Robbie Lawler edges Carlos Condit to retain UFC title

Lawler retained his welterweight title by beating challenger Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit via split decision while Miocic scored a first-round technical knockout win over former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at “UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit” held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, yesterday (Manila time). 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.

At the weigh in, Lawler and Condit exchanged a statedown and neither of them seemed to back down.

Lawler now improves to 20-7 and it was his second successful title defense and his 5th straight victory in the octagon while Condit now falls to 30-9.

“That’s just two competitors with a lot of heart and a lot of skill just trying to get the job done”, Lawler said. Every competitor put on a great show and gave us viewers our money’s worth, but it’s the main event that will linger in our memories and keep us talking for years to come.

With the debatable decision triumph over Condit, Lawler successfully defended the UFC welterweight title for the second time since capturing the gold-plated strap from Johny Hendricks in December 2014 and improves his prizefighting record to 27-10 with one no contest.

“I felt like I had three rounds in the bag, but that’s why you don’t leave it to the judges”, he said.

Both men promised a war, but after Lawler’s last fight, it was always going to be hard to match.

UFC President Dana White said he’ll reassess the situation when heads are more clear following a fight that saw both men knocked down before a fifth round that cements Lawler’s standing as one of the organization’s most entertaining brawlers. “I thought Carlos Condit fought the fight of his life tonight”. A right hook that landed flush to Arlovski’s ear buckled his legs, while another right then sent him to his knees, with a left landing to the temple on the way down for good measure, resulting in a TKO stoppage.

Condit won round one decisively, using the aforementioned range to land kicks nearly at will to the champion. “I think having gone through that experience I’m better for it and I’m definitely more prepared”.

“It was close though”, Condit said.

“Well I’ll have to see if my preparation is going to be enough to do that”.

The scorecards were read, and two judges gave the fight to Robbie Lawler, making him the first American in a decade to successfully defend the Welterweight title two consecutive times.

“I did. It was close though”, he said.