White details welterweight title picture
“Everyone is so pumped about this fight because it’s two guys with the same style, two guys with the same mentality, and two absolute total bad asses. I love it.”
Each week on “The Download” UFC president Dana White discusses whatever is happening in the world of the UFC that week. This week, he detailed what is going on the welterweight division.
Champion : Johny Hendricks
1 Robbie Lawler
2 Rory MacDonald
3 Tyron Woodley
4 Carlos Condit
5 Matt Brown
6 Hector Lombard
7 Jake Ellenberger
8 Demian Maia
9 Dong Hyun Kim
10 Tarec Saffiedine
Champion Johny Hendricks is recovering from bicep surgery, sustained in his win over Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 on March 15.
When he returns, Hendricks will face the winner of Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown at San Jose at UFC on FOX 12 in July.
“We got Robbie Lawler who just came off a controversial loss to the champion, and number one is facing number five,” White explained. “Robbie just beat the number five and number six guys in his wins, right? And he was in a controversial fight with the champ, so he deserves this fight. If Matt Brown beats Robbie Lawler then he just beat the number one contender and he gets the fight.”
When the Brown vs. Lawler fight was announced, Tyron Woodely sent White a text asking where he stood in the welterweight division.
Woodley fights Rory MacDonald fights at UFC 174 in Vancouver, BC on June 14th. And Hector Lombard fights Dong Hyun Kim at UFC Fight Night Macao on Aug. 23.
The winner of Woodley vs. McDonald may get a title shot at the winner of Hendricks vs. the Lawler/Brown winner. Or the winner of Woodley vs. McDonald will get the winner of Lombard vs. Kim, with the winner of that getting a title shot.
But right now, the immediate focus is on Lawler vs. Brown, and White is ecstatic.
“Two guys – two nasty, mean, viscous, nasty guys who love to bang – in their prime, number one and number five, banging it out for the chance to fight for the title,” enthused White. “I love it,. It’s the best fight we could have made, and thank God Lawler is such a stud he’ll turn around so fast and take this fight.
“Those are the kind of guys I love to watch fight, and I know those are the kinds of guys fans love to watch fight. That’s why everyone is so pumped about this fight because it’s two guys with the same style, two guys with the same mentality, and two absolute total bad asses. I love it.”