Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald took turns punishing each other throughout their UFC 189 co-main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, but it was the champion who left with the belt, as Lawler successfully defended his welterweight crown for the first time with a fifth-round knockout.
“That was the accumulation of a beatdown,” Lawler said. “It wasn’t one punch, it was years of fighting right there coming to fruition. I’m the champ. I’m here to stay.”
The victory was Lawler’s second over Montreal’s MacDonald, having won a split decision over the “Red King” at UFC 167 in November of 2013. This one was just as close, but even more exciting.
“It’s exciting because I showed everybody that I was a true fighter,” Lawler said through a badly split lip. “I come to fight. No matter what happens, I keep coming, trying to knock people out.”
Lawler got his wish, and he needed it, as he trailed 39-37 on all three judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
[tweet https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/620086120680812545 align=’center’]
Click here for more from UFC.com >>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SportsCenter
