the form of punches and knees. Franklin scrambles away and quickly fries of a kick. Good kick by Henderson is countered by another from Franklin. Inside punches by Henderson from the clinch. More kicks by Franklin find their mark.  Henderson trying to counter but Franklin closes the distance and scores a combo. Henderson lands punches but misses a kick that allows Franklin to counter with another kick. A tired Henderson eases up in the closing seconds and Franklin lands one final punch. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Franklin.

An accidental headbutt has opened up two gashes high on Franklin’s forehead.

Round 2 — Henderson is more aggressive to open the second but Rich avoids major damage and continues to counter. Franklin able to keep the fight standing. Punch by Franklin sneaks through. Body kicks and jabs by Franklin, who is also doing a good job in the clinch. Henderson eventually gets the fight to the mat and remains on top of Franklin, but Rich does a good job neutralizing. Franklin working for an armbar as Henderson gets desperate for damage and picks up the pace before the horn sounds. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Henderson.

Round 3 — Franklin connects with several combinations of strikes to start the final round, but Henderson narrowly gets Franklin back on the ground. Henderson gets to work from the top but Franklin gets back to his feet and connect with some big punches to Henderson’s head before his opponent returns to his feet. Henderson is tired and Franklin looks to take advantage on the feet, again connecting to the body with kicks. Franklin’s punches are now connecting with more frequency, then Rich looks for a takedown. Flurry of punches and kicks by Franklin, who pours on the offense. Henderson slips on an attempted head kick and Franklin connects with a few punches before he gets back to his feet. The fight is temporarily halted after Franklin is accidentally poked hard in the eye but he’s given several minutes to recover and the fight resumes. Both fighters throw a final flurry before the fight is handed over the the judges. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Franklin and the fight 29-28 Franklin.

Dan Henderson def. Rich Franklin via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

This bout was a very difficult one to score as evidenced by the varying scorecards handed down by the judges. Franklin actually earned more points, 86 to 85, while Henderson walked away with the split decision victory. Though Henderson expressed his disbelief at the 30-27 score handed down by one judge, I’d be more inclined to score this fight unanimously for Franklin than 29-28 for Henderson.

MARK COLEMAN VS. MAURICIO “SHOGUN” RUA

Round 1 — There’s no touch of the gloves for this one. Coleman immediately shoots for a takedown and eats a kick on the way in but he ends up on top and connects with big punches. Shogun is evasive and rolls around, attempting a kneebar before return to his feet and Coleman follows. Big right by Rua before Coleman scores another takedown. Shogun gets Coleman on his back and is immediately into side control. Rua tries to work ground and pound from the top but Coleman does a good job of neutralizing him. Some good punches from the bottom by Coleman. Coleman gets back on top but Rua scrambles back to his feet. Rua lands kicks and knees as Coleman appears gassed.Rua staggers Coleman, who can hardly return to his feet. Coleman appears to have recovered some and lands several solid punches but Shogun connects with knees to the body to cloes the frame. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Rua.

Round 2 — Coleman is still visibly tired but he scores an early takedown. He’s unable to do much damage and Rua gets back to his feet and resumes picking Coleman apart. Coleman is again able to score a takedown but Rua avoids damage and again returns to his feet only to again be taken to the canvas by Coleman. On the ground Rua secures a shoulder lock but he’s too tired to finish Coleman, who doesn’t have enough energy to escape before the round concludes. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Rua.

Round 3 — Punches and knees from Shogun to open the final round but they’re ineffective and Coleman again puts him on his back. Coleman works ground and pound from the top and looks to pass on the clearly tired Rua, who grabs a kneebar and transitions to an ankle lock. Coleman is the stronger man and survives the attempts then takes Rua’s back and drops punches to Shogun’s head. Rua again rolls for a submission but Coleman remains on his back. Rua scrambles to his feet and lands a knee to Coleman’s chest that the referee thinks connects with Coleman’s head and is illegal. Rua is warned and the fighters are stood up to the frustration of Coleman. Coleman’s low hands doom him as Rua unleashes a combination that sends Coleman to the canvas and forces the referee to intervene.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua def. Mark Coleman via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 4:36

After the fight, Coleman and Rua put their bad blood aside and embrace in the octagon. Coleman, who was clearly upset by the referee’s stoppage, says he and Rua are now even at 1-1 and that he wants a rubber match with his rival.

