Henderson shines in Japan

Ben Henderson defeated Frankie Edgar in a pulsating contest to claim the lightweight title at UFC 144 in Japan - where Quinton Rampage Jackson lost out on points against Ryan Bader.

Henderson looked like stopping Edgar a number of times during their epic encounter, with a second round upkick bloodying the nose of the champion.

Edgar also found himself locked in a guillotine towards the end of the fifth round, and although he held on he still lost his title to Henderson by unanimous decision.

Henderson was taken down on numerous occasions by Edgar, but he was always seemingly able to regain his feet quickly to ensure not much damage was done.

The pace was frenetic throughout, although the fight could have finished in the second round had Henderson's kick landed earlier than the latter stages as Edgar managed to stumble to the bell.

Fans at the Saitama Super Arena rose to their feet at the end of five bruising rounds, and it was Henderson who got the vote with all three judges awarding him the fight.

Henderson took Edgar's UFC lightweight title by scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46.

Rampage Jackson was favourite to get the better of Ryan 'Darth' Bader in the battle of two hard-hitting light heavyweights, but instead it was the Arizona fighter who won all three rounds on the judges' cards.

Jackson had issues in the run-up to the bout, and failed to make weight after an injury in training camp, although he battled hard during the fight.

Bader's leg kicks worked well in the first round, while a big slam from Rampage had Bader in trouble in the second but he could not build on that to get on top in the contest.

With tiredness creeping in for both men in the third, Bader dominated the round and it was he who was searching for a late stoppage that in truth never looked like coming.

With all three judges giving it to Bader 30-27, he moves on to a 15-2 record of losing two of his previous three fights, while Jackson drops to 32-10.