The next UFC welterweight title bout should probably be the same as the last two.
Saturday night at UFC 181, Robbie Lawler capped his improbably climb back to relevance by picking up a split decision win over Johny Hendricks to claim the championship strap. While not as action-packed as their explosive first encounter from UFC 171, this weekend’s main event was another closely contested battle that came down to small details and subjective scoring, with Lawler earning the victory with scores of 48-47, 47-48 and 49-46.
Though Canadian Rory MacDonald was told he would be next following his stoppage win over Tarec Saffiedine back in October, the Tristar Gym representative shouldn’t bank on that being the case after this one.
Ten rounds into this rivalry, you could make a case that Lawler and Hendricks have split them down the middle, five frames each. Even if you lean more towards one man over the other, there is no question that these have been tight, grueling battles where the final tallies don’t necessarily indicate just how easily things could have been flipped in the opposite direction.
Personally, I want to see MacDonald get his shot — he’s picked up back-to-back wins since dropping a split decision to Lawler, and putting together another rematch leaves him with no suitable options for a “stay fresh, stay in line” fight.
In that same regard, Hendricks would have numerous options coming off a championship loss if he’s reshuffled into the deck. He could easily be paired off with the returning Carlos Condit in a fun rematch or dropped in opposite Matt Brown. Plus, what if Georges St-Pierre really does decide to come back – would you turn down a GSP-Hendricks do-over?
From an options standpoint, moving ahead with Lawler facing MacDonald affords matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby more flexibility. That said, the UFC might like the idea of hustling Hendricks and Lawler into the cage once more, preferring the trilogy fight to the rematch.
Only time will tell how the UFC will move forward in the 170-pound ranks.
Here’s a look at the rest of the match-ups I would make for Saturday’s UFC 181 main card winners:
Anthony Pettis versus Khabