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Benson Henderson went the distance with Nate Diaz, successfully defending his title, and earning the unanimous decision at UFC on FOX 5 in Seattle’s Key Arena on Saturday night.

Henderson kept Diaz’s boxing a non-factor by constantly pressuring the challenger with clinches, and scoring several takedowns. Judges saw it in the defending champion’s favor with scores of 50-43, 50-45 and 50-45.

“It’s just a matter of being well-prepared,” Henderson said in his post-fight interview following the win.

The champ landed several kicks to Diaz’s legs in the first round, and put the challenger on his back on more than one occasion. While there, “Bendo” stayed in top position, landing hammer fists. As time expired, Henderson walked to his corner winning the round.

Bendo continued landing leg kicks in the second round, as Diaz looked to land punches. Henderson even began to jab Diaz’s leg, all in an effort to land a big punch that put the challenger on his back. After the fight returned to the feet, Henderson initiated a clinch and landed several short shots. Diaz executed a hip toss, but was unable to keep his opponent on the ground. The second round ended on the feet with Henderson ahead on the scorecard.

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The fight continued in Henderson’s favor in the third frame. The champion secured yet another takedown, but Diaz did well on the ground and scrambled to nearly getting a kneebar at one point and an ankle lock at another. After returning to the feet, a right hand by Henderson landed cleanly, sending Diaz falling back and on the ground. The round ended with Henderson in top position.

Henderson scored his fifth takedown in the first minute of the fourth round, and secured his sixth shortly after. The champ stayed in an advantageous position on the ground, never allowing Diaz to mount an offense through the final minute of the time frame. The round ended just after Henderson allowed Diaz to stand back on his feet.

The final round began with Diaz owning a swollen right eye, and Henderson raising his hands to the cheers of the crowd. Henderson stifled his opponent on the feet, slamming him back to the ground 90 seconds into round. Diaz attempted a kimura, but wasn’t able to hold onto it and the fight returned to the feet. After a scramble, Henderson landed a strong right hand that put the finishing touches on the unanimous decision.

With the win, Henderson retains his lightweight title and remains undefeated in the UFC with an 18-2 overall record. In defeat, Diaz drops to 16-8.

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Alexander Gustafsson defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in their co-main event at UFC on FOX 5 at Seattle’s Key Arena on Saturday night, further solidifying himself as the next to challenge for the light heavyweight title.

Gustafsson landed numerous strikes on his opponent, earning the unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26.

Shortly after the highly-anticipated fight began, Shogun slipped onto the canvas, and Gustafsson followed and landed strikes on the ground. Rua recovered and nearly had an ankle lock, but his opponent escaped. Gustafsson stayed active with punches, out-landing the former light heavyweight champ in the opening round.

Shogun came out swinging in the second round. Gustafsson, however, kept the distance and landed several punches and low kicks. Shogun was put on his back two times, but his opponent was unable to keep him there for a great length of time. Gustafsson continued landing strikes and doing damage through the end of the frame.

Rua kept trying to land an overhand right, but they didn’t do as much damage as his opponent’s mixture of strikes did on him. Another takedown by Gustafsson in the third round put Rua on his back, but when the fight returned to the feet, it was Gustafsson’s combinations that made the difference all the way to when time expired.

With the win, Gustafsson will likely take on the 205-pound champion after Jon Jones fights Chael Sonnen this April. With the loss, Rua is 3-4 in his last seven fights and hasn’t had consecutive wins since 2009.

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Rory MacDonald defeated B.J. Penn in their welterweight affair at UFC on FOX 5 at Seattle’s Key Arena on Saturday night.

MacDonald dominated the former title holder through all three rounds, getting the judges nod with scores of 30-26, 30-26 and 30-26.

“I was just staying calm, cool, collected, picking my shots,” MacDonald said following the win. “B.J.’s dangerous at all times, so I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and rush in and get countered.”

Additionally, MacDonald called out former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit, asking for a rematch for March.

“There’s a guy who humiliated me a couple years ago, and I want my revenge,” he said. “Carlos Condit, I want a rematch. Accept my challenge.”

In the fight, Penn came out aggressive, pressing MacDonald against the cage early on. MacDonald then set his distance and worked with a mixture of jabs and low kicks. Penn began to tire late in the first, eating an elbow that wobbled him and MacDonald stayed active. Penn remained with his back against the cage with MacDonald on the offensive to the end of the time period.

Penn looked visibly drained as the second round began. MacDonald worked several combinations, landing most on them on his opponent. MacDonald landed a hard kick to Penn’s mid section, which made the former two-division champ cringe. Penn, in clear pain by the body strikes, continued countering and eventually moved forward to meet his opponent at the center of the octagon before being taken down.

Penn began the third round as actively as he did the first one, pressing his opponent against the cage. MacDonald, however, broke the clinch, turned Penn around, and pressed him against the cage for his own advantageous position. MacDonald continued to land strikes on his opponent, and even began taunting him towards the end of the round.

MacDonald is on a four-fight win streak since losing to Condit at UFC 115 in June 2010, and looks to get that fight back with a rematch in four months. Penn has won only one fight in his last six, leaving the question of whether or not he’ll continue in his UFC career.

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Matt Brown defeated Mike Swick by knockout in the second round of their main card bout at UFC on FOX 5 in Seattle on Saturday night.

Brown landed a land hand, followed by a right cross, that sent Swick collapsing to the ground at 2:31 of the second frame.

Brown pressed his opponent early on, getting Swick to the ground. He attempted a choke, but Swick was able to pull out and began to work in guard.

Brown then caught his opponent in a triangle, and Swick worked to prevent the submission by putting his feet over Brown’s neck. Swick escaped and the two transitioned back to the feet before the round’s time expired.

Round 2 started soon before Brown and Swick began engaging in a clinch. Swick landed some knees, while Brown landed elbows. But it was Brown’s left hand that sent Swick falling backwards, ending the fight by knockout.

Brown improves his record to 16-11, and is the owner of a four-fight winning streak, undefeated in 2012. Swick loses his first fight since making his return to the UFC from illness.

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