Lawler gets split decision over Hendricks, takes welterweight title
The main event of UFC 181 featured a welterweight title rematch between champion Johny Hendricks and challenger Robbie Lawler.
The main event of UFC 181 featured a welterweight title rematch between champion Johny Hendricks and challenger Robbie Lawler.
A healthy and healed Hendricks wrestled a great deal more than he did in his victory over Lawler last March, and by the fourth and fifth rounds, Lawler appeared downright angry, as if he was the only one trying to finish the fight.
In the closing seconds of both the fourth and fifth rounds, Lawler managed to get on top of Hendricks, firing punch after punch, while grimacing and all but shouting in fury at the retreating “Bigg Rigg.” In the end, two judges agreed with Lawler that he had done enough to deserve the nod, and he was awarded a split decision win over Hendricks to become the new UFC welterweight champion.
Official result: Robbie Lawler defeated Johny Hendricks by Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
The decision surprised many watching, most believing that Hendricks had done enough to win the fight, but two of the three judges cage side disagreed:
