Benson Henderson (11-1) scored a guillotine choke submission to unify the title with a victory over Jamie Varner (16-3).  Henderson, coming off an electrifying victory over Donald Cerrone to earn the interim belt, adapted his style to caution and patience, refusing to be overly aggressive against Varner.  His game plan paid off as he surprised Varner with a guillotine choke that quickly ended the fight in the third round.

Varner, returning to action after multiple injuries kept him on the shelf for 11 months looked rusty and slow throughout the fight.  Henderson was able to easily dodge his boxing blows and lulled Varner to sleep and pulled him in to his clutches.  The loss sends Varner back down the contender list to work his way back up.

Here is the play-by-play breakdown of the fight:

Round 1

Henderson Unifies WEC Lightweight Belt

The fighters feel each other out, with Henderson showing tentativeness.  Varner goes for the takedown and gets it. Henderson goes for a knee bar, but gives up on it as Varner lands blows to body.  Varner gains a front headlock and then tries for guillotine choke in standing position along cage wall.  Varner lands a knee to the head, bringing Henderson to his knees.  Varner continues to land knee blows.  Referee stands the fighters up.  Henderson lands a kick to body.  Varner walks back to a neutral corner and Henderson bull rushes.  The fighters scramble and both gain body locks along the cage wall.  Henderson lands an overhand right and the bell sounds.

Solid and definitive round for Varner.

Round 2

Varner opens the round with a wild flying knee that misses and Henderson counters with his own knee to the body.  Varner lands a leg kick which drops Henderson, but Henderson pops up quickly.  Varner lunges and eats a combination.   Henderson lands a left kick to the body.  Henderson lands again with a kick to the body and Varner misses with a roundhouse kick to head.  Another kick landed by Henderson.  Varner catches a Henderson kick attempt to head and throws him to canvas.  Henderson pops back up.  Varner charges and lands a combination of body shots.  Fighters clinch.  Varner lands hammerfists to Henderson’s face as Henderson works of the cage wall.  Henderson work of cage as bell sounds.

Close round that could go either way.  Give it to Varner as Henderson still is tentative in the cage

Round 3

Varner charges Henderson and gains clinch along cage wall.  Clinch is broken. Leg kick landed by Henderson.  Varner lands kick to head, and follow that up with another which Henderson blocks.  Varner goes for a body tackle and Henderson lands a knee as he comes in.  Varner’s head drops and Henderson jumps on the opening, cinching a guillotine and crawling up Varner’s body to lock his legs.  Varner quickly taps out to end the fight.

Result

Henderson by guillotine choke submission at 2:41

With the victory, a rematch of Henderson vs Cerrone should be soon in the making.  Most cageside observers gave Cerrone the nod in a very close fight, but the final judges gave Henderson the fight which setup the unification bout with Varner.

With the first fight a finalist for Fight of the Year in 2009, a re-match will be even more exciting with so much more on the line.