The live crowd may have been unhappy with the judges decision in the opener of the main card, but they were possibly a little more perturbed with the clinch-fest that ensued once Rick Story and Johny Hendricks took center stage.
After three rounds, UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer mercifully read the scores (29-28, 29-28 and 29-28) in favor of Story after 15 long minutes.
Story came out aggressive in the first round and pushed the action. "Horror" was pushing Hendricks against the cage and unloading at every opportunity. Hendricks was game, however, surviving to earn a takedown as the round came to a close.
Story would open the second with a takedown of his own, putting the two-time collegiate wrestling champion in an uncomfortable position: On his back.
Hendricks managed to grab a guillotine, but failed to finish with it. It was perhaps his best opportunity to earn the victory.
What ensued was a round and a half of both fighters trading takedowns and struggling against the cage. Story maintained his aggressive approach throughout the fight and that certainly looks like the favorable attribute the judges are looking for this evening.
The third round featured a lot of boos and a couple of soft submission attempts from Story. By the time it was over, Story had handed Hendricks his first career loss.
That's now his fifth consecutive victory in the Octagon after losing in his debut back at UFC 99. Sometimes you really do get second chance to make a first impression.
Or five.
Get the latest gear
