UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson. January 17, 2009. The O2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland. The first UFC event in Ireland. Dan Henderson defeated Rich Franklin by split decision — 29-28, 29-28, 27-30 — in a three-round light heavyweight contest. The winner would coach TUF 9 opposite Michael Bisping.
Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua stopped Mark Coleman by TKO in round three in the co-main — a redemption win after Rua’s submission loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 76. Tom Egan, the first Irish fighter to compete on a UFC main card, lost to John Hathaway in his home venue. 9,369 fans. Gate: $1.3M.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: January 17, 2009
Venue: The O2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland (first UFC in Ireland)
Attendance: 9,369; Gate: $1.3M
Main Event: Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin — Light Heavyweight (3 rounds)
Result: Dan Henderson def. Rich Franklin — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 29-28, 27-30)
Co-Main: Mauricio Rua def. Mark Coleman — TKO (Punches) — R3, 4:36
Notable: First UFC in Ireland; Tom Egan first Irish UFC main card fighter; winner coaches TUF 9 vs. Bisping; $40k bonuses
The Build-Up
The fight carried a dual purpose: a high-stakes LHW matchup between two experienced veterans, and a TUF 9 coaching slot against Michael Bisping. Henderson had dropped both his PRIDE titles in his first two UFC appearances (a loss to Rampage and a split decision loss to Bisping). Rich Franklin had been displaced from MW contention by Anderson Silva and was operating at LHW.
The Dublin crowd was the most passionate the UFC had seen at any European venue. Ireland’s MMA fanbase had been building for years, and the country’s own Tom Egan fighting at The O2 added a national dimension.
Main Event
Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin — Light Heavyweight
Henderson controlled round one with takedowns (four total) and ground work. Rich Franklin took round two on the feet with his boxing. Round three was contested: Franklin outland Henderson 21-7 in strikes, but Henderson scored a late takedown. Two judges gave it 29-28 to Henderson; one for Franklin 30-27.
Henderson won the TUF 9 coaching slot against Michael Bisping, their rivalry culminating in a fight at UFC 100 in July 2009 where Henderson delivered one of the most celebrated knockouts in UFC history.
Co-Main Event
Mauricio Rua vs. Mark Coleman — Light Heavyweight
Rua had submitted to Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 in September 2007 while fighting with a severe knee injury. This was his first fight back. He dominated Coleman throughout, pressuring him against the fence, landing punches and elbows, and stopping the fight in round three at 4:36. A statement return for Shogun.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Dennis Siver def. Nate Mohr — KO — R1, 4:36 — LW; KO of the Night ($40k to Siver)
Tomasz Drwal def. Ivan Serati — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LHW
Martin Kampmann def. Alexandre Barros — Decision — R3, 5:00
Eric Schafer def. Antonio Mendes — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LHW
John Hathaway def. Tom Egan — Decision — R3, 5:00 — WW; Egan first Irish fighter on UFC main card
Main Card
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Luiz Cané — KO — R1 — LHW
Marcus Davis def. Chris Lytle — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) — WW; Fight of the Night ($40k each)
Alan Belcher def. Denis Kang — Submission (Guillotine) — R2, 4:36 — MW; Sub of the Night ($40k to Belcher)
Rousimar Palhares def. Jeremy Horn — Submission — R2 — MW
Mauricio Rua def. Mark Coleman — TKO (Punches) — R3, 4:36 — LHW; Co-Main; Fight of the Night ($40k each)
Main Event — Light Heavyweight
Dan Henderson def. Rich Franklin — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 29-28, 27-30) — Henderson coaches TUF 9
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night (x2): Rua vs. Coleman AND Davis vs. Lytle — $40,000 to each fighter in each fight.
KO of the Night: Dennis Siver vs. Nate Mohr — $40,000 to Siver.
Sub of the Night: Alan Belcher vs. Denis Kang — $40,000 to Belcher.
Records & Milestones
First UFC in Ireland — The O2 Arena, Dublin; 9,369 fans; sixth UK/Ireland UFC.
Tom Egan — first Irish fighter on a UFC main card; debuted at his home venue in Dublin.
Henderson wins TUF 9 coaching slot — coaching opposite Bisping on TUF 9: United States vs. United Kingdom.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 93 gave Ireland the launch it needed. The O2 Dublin became a permanent fixture on the UFC’s international calendar. The Henderson-Franklin rivalry led to the TUF 9 series and ultimately one of MMA history’s most celebrated knockouts — Henderson’s H-Bomb on Bisping at UFC 100.
Shogun Rua’s TKO of Coleman was the starting point of his comeback. He went on to challenge Lyoto Machida for the LHW title at UFC 104 in October 2009 in a fight widely considered one of the most controversial decisions in UFC history.
FAQ
Was UFC 93 the first UFC event in Ireland?
Yes. UFC 93 at The O2 Arena in Dublin was the first UFC event in Ireland.
Who did Dan Henderson coach TUF 9 against?
Henderson coached TUF 9: United States vs. United Kingdom against Michael Bisping. The two coaches fought at UFC 100 in July 2009, where Henderson knocked Bisping out with a right hand followed by a ground punch.
Who was Tom Egan and why was he notable at UFC 93?
Tom Egan was an Irish MMA fighter who became the first Irish athlete to compete on a UFC main card. He fought John Hathaway at The O2 in Dublin, his home city, but lost by unanimous decision.
What was significant about Mauricio Shogun Rua's win at UFC 93?
Rua had lost by submission to Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 in September 2007 while fighting with a severe knee injury that required surgery. UFC 93 was his first fight back, and his TKO of Mark Coleman demonstrated that his abilities remained elite.
What were the UFC 93 scores for Henderson vs Franklin?
29-28 for Henderson on two scorecards and 30-27 for Franklin on the third. The fight was decided by Henderson's grappling control and takedowns against Franklin's superior striking on the feet.
References
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