UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 Round-by-Round Recap and Analysis
And...NEW UFC welterweight champion of the world, Robbie Lawler! Indeed, the long-time veteran of the game has completed one of the most improbable, most impressive comebacks in the history of the sport.
Lawler, a man whose UFC career started at age 20, and seemingly ended two and a half years later with a loss to the late Evan Tanner, worked his way from the regional scene. Then to EliteXC. Then to Strikeforce. Then back to the UFC. And then, against all odds, to the championship.
Looking over the names that have appeared alongside Lawler, from the legendary Pat Miletich to the modern day shepard of high-level fighters, Ricardo Liborio, Lawler is a staple of the sport. Him capturing the belt, truly, is the gravy on top of a thoroughly seasoned career.
So how did this end up coming to pass? Find out right here.
Round 1
1 of 6
The bell sounds and Lawler explodes at Hendricks, landing multiple knees to the body and visibly taking the wind out of Hendricks. Lawler presses forward with punches, but slips on the Bud Lite logo in the middle of the match. Hendricks pounces and takes the opportunity to clinch, landing several uppercuts before pressing Lawler to the cage.
Hendricks and Lawler exchange short knees. Hendricks attempts takedowns, but Lawler bases and remains on his feet. Lawler finds some short hands and knees to the body, and Hendricks adjusts position to get in tight on Lawler.
They break after about two minutes of Lawler being pressed to the cage. Hendricks finds his range with punches and again gets Lawler against the cage. Hendricks goes for a double and yanks Lawler's legs out from under him. The bell sounds after a few seconds of top position.
A close round. Even though Lawler found success early and did more damage, it is hard to argue that Hendricks didn't take the round on control alone.
10-9 Johny Hendricks
Round 2
2 of 6
Lawler comes out with much less urgency. Hendricks finds homes for his hands and seems to have found his range. Hendricks begins showing off a new wrinkle to his game: a hard leg kick.
Lawler lands a hard left hand but Hendricks seems unphased. Hendricks continues pressing forward and keeps forcing Lawler to plant, then eat a leg kick.
Hendricks works him to the cage and pulls Lawler down again. Hendricks seems content in pushing Lawler into the corner between the mat and cage, and does little damage.
Lawler escapes with about a minute left and finds a snap kick to the face. Again, Hendricks doesn't even seem to notice. Hendricks starts opening up with his hands, but Lawler begins peppering him with left hands. Hendricks is wobbled, and Lawler lands multiple hard kicks to the body.
Again, Lawler slips on the Bud Lite logo. Hendricks gets a front headlock and rolls Lawler around as the horn sounds.
10-9 Johny Hendricks
20-18 Johny Hendricks
Round 3
3 of 6
Hendricks once again starts the round as the aggressor. Lawler attempts front kicks and body kicks after finding success with them late in round 2, but Hendricks does not seem to be susceptible to them anymore.
Lawler seems to be a bit more reluctant to pull the trigger, and continues eating jabs from Hendricks. Hendricks lands a hard punch and Lawler seems wobbled. Hendricks lands more punches but breaks after eating a hard left.
Hendricks shoots for a takedown and gets it without much trouble. Lawler gets back to his feet, but Hendricks keeps stuck on him, and drives him back to the cage yet again. Hendricks works Lawler to the ground, and holds him there, earning himself another handy-dandy 10-9 round.
10-9 Johny Hendricks
30-27 Johny Hendricks
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Round 4
4 of 6
Lawler gets back on offense, pressing forward with punches. Hendricks fires back with combinations, but Lawler continues moving forward.
Hendricks shoots for a takedown. While he doesn't get it, Lawler once again gets pressed all the way back to the cage. Hendricks is completely content in holding Lawler in place, and Herb Dean eventually steps in and separates them.
Lawler returns to his striking, and snaps a kick up to Hendricks' face. Lawler does not seem able to match Hendricks' accuracy, though, and he continues being frozen with jabs.
Hendricks nails a single, and gets Lawler to the ground. Lawler returns to his feet and presses forward with punches. Hendricks again grabs hold of a single, and presses Lawler to the cage, only to hold him there.
Lawler wounds him with a punch, and spins off the cage. Hendricks stays on the single, but Lawler rains down punches and elbows. The horn sounds and, in my book, that was enough to steal the round back.
10-9 Robbie Lawler
39-37 Johny Hendricks
Round 5
5 of 6
While it was Lawler's corner who encouraged urgency, Hendricks comes out swinging from the gate. Once again, however, Hendricks drives Lawler to the cage with a double-leg attempt, and makes minimal effort to do anything from there. Herb Dean separates them, and they return to the center of the cage.
Lawler presses forward, but still seems unable to handle Hendricks' jab. Lawler lands a couple lefts and Hendricks, surprise surprise, shoots on a single and holds Lawler there.
Hendricks is becoming visibly exhausted, while Lawler is surprisingly fresh. Hendricks once again gets hold of a leg...and once again is largely content in holding Lawler there.
Lawler, like with Round 4. finds an odd angle punch and spins off the cage. Lawler begins raining down elbows and punches, and Hendricks does little to answer them. Lawler begins savagely elbowing Hendricks to the body. Hendricks eventually breaks and Lawler rips a punch on him at the break.
Lawler comes out like a wild man, throwing haymakers and savage kicks. Hendricks is sporting a cut, and is clearly wounded. The horn sounds, and the fight goes to the judges after a heart-racing finish.
10-9 Robbie Lawler
48-47 Johny Hendricks
Official Decision
6 of 6
Robbie Lawler def. Johny Hendricks by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
While yours truly scored the fight 48-47 in Hendricks' favor, this was by no means a bad decision. Sure, that 49-46 raises an eyebrow, Rounds 4 and 5 both went to Lawler and Lawler's explosive start in Round 1 make 48-47 reasonable.
In terms of comeback stories, there are few better in the game today. Lawler, who began his UFC career as a cocky 20 year-old, washed out of the UFC, had a years-long roller coaster ride, came back to the promotion following the UFC's absorption of Strikeforce and rediscovered seemingly forgotten skills.
It will be interesting to see where the division, and where Lawler, goes from here.
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