LAS VEGAS (AP) – Robbie Lawler defended his UFC welterweight belt with a bruising split-decision victory over Carlos Condit at UFC 195 on Saturday night. However, when that happens, there’s no chance he will be broken in the fight because as his fifth-round effort against Condit proved, “Ruthless” is perhaps the most terrifying fighter on the planet when placed in a compromising situation.
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With less than 2 minutes left on the clock, Lawler cornered Condit on the fence and landed a flurry of punches and kicks. You want to go out there and you want to be sharp and you want to execute your game plan and go out there and get it done fast. Despite Condit out-landing Lawler in the deciding middle frame, two of the three judges awarded the round to the champion, giving more weight to the few powerful strikes he connected with over the challenger landing at a higher clip, but with less pop, and pressing forward for the majority of the round.
Condit, who will be 32 in April, has fought 39 mixed martial arts fights and four kickboxing bouts in a pro combat sports career which dates back to 2002.
“It was awesome, man”, White said. Miocic celebrated his victory by running across the cage to White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, yelling at them to “Give me my shot! They push me and have gotten me where I am today”.
The scores read on the scoreboard / scorecard were 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47 and as a result, Robbie Lawler won and continued the title of welterweight champ. The last round provided to be the most intense with both fighters bloodied up and worn out throwing their last inch of strength to put down one another.
“I’m proud of the way I fought”. However, at the end, it was Lawler who won with just an edge over Condit. “It didn’t go my way tonight, but I left it all in there and fought my ass off”.
“I wanted a firefight”.
“It was close though”, Condit said. Everyone else is doing great things, but so am I, and this sport is going to continue to grow.
UFC 195 aired Saturday, January 2nd from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Lawler’s title was unquestionable hanging in the balance going into the final round, and similar to his 2015 “Fight of the Year” with Rory MacDonald in July, somehow mustered he courage to win the fight and successfully defend his championship.
It’s been apparent for years that the 10-point must system is flawed, yet little has been done to try to improve things and that needs to change.
By going down to Miocic, Arlovski (25-10) saw his six-fight win streak snapped.
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“They tell me when to train, what to train and I show up and do what they tell me to do”, he said.
