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Babe Didrikson Joe Louis

There's all sorts of routes to UFC stardom. Benson Henderson is a great fighter, but his path to a fight with Frank Edgar could've been much different.

He graduated from WEC to UFC to the best fighter in the world's best division. How fast did it happen? Well just over three years ago, Henderson was trying to get a slot on Season 9 of the "Ultimate Fighter."

Cage Potato found this Bendo video as he tried to woo the UFC and Spike into choosing for the United States vs. United Kingdom season.

The lightweights that season were Santino DeFranco, Jason Dent, Cameron Dollar, Richie Whitson. They combined for one fight beyond the TUF 9 Finale. The field was smaller because of U.S. vs. U.K. theme, but clearly they whiffed on this one or they had bigger things in mind for Henderson. He debuted just months late in the WEC with a win over Anthony Njokuani.

At the end of the video, Henderson makes a promise.

"I fought my through the smaller shows. Now it's my time to dance underneath the lights," Henderson said. "I will win the UFC Season 9 Ultimate Fighter and I will fight for the title. You're looking at the future lightweight champ of the UFC."

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Adventure photographer Justin Bailie shares a few of the techniques that have earned him a world-wide reputation.   First and foremost, you’re going to want to be able to shoot while on the water and when going through rapids, so unless you are bringing a full-on digital SLR, just go with a waterproof point & shoot [...]

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When I moved into my new home, I spent a little time on reconnaissance for somewhere to train for climbing. I initially thought a fingerboard would be the way to go. However, all the doorways were flimsy stud walls and not sturdy enough. An alternative jumped out - Rock Rings by Metolius. If only I could find [...]

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Vox has video of Bryant Chapo at Bishop Park. Ron Whaley is straight skating at Strange Notes. Joe Krolick has some classic clips with Kenny Hughes. CCS has video from the park crawl with Flip and Zero. Ergo has a quick Norman Woods video. Furby Has A Posse. Ronnie Creager leaked a new Tensor commercial.

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Benson Henderson won the UFC's lightweight belt by winning a decision 49-46, 48-47, 49-46 over Frankie Edgar at Saitama Super Arena in Japan on Saturday. His cardio and strength were too much for the smaller Edgar.

The two lightweights came out with great movement and crazy strikes in the first round, just as you would expect from two smaller guys. Edgar stalked Henderson down, but Henderson did not back away from the fight. He threw several kicks, and Edgar caught them.

[Video: Henderson is too strong for Edgar]

In the second round, Edgar continued to move around the cage and cut angles, meeting Henderson with leg kicks. Again, Edgar caught Henderson's kicks, but Henderson adapted in this round and threw a jab, even with his leg in Edgar's hands. Henderson cut Edgar's left eye with his jab, and it swelled as the fight went on. Late in the second, Edgar got a takedown, and when he moved off Henderson, "Smooth" landed a perfect upkick. Edgar fell to the ground. He survived, but Henderson did serious damage to Edgar's nose.

[ Related: Kevin Iole's UFC 144 breakdown ]

When the third round began, Edgar's nose was swollen and pouring blood. Henderson pounced when Edgar slipped on a kick, and he took Edgar to the ground. Henderson tried to take Edgar's back, but couldn't because of how Edgar moved away. Late in the round, Edgar got a takedown.

Henderson started the fourth round with few marks on his face, while Edgar's was busted up and swollen. Halfway through the round, Edgar went for a takedown. Henderson pulled guard and caught Edgar in a guillotine. Though it was deep, Edgar was able to pop his head out.

Before the fifth and final round, Henderson's corner asked, "Do you got five good minutes?" Henderson answered, "I've got 15."

[ Related: Weight flop proves costly as 'Rampage' loses to Ryan Bader ]

Henderson showed that freshness as he landed several shots and shook off the ones Edgar threw. Edgar continued to try for a takedown, but Henderson shook him off. He moved around the cage as if it was the first minute of the bout, not the 25th.

After the bout, Henderson thanked a former opponent for the upkick that changed the course of the fight.

"I gotta thank [fellow UFC lightweight] Cowboy Cerrone for that because he landed it on me, and that hurt bad."

Henderson previously held a title belt in the WEC, and now he has UFC gold secure around his waist. His well-rounded game was too much for Edgar. The fact that Henderson could have gone another three rounds spoke volumes to the judges.

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by Michael David SmithThe first five episodes of Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter featured fights that were generally not very compelling. Episode 6 changed things. With two exciting fights that both ended in the first round, Episode 6 provided the best fights of the season so far.

In this week's interview with Ultimate Fighter cast member Ramsey Nijem, we got his thoughts on being in the gym to see the two fights live. We also got Nijem's opinion of his coach, Junior dos Santos, kicking Lew Polley off the team, and on the UFC 129 main event, which saw Nijem's training partner Jake Shields lose to Georges St. Pierre.

The full interview is below.

 

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Since Rashad Evans and Jon Jones stopped being training partners last year, the two have spewed nothing but vitriol at each other. But as UFC 144 and their title bout nears, Jones talked about how he misses their friendship with the Score in Chicago.

"We trained together and we had good times, but this competition has come between our friendship, which sucks," Jones told host Laurence Holmes. "I do miss being friends with the guy. But it's business, and he's coming after my championship. I've gotta do what I've gotta do. It might be a little awkward punching him in the face, but I'm sure the first time he swings at me, it will get reactionary."

Though fighters quite often forget their pre-fight squabbles after bouts, Jones says a renewed friendship is unlikely. He just wants respect between the two.

"I'd like to get to a point of being cordial, but to be friends again is not necessary. There's thousands of wonderful people in the world I can meet. After all that's been said, we can just live our lives. Respect is all that's necessary for me."

Hoping for respect between the two didn't prevent Jones from taking a few digs at Evans and how he performed in his win over Phil Davis.

"I don't know if it's because of changing camps, but his body looked a little softer. He couldn't finish Phil Davis, a guy who is pretty much a rookie. [Ed. note -- Davis has 10 fights.] I got even more motivated to out-train him."

Jones thinks that if the same Evans who fought Davis shows up in Atlanta in April for their bout, it will be another title defense.

"Rashad's been in the game for almost 10 years now [Ed. note -- Eight years], and he didn't really show why he's the No. 2 ranked athlete. We didn't see any legit boxing combinations, no kicking, no powerful double-leg dives. He was really just out there existing. If that's the same fighter who comes out when we fight, easier day for me."

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Jordan Johnson just let me know about the lengthy trailer for his new video, Go Big Shred 2.

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