Benson Henderson vs Josh Thomson — Fight recap

Benson Henderson defeated Josh Thomson via split decision after five rounds on January 25, 2014, in a closely contested lightweight bout. Henderson's wrestling prowess proved decisive, landing all four of his takedown attempts while controlling the cage for 5:01 total.

He out-struck Thomson 46 significant strikes to 19, connecting at a 50% rate compared to Thomson's 32%, with particular effectiveness on body shots (21 of 28). Thomson managed to stay competitive with 7:51 of control time and converted four of his eleven takedown attempts, but Henderson's superior striking accuracy and perfect takedown conversion secured the judges' nod on two scorecards.

The split decision reflected Thomson's competitive grappling and control, yet Henderson's wrestling-striking combination and higher output proved enough to edge the veteran challenger in a closely fought affair.