UFC: Benson Henderson given split decision victory over Josh Thomson in Chicago

Benson Henderson: Gunning for lightweight title after win over Josh Thomson

Although one judge gave Thomson the nod, the other two decided Henderson's work-rate and forward motion deserved the split decision win.

It's a repetitive theme for the 30-year-old, who boasts decision victories over Gilbert Melendez, Nate Diaz, Frankie Edgar (twice), Clay Guida, Jim Miller and Mark Bocek.

However, that dominance only asserts Henderson as second-best due to two career losses to UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who watched from cageside on Saturday.

Henderson may not deliver lightning strikes to quickly end fights with alarming ferocity but he is one of the UFC's premier athletes, a grinder with an in-ring intelligence that nobody except Pettis has an answer to.

Thomson - and, audibly, the majority of the Windy City's crowd - thought the decision should have gone the other way. Thomson landed numerous take-downs and came closest to finishing the contest, all with a broken hand sustained in the opening two rounds.

That may be where the road ends for the 35-year-old, who confessed to considering retirement afterwards. He was scheduled to compete for Pettis' title earlier this year until the champion's injury and this defeat may make it too time-consuming to reascend the ladder.

As Thomson attempted submissions for the entirety of the opening stanza it didn't seem that he was a fighter ready to call it quits. He wrapped himself around the grounded Henderson's back and methodically threatened chokes that, although unsuccessful, were the tensest moment of the main-event.

Early lead

The round was his, confirmed as he threw Henderson across the cage and casually walked away as the bell rang.

Thomson again got to Henderson's back in the second period although still couldn't inflict harm. Henderson, a chess player inside the Octagon, forced a wrestling match where the advantage was his.

It was between the second and third rounds where Thomson told his cornermen that he had broken his right hand.

Henderson, visibly larger and stronger, began to shove Thomson around and demonstrate a honed ability to score points with the judges without scoring harm to his opponent.

In the fourth, Thomson secured a take-down but Henderson dominated the position from underneath - a perfect example of the difficulties in scoring MMA fights.

Perhaps the moment of the fight came when Henderson, carrying Thomson on his back for the third time, justified his "Smooth" moniker by adjusting his hair rather than defending himself. Thomson, recipient of a piggy-back, responded by geeing up the crowd.

The closing round saw Henderson land a right hook and a knee to the body although Thomson got another take-down. Both men knew the hazards of allowing three judges to decide their fate but perhaps Henderson has developed confidence in these situations.

Elsewhere, Stipe Miocic beat Gabriel Gonzaga by decision, Donald Cerrone knocked out Adriano Martins with a head kick and Jeremy Stephens won a decision over Darren Elkins.