Issue 112

March 2014

Both known for their gun-slinging fighting styles and knockout power, which of these two sharpshooters will claim the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171?

Going into this fight, Georges St Pierre’s shadow looms large over the UFC welterweight title he vacated in December. Ending a 2,064-day title reign not in the Octagon, but on a conference call.

Stepping away from the sport for an indefinite break, the Canadian fighting superstar leaves two big-punching contenders vying for the championship.

Johny Hendricks (15-2) has been running around proclaiming himself the rightful champion since moments after his bitterly disputed UFC 167 split-decision loss to GSP, and rightfully gets his title chance as soon as possible. 

A compelling, close fight in which Hendricks very obviously won two rounds, and possibly another (the first five minutes swung the verdict), he did far more damage, but, under the scoring system in use, this was no blatant robbery.

For Robbie Lawler (22-9 1 NC) this opportunity has been a much longer, more complicated journey. Fast-tracked into the Octagon and the welterweight division back in 2002 after just four professional fights, in which he recorded first-round stoppage wins every time, the then-fresh faced Pat Miletich protégé was being groomed for stardom.

Debuting in May at UFC 37, not far past his 20th birthday, he battled Aaron Riley for three rounds in an almost forgotten mini-classic, emerging with a solid decision victory on the prelim portion of just the eighth event of the new, Zuffa era. Two more concussive wins later and he was on the up, but his career stalled when he lost to slick striker Pete Spratt (and a hip injury). 

He decisioned Chris Lytle and then was finished (an unforgettable KO) by another young ‘star of the future’ Nick Diaz. A move up to middleweight earned him only a quick submission loss to the late Evan Tanner in October 2004 and with that, his UFC career was over.

Always able to pick up decent contracts (as exciting, heavy-handed fighters do), Lawler spent the next eight years fighting on the then red-hot Hawaiian scene and became one of the bigger names for both EliteXC and Strikeforce. 

Picking up the EliteXC middleweight title, and challenging for the Strikeforce version, his long journey saw him earn memorable stoppage wins (he has 18 in total) over Joey Villasenor, Frank Trigg, Murilo ‘Ninja’ Rua, Scott Smith, Melvin Manhoef and Matt Lindland. 

However, he’d also lost five of eight fights since joining Strikeforce and seemed incapable of winning when it really mattered. But his return to the UFC, and the 170lb division, has been a roaring success. Going 3-0 in 2013, he finished Josh Koscheck and Bobby Voelker before upsetting the odds and outworking the hugely talented but far too timid Rory MacDonald at UFC 167.

A brutal striker, Lawler has often struggled with more multi-faceted fighters and has particularly faced problems with submission artists.

Neither Hendricks or Lawler are unlikely to go for a finish that way, though. A genuine one-punch finisher, Hendricks owns wins over highly ranked welterweights Jon Fitch and Martin Kampmann in fights that lasted a combined 58 seconds.

Lawler wrestled in high school but Hendricks is one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers to ever step into the Octagon. If he wants the fight on the ground, that’s where it’s going. A four-time All-American wrestler and twice the NCAA champion (2005 and ’06), he made his MMA debut in September 2007, 13 days after Lawler battered Rua to defeat and lifted the EliteXC 185lb title.

But he’s had some unimpressive performances along the way. Rick Story handed him his first defeat and he didn’t look particularly good in his split-decision wins over Mike Pierce and Koscheck. But most will overlook that and think more about those eye-catching knockouts, and just how hard he pushed one of the two greatest fighters in the history of the sport.

Hendricks will be the favorite, and with good reason. It may be over quickly but as long as it lasts even a couple of minutes, it should be great fun to watch.