In a close decision, Lawler defeats Hendricks and wins UFC belt

Lawler (photo) is the new UFC champion. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

The UFC met a new champion in the early hours of this Sunday (7). In the main fight of UFC 181, in Las Vegas (USA), Robbie Lawler derrotou John hendricks in the judges' decision and became the new holder of the welterweight belt of the largest MMA organization on the planet.

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The fight, however, did not have the same intense movement as the first meeting between the two, in March of this year. Hendricks sought to make a more strategic fight, combining his kickboxing with takedown attempts; Lawler, in turn, was betting on his hands, and in the opening seconds and final moments of the fight he came to pose some danger to the then champion.

At certain times, on the other hand, the challenger accepted the opponent's game, receiving several kicks to the thigh and being stopped by Hendricks. Lawler's last move in search of a knockout came in the final moments of the fight, which brought the audience at the Mandalay Bay Events Center to their feet.

After the five rounds of dispute, two judges gave victory to Lawler (48 to 47 and 49 to 46), against one in favor of Hendricks (48 to 47). With the result, Lawler repeats the feat of two of his mentors, Pat Miletich and Matt hugs, welterweight champions of the past decade.

Check out the complete UFC 181 results:

MAIN CARD

Robbie Lawler derrotou John hendricks in the judges' split decision;

Anthony Pettis defeated Gilbert Melendez via submission in R2;

Travis Browne defeated Brendan Schaub by technical knockout in R1;

Todd Duffee defeated Anthony Hamilton by knockout in R1;

Tony Ferguson defeated Abel Trujillo via submission in R2;

PRELIMINARY CARD

Urijah faber defeated Francisco Rivera via submission in R2;

Josh Samman defeated Eddie Gordon by knockout in R2;

Corey anderson defeated Justin Jones via unanimous decision;

Rachel Pennington defeated Ashlee Evans-Smith via submission in R1;

Sergio Pettis defeated Matt Hobar via unanimous decision;

Clay Collard defeated Alex White via unanimous decision;

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