Who’s next for Robbie Lawler?
A trilogy fight between UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and former champion Johny Hendricks may be next, given how close and controversial the scoring was.
In one of the great career comebacks in the sport’s history, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler went 3-5 in Strikeforce, and now has won the UFC welterweight title, going 6-1.
Lawler crushed Josh Koscheck and Bobby Voelker and then beat Rory MacDonald by Split Decision. That win got him a title shot with welterweight champion Johny Hendricks. Lawler came up just short in that fight, losing a Unanimous Decision. Then he beat Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown and got another title shot.
Saturday night at UFC 181 Robbie Lawler beat Johny Hendricks by a razor-thin SD. A razor’s edge is in fact a pancake in Kansas in comparison. It is the first time a UFC belt has ever changed hands by split decision. It may well have been won in the final, furious, several-seconds-long flurry by Lawler; that was as intense a close to a fight as can be remembered.
In the meantime Rory MacDonald bounced back from the loss to Lawler a year ago with three straight wins, over Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, and Tarrec Saffiedine. It was widely believed that MacDonald would get the next title shot, and that it would be in Canada.
MacDonald was cageside, watching intently Saturday; it was clear throughout the fight that it could be either that he faced next.
However, UFC president Dana White appeared on FOX Sports 1’s post-fight show, and was asked if MacDonald’s title shot is still guaranteed, given how close the score was.
I have no idea, said White.
Instead we may get a Rubber Match between the title-splitting pair.
The trilogy wouldn’t be a bad idea, said White. “We’ll see what happens.”
So what do you think UG? Who do you want to see Lawler fight next, MacDonald or Hendricks?