JEREMY HORN VS. ROUSIMAR PALHARES

Round 1 — Tentative start by both fighters but at first contact Palhares drags Horn to the canvas. Palhares quickly has Horn’s back and tees off on his opponent’s head. Horn briefly escapes but Palhares quickly resumes the assault. Palhares works for an ankle lock but Horn escapes. Horn attempts a triangle but Palhares avoids. Horn back to his feet but Palhares gets him back down quickly and again works ground and pound from Horn’s back. Kneebar attempt by Palhares but Horn again manages to survive and manages to make it out of the opening round. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Palhares.

Round 2 — Good leg kick by Horn to open the second but Palhares picks Horn up from a single leg and dumps him to the ground. Palhares takes Horn’s back again and works more ground and pound but he’s doing little damage. Horn gets mount and nearly submits Palhares from the top with an arm choke. Both fighters are winded and get back to their feet but Horn is clearly the agressor, connecting with a kick and punch before Palhares scores another takedown. Triangle attempt by Horn is again escaped by Palhares, who catches his breath by stalling out the final seconds. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Horn.

Round 3 — Palhares tosses Horn to the canvas in the opening seconds but does little on the ground as Horn does a good job of avoiding damage and neutralizing Palhares. Horn works back to his feet several times but Palhares continues to put him on his back. Palhares continues to do little from the top as even Rogan calls for a standup. The ref obliges and the fighters return to their feet for the final minutes. Horn connects with a head kick but Palhares fakes a takedown and Horn takes the bait and falls to the canvas. Palhares follows and controls the remaining seconds to lock up the round and the fight. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Palhares and the fight 29-28 Palhares.

Rousimar Palhares def. Jeremy Horn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

After the fight, Palhares discloses that he suffered a broken hand in the opening round, which explains the lackluster second and third rounds following a dominating performance in the initial frame.

ALAN BELCHER VS. DENIS KANG

Round 1 – Belcher hanging his hands low and Kang takes advantage with several good punches that set up a takedown. Kang passes to side control and tries to take Belcher’s back but Belcher gets back into guard then works back to his feet. Kang’s punches continue to find their mark. Kick by Belcher sets up another takedown and Kang works from Belcher’s guard. Belcher looking to setup a submission but Kang defends and tries to pass guard but Belcher does a good job of neutralizing. Kang transitions into half guard and works a good kimura but Belcher hangs tough and eventually escapes. Some light ground and pound by Kang closes out the round. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Kang.

Round 2 — Belcher’s low hands again allow  Kang to land a series of punches early but Belcher neutralizes him against the fence. Takedown by Kang, who quickly passes into half guard and works hard to get to side control. Belcher pushes Kang away and nearly catches him in a triangle on his way back in, but they go back into guard briefly before they’re stood up. Little action in the standup disappoints the crowd. With the round winding down Kang shoots for a takedown but Belcher sprawls and quickly slaps on an arm-in guillotine forcing Kang to quickly tap.

Alan Belcher def. Denis Kang via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 2, 4:36

MARCUS DAVIS VS. CHRIS LYTLE

Round 1 — Lytle opens with an outside leg kick then closes distance and rocks Davis with a combo against the cage. Davis recovers and fires back a punch of his own. Distance closed again and Lytle unleashes body shots. Uppercut from Davis followed by another hard body shot by Lytle. Lytle comes forward and Davis counters. More crisp counterpunching from Davis connects. Lytle working kicks and Davis catches one and flips him to the ground but he’s right back on his feet. Big shot by Davis sends Lytle to the canvas briefly but both quickly return to their feet. Lytle still moving forward but Davis keeps him back with kicks. Lytle closes with a combo. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Davis.

Round 2 — Lytle remains aggressive to open the second, landing bombs on Davis against the fence. Davis runs away then drops Lytle but allows him to return to his feet. Both fighters connect in the clinch as Lytle is determined to close the distance. Big right by Lytle countered by Davis. Lytle and Davis both working kicks. Davis with a big knee but Lytle connects with him on the way out. More punches against the fence by Lytle. Jab-elbow by Davis. Both fighters finish strong with punches. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Lytle.

Round 3 — Davis and Lytle hug to open the final frame. Lytle persists and continues to be the aggressor, landing kicks early in the third. Davis countering well as both fighters are able to find their mark, though Davis appears to be handing out more damage with his strikes. Another kick to the body by Davis followed by another. Both fighter’s hands have dropped and Lytle is able to connect but the power’s not there. More powerful counter-punching by Davis. Another combo by Lytle against the fence has Davis running. Several more shots by Lytle connect. Kicks by both fighters set off a late flurry of strikes to close out the opening bout. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Davis.

Marcus Davis def. Chris Lytle via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)