In recent months, Michael Bisping said getting revenge over Dan Henderson would be better than sweet. In the end, it probably felt mostly like relief.Bisping (30-7) successfully defended the UFC middleweight championship for the first time at UFC 204 on Saturday -- in a much closer fight than many expected.The British champ outpointed Henderson (32-15) in a close, five-round unanimous decision at Englands Manchester Arena. All three judges scoring the title fight had it in Bispings favor: 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47.The victory evened Bispings score with Henderson at one win apiece. The two fought at UFC 100 in July 2009, when Henderson scored one of the most infamous knockouts in UFC history.Bisping, 37, jumped at the opportunity for a rematch after his improbable title win over Luke Rockhold in June, even though Henderson was just 2-3 in his past five fights.It proved to be a difficult first defense, as Henderson dropped Bisping twice in the opening two rounds. Bisping suffered a welt and deep cut under his left eye, and the wound bled throughout the 25-minute contest.I know people spoke and said, Oh, hes not the No. 1 contender, Bisping said. This guy knocked me out cold. Cold. Worst knockout in UFC history. The jitters I had this week -- look at my face, for crying out loud. You know what this guy can do to you.A former welterweight and middleweight champion in Pride Fighting Championship and former light heavyweight champion in Strikeforce, Henderson had promised he would retire after UFC 204 -- win or lose. He stuck to that decision on Saturday.This is the last time anyone will see me fight, Henderson said. I gave my heart and soul to this sport. Fans like you, even though you booed me at the beginning of the night, made it worthwhile for me to compete year after year. I absolutely love this sport.Thank you, Michael Bisping, for giving me this opportunity -- my last fight, for the belt. I came up a little short. I wish theyd judge the fight on how you look after.Hendersons right hand struck with about 40 seconds left in the opening round. The punch dropped Bisping in the center of the Octagon, and although he managed to tie Henderson up from the bottom and survive, he ate several hard elbows in the process.Bisping regrouped and stole momentum back in the next frame, until another right hand dropped him a second time. Henderson did what he could to get a finish but did appear tired after failing to put Bisping away. His pace tapered way off in the third and fourth rounds, before he picked it up again in the fifth.Jabs and leg kicks paved the way for Bispings win, as he was able to dictate range and avoid the right hand as Henderson tired. Henderson did score a takedown late, but Bisping quickly scrambled back to his feet.According to Fightmetric, Bisping outlanded Henderson in total strikes, 130-87. He attempted 348 total strikes compared to 227 for Henderson.Its unclear where Bispings next challenge will come from. Former champion Chris Weidman is scheduled to face Yoel Romero at UFC 205 on Nov. 12, while Rockhold is preparing to face?Ronaldo Jacare Souza?on Nov. 19. Bisping, in his own way, encouraged each of them to make a statement.Weidman, what the hell? You lost. Ive had three victories since you got your ass kicked by Rockhold, Bisping said. Rockhold, I knocked you out in three minutes, buddy. Romero, youre suspended for steroids. Shame on you. And Jacare, you just got beat. Get off the couch and get a win.With the win, Bisping moves into sole possession of the top spot on the all-time UFC wins list with 20. Wholesale Jerseys .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Cheap Jerseys . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is.Anti-discrimination chief Piara Powar believes Paris Saint-Germain must take further action against Serge Aurier and not get caught up in trying to protect their asset. Aurier was handed an indefinite suspension by the club after a video emerged online showing the Ivory Coast international allegedly directing homophobic slurs at a number of club figures, including Blanc. Aurier has since apologised for the comments.I think sometimes what happens is managers, players and football people get involved in wanting to protect the asset, Powar, who is head of the anti-discrimination FARE Network, told Sky Sports. We dont really sack top, top players because of misdemeanours and that often tells you something.Personally, I dont think footballers should be treated like any other employee but within the game they are seen as prime assets, they are sometimes seen as individuals that are untouchable. They definitely need to take action further than suspending him for the time being.Speaking ahead of PSGs league encounter with Reims on Saturday, Blanc revealed a decision about Auriers future in Paris is still yet to be made. The club will take a decision, not the coach, the PSG boss said.I will certainly have a conversation with him, but everyone will have to respect the decision made by the club. After that is handed down, we will know whether we can count on him for the remainder of the season.The incident came midway through Football v Homophobia month in this country and Powar believes it illustrates why homophobia remains a big issue in the modern-day game. Blanc is refusing to rule out a return to action for Aurier I think incidents like this highlight what needs to be done, he said.Sometimes people dont understand the seriousness of these things and the context in whicch they have been said.ddddddddddddThats because players are so rarely caught dismissing their coach and their star player in that way. And that is the thing that some people have focussed on rather than the abusive language that has been used towards Laurent Blanc.The FvH [Football v Homophobia] guys have been busy working this month and then this blows up and it just shows the challenges that we face. Sometimes people dont understand the seriousness of these things and the context in which they have been said. FARE Network chief Piara Powar In France there are active LGBT groups using football to tackle societal homophobia as well as working in football because of the problems that it has. I guess for those people this incident demonstrates the need for renewed effort.Powar was speaking at a fundraising dinner for the social inclusion campaign Kick It Out, hosted at Chelseas Stamford Bridge stadium. Lord Ouseley is concerned about a perceived lack of appetite to confront homophobia in football Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley believes homophobia in the game is an issue that footballs stakeholders remain reluctant to confront.Although this is something that has happened in France we cannot ignore its impact, Lord Ouseley said.People who have those prejudices, who read about this and hear about this, will be having those prejudices reinforced.What were about is helping people deal with those prejudices and homophobia, like casual sexism, is one issue that is still around in football that people think we should leave to one side and not touch. ' ' '