Michael Bisping beats Dan Henderson by unanimous decision at UFC 204 to retain his middleweight title and exact revenge in Manchester

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The stars aligned for Michael Bisping, as the first British UFC champion revelled in a glorious Manchester homecoming and retention of his title.

For his challenger Dan Henderson, the only stars were the ones clouding his vision after the middleweight king won a unanimous decision to send the 46-year-old ignominiously into retirement.

Revenge here was a dish best served in front of 21,000 partisan fans inside the Manchester Arena, roaring on their battle-hardened warrior as he settled an old score.

Michael Bisping lets out a roar of delight after retaining his middleweight title with victory over Dan Henderson at UFC 204

The referee raises the hand of Bisping after the British fighter secured a unanimous decision victory over Henderson

On what was Bisping's first defence of the title he won in the summer, the Brit had to battle to ensure he kept his belt

Bisping was left with a deep cut under his left eye after a gruelling fight which went the distance through all five rounds

American veteran Henderson took to the microphone at the end of the contest to confirm his retirement from the sport

The shadow of Henderson looming over Bisping after his famous knockout at UFC 100 was a memory, finally and triumphantly overwritten.

He did so with the conviction we have come to expect from a man whose recent rise to the summit of the middleweight division has been meteoric, after spending most of his career flirting with the upper echelons.

A bloody war and unanimous win over Anderson Silva, followed by the stunning first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold on two-weeks notice forced the sceptics to reconsider Bisping as one of the most dangerous men on the planet.

Some would have you believe that Dan Henderson was fortunate to be handed a title shot but make no mistake, few who have been locked in a cage with the heavy-handed American consider themselves lucky.  

Bisping took to Instagram in the moments after his victory to post this image of him with his entourage in Manchester

Bisping is mobbed on his way to the ring as he appears in front of his home crowd in his home city of Manchester

Henderson made a slightly more subdued walk to the ring as he prepared to face Bisping, the hometown hero

Bisping enters the octagon before facing Henderson in their UFC middleweight championship bout in Manchester

Bisping looked supremely focussed on what was a massive night for The Count as he returned to fight in his home city

A carbon copy of that right hand from all those years ago floored Bisping in the first, who was clinging on for dear life as the American threw enormous shots, but somehow the champion survived to hear the bell.

Bisping’s battered face seemed to be a magnet for that right hand. And what a right hand. There is a job in demolition for Henderson when he retires from his madness.

Bisping was dominant in the second round, stringing combinations together nicely but with one minute remaining on the clock, you guessed it. That right hand sliced through his defences sending him tumbling once more, but again he held on to stagger back to the corner.

The pattern of the fight continued into the third, only this time Bisping managed to avoid the sledge-hammers being thrown his way. 

The Manchester native was picking his shots nicely, leaving Henderson backed-up and absorbing punishment. Suddenly the predator from the first two-rounds was looked like a 46-year-old man on the brink of retirement.

A cut underneath Bisping's left eye was swelling badly but he ploughed on, constantly aggressive and conducting the crowd who answered his call. Chants of ‘stand up if you love Bisping’ reverberated as he punished Henderson’s legs with savage kicks. The fourth round was again close but the champion seemed to shade it with his pressure.

The final five minutes of this ludicrous battle were the last of Henderson’s illustrious career and he made sure to pour everything into it. That homing missile of a right flirted with the target again but Bisping replied with nasty body shots.

With two minutes remaining, the American hauled his opponent to the canvas but Bisping summoned every last ounce of energy to get back to his feet. The round finished with Henderson attempting a somersault kick, a fittingly absorbing ending to an absolutely blockbuster fight.

Bisping, wearing the black shorts, aims a right-footed kick to the head during the early exchanges of the first round

Bisping leads with a left before looking to connect with a right, but he wasn't able to overly trouble Henderson in round one

Veteran Henderson came into the fight as time ticked on, landing shots of his own on the middleweight champion Bisping

Henderson made his shots count early on as he took his man down in each of the first two rounds in Manchester

As the fight headed into the latter stages, both men continued to trade blow for blow in search of victory

Bisping aims a kick with his left foot during the third round of the contest at Manchester Arena, as blood pours from his face

Bisping, with blood pouring from his face after being taken down in round one, came out fighting as the fight went on

The judges unanimously rewarded Bisping for a show of unprecedented tenacity, pressure and aggression. But make no mistake, he was pushed to the limit by a man who deserves a retirement free of somersault kicks and five-round wars.

UFC president Dana White wrapped the gleaming belt around Bisping’s waist for the second time before the champion addressed his adoring fans. He thanked the packed house and graciously acknowledged the performance of his challenger who left everything in the octagon.

Bisping already has one damaged eye and with the other almost closed, his display of Mancunian grit was all the more inspiring. The old foes put on a fight for the ages and as Henderson sails into the sunset, Bisping awaits the next challenger to his middleweight crown.

But Henderson was able to get his right hand up to block the Brit's kick as the 46-year-old stood his ground

Bisping is caught by a right hand once again as he continues to face pressure from Henderson inside the octagon

But as the fight wore on, Bisping steadied himself and began to land shot after shot as he did enough to retain his crown

Bisping holds his UFC Middleweight title above his head after claiming a superb victory in Manchester on Sunday morning

Henderson received a standing ovation from the Manchester crowd after announcing his retirement at the age of 46

Mirsad Bektic started the main card off in impressive fashion with a submission victory over Russell Doane within one round, the Bosnian lived up to all his hype and could well be the future of the featherweight division.

Stefan 'Skyscraper' Struve towered above his squat, powerful Polish opponent Daniel Omielanczuk but earned a submission win on the canvas with a beautiful D'Arce choke at 1:41 of the second round.

Ovince Saint Preux was dismantled by Jimi Manuwa who, inspired by the home support, picked his larger opponent apart, finishing him with a brutal left hand to send the fifth ranked light-heavyweight to octagon floor.

Gegard Mousasi was hugely impressive in the co-main event. His stoppage of Vitor Belfort was a culmination of constant pressure as the referee was forced to step in and stop thunderous ground and pound. 

British fighter Jimi Manuwa celebrates his knockout victory over Ovince Saint Preux in their light heavyweight bout

Stefan Struve celebrates his submission victory over Daniel Omielanczuk, as he becomes the first man to stop the Pole

Mirsad Bektic got the main card off to a fast start in Manchester with a first-round submission of Russell Doane