Dan Henderson and 'Shogun' Rua Combine for 'Unbelievable' Fight at UFC 139

. He never really stopped, actually, just like he never quit coming back from one near-knockout after another. That turned out to be a trait he and Henderson had in common during their seesaw main event bout.

The scorecards might have registered a unanimous decision win for Hendo once all five rounds were in the books, but the larger result was a fight that instantly earned a spot among the greatest bouts of all time.

president Dana White said afterward, adding "that was like our [Muhammad] Ali-[Joe] Frazier III. It was unbelievable."

And truly, it was. This time, at least, that's not just fight promoter hyperbole from White.

light heavyweight champ a taste of his own medicine with a punch combo that left Henderson struggling for survival.

So it went for the next three rounds. Henderson started each round strong, dropping Rua with one haymaker after another, only to have the Brazilian rise up and, blinking through the blood, mount a comeback in the second half of each round.

In the third, Rua seemed close to being stopped after Henderson knocked him down and then bounced his head off the mat with successive right hands. In fact, had referee Josh Rosenthal stepped in the wave it off there, it's unlikely that too many fight fans could have faulted him for it. But Rosenthal, who by that point had seen Rua battle back from one brain-rattling blow after another, gave the former UFC and Pride champion the benefit of the doubt, and it proved to be the right call.

By the fourth, Rua was all the way back in it, and appeared to have Henderson out on his feet at one point. By the fifth, he was camped out in full mount, raining down blows on Hendo as the 41-year-old Californian moved just enough to show he was still in it, and apparently enough to avoid a 10-8 round, which would have rendered the bout a draw.

When the judges' scorecards were read after a full 25 minutes of this brutal back-and-forth, Henderson could barely stand and Rua could barely see. All three judges gave Henderson the first three rounds and Rua the final two, resulting in a 48-47 score across the board for Hendo.

Not surprisingly, neither the winner nor the loser made it to the post-fight press conference. Both had an appointment at the hospital instead, but not before Henderson tweeted a picture of himself laid out on the locker room floor, requesting a title shot for his next fight.

"That guy could fight at [1]85 [pounds] or 205 [pounds] for the title," White concurred. "No doubt about it. I don't disagree."

In a video interview inside his locker room after the fight, Henderson said he thought the fight was "one or two shots away from being finished" at one point, but Rua had "tried to Rocky Balboa me, wore me out with his head."

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• UFC 139 Photos

  Danny Castillo stays on top of Shamar Bailey at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Danny Castillo ground and pounds Shamar Bailey at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Danny Castillo finishes Shamar Bailey via first-round TKO at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Danny Castillo def. Shamar Bailey via first-round TKO at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Matt Brown attempts to takedown Seth Baczynski at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Seth Baczynski submits Matt Brown with a guillotine choke at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Seth Baczynski taps out Matt Brown with a guillotine at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Seth Baczynski celebrates his submission win over Matt Brown at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Seth Baczynski def. Matt Brown via submission (guillotine choke) at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Miguel Torres moments away from facing Nick Pace at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Nick Pace knees Miguel Torres at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Miguel Torres kicks Nick Pace at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Nick Pace's hand is checked at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Miguel Torres def. Nick Pace via unanimous decision at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Rafael dos Anjos tries to take down Gleison Tibau at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Gleison Tibau swings a left hand at Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Gleison Tibau throws down with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Rafael dos Anjos tries to counter Gleison Tibau at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Rafael dos Anjos receives corner instructions at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Gleison Tibau def. Rafael dos Anjos via split decision at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Tom Lawlor enters to "Get Physical" at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Chris Weidman kicks Tom Lawlor at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Tom Lawlor gives props to Chris Weidman at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Chris Weidman def. Tom Lawlor via technical submission (D'arce choke) at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Chris Weidman attempts a choke on Tom Lawlor at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Chris Weidman puts Tom Lawlor to sleep with a D'arce choke at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald knocks down Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald punches Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald punches Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald tries to finish Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald goes after Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos The referee attends to Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Alex Soto wakes up after his knockout loss to Michael McDonald at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald beats Alex Soto via KO at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Michael McDonald heads to the locker room after his first-round KO win over Alex Soto at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Ryan Bader def. Jason Brilz via first-round KO at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Ryan Bader celebrates after knocking out Jason Brilz at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Ryan Bader celebrates after knocking out Jason Brilz at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Ryan Bader punches Jason Brilz at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar def. Kyle Kingsbury via unanimous decision at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar attacks from top of Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar controls Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar takes a breather in between rounds at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar mounts Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar knees Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Kyle Kingsbury punches Stephan Bonnar at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Kyle Kingsbury punches Stephan Bonnar at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar battles Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Stephan Bonnar eats a punch from Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Dan Henderson celebrates with his team after beating Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via unanimous decision at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Dan Henderson def. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via unanimous decision at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Maurico "Shogun" Rua ground and pounds Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Maurico "Shogun" Rua mounts Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Maurico "Shogun" Rua ground and pounds Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos The face of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is a mess as he readies for the fifth round at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Dan Henderson exhausted heading into the fifth and final round against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Dan Henderson punches Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Dan Henderson punches Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Dan Henderson controls Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Mauricio "Shogun" Rua punches Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Dan Henderson ground and pounds Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Dan Henderson ground and pounds Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Mauricio "Shogun" Rua kicks Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Mauricio "Shogun" Rua punches Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Mauricio "Shogun" Rua punches Dan Henderson at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Dan Henderson punches Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Dan Henderson uppercuts Maurico "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Urijah Faber calls out bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz after Faber's win at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Urijah Faber def. Brian Bowles via submission (guillotine choke) at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Urijah Faber submits Brian Bowles with a guillotine choke at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Urijah Faber looks to finish Brian Bowles at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Urijah Faber punches Brian Bowles at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Urijah Faber punches Brian Bowles at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Brian Bowles charges Urijah Faber at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos

  Urijah Faber punches Brian Bowles at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva def. Cung Le via second-round TKO at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos The doctor attends to Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva celebrates his win over Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva gets up after stopping Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva punches Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva celebrates his TKO win over Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Cung Le is backed against the cage at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva knees Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva collides with Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva charges after Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Cung Le kicks Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva hits Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva blocks one of Cung Le's strikes at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Cung Le feels the pain of Wanderlei Silva's strikes at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva kicks Cung Le at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Wanderlei Silva and Cung Le clash at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Cung Le throws a kick at Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Cung Le tries a spinning backfist on Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 139 Photos Cung Le throws a kick at Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

As often as the comparison gets tossed around in combat sports, this was one fight that was not at all unlike a Rocky movie. The knockdowns, the comebacks, the almost unreasonable amount of physical damage sustained by each fighter -- if it was a film, it might have stretched the limits of believability.

This one was all real, and yet difficult to believe. Even both sets of cornermen, as they made their way out of the cage, seemed stunned and exhausted. Fans at cageside lingered, some with hands on their heads, still trying to comprehend what they'd just witnessed.

Was it the greatest MMA fight of all time, or simply one of the greatest? Was it number one, or just top three? That's an argument that will stretch on well past Saturday night, but after what Rua and Henderson accomplished together, there's simply no way you can have the conversation without them.