UFC on FOX 3 Live Blog: Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- This is the UFC on FOX 3 live blog for Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks, a welterweight bout on Saturday night's UFC event from the IZOD Center.

Koscheck, who has won two of his last three fights, will fight Hendricks, who has also won three of his past four fights, on the main card.

Check out the live blog below.

Round 1: Kevin Mulhall is the referee for this welterweight battle of former NCAA wrestling champs. Koscheck with an early front kick, ensuring no 12-second knockout. Hendricks with an uppercut. Koscheck with a flurry that makes Hendricks cover up, then escape to safety. Koscheck unloads with another flurry. Hendricks responds with a combo. Hendricks with the first takedown attempt, doesn't land it. Briefly gets Kos to the mat on a second attempt. Cliches Koscheck along the fence, Mulhall separates them and restarts them in center cage. Two minutes to go. Hendricks fans on a big left hand. Koscheck blocks a high kick, Hendricks answer with one of his own. Koscheck connects again with a combo that has Hendricks briefly backing up. One minute left. Hendricks with a left and Koschck with a counter right. Koscheck connects with a spinning back fist in the final 10 seconds. MMA Fighting scores round one for Josh Koscheck, 10-9.

Round 2: Hendricks comes out swinging and has Koscheck backpedaling. They end up on the mat, where Koscheck nearly has Hendricks' back. Koscheck can't quite get a choke as the two scramble back to their feet. Hendricks scores a takedown. Koscheck works back to his feet but Hendricks continues to clinch Koscheck and control him along the fence. Mulhall separates them and restarts them in the middle. Hendricks connects with an uppercut. Two straight lefts by Hendricks. Koscheck with a a pair of standing elbows as they work along the fence. Back out to center again, one minute left. Koscheck goes for a high kick. Koscheck looks swollen around the right eye. Close round. MMA Fighting scores round two for Johny Hendricks, 10-9 (19-19 overall).

Round 3: Frankie Edgar gets a huge reaction from his hometown crowd as he's shown on the screen between rounds. Koscheck goes for a single-leg 45 seconds in and doesn't take Hendricks down, but he has him along the fence. Mulhall isn't wasting much time separating them tonight. KOscheck lands a flurry of punches. Hendricks starting to score with his boxing. He ssneds KOscheck backwards, but Koscheck answers. The two Greco clinch along the fence. Hendricks winning the positioning battle. Mulhall resets them with 2:20 left. Hendricks noticeably breathing heavily. Hendricks lands a knee, but KOscheck scores a takedown. Koscheck in half-guard. Koscheck trying to get his leg free, but can't. Kos with a big right knee to Hendricks' rib cage. Hendricks keeps Koscheck wrapped up, but Koscheck is still fighting for position. KOscheck landing punches. They're still tied up as the fight ends. MMAFighting scores round three for Josh Koscheck, 10-9 (Koscheck 29-28 overall).

The judges score a split-decision win for Johny Hendricks, getting two of three 29-28 scores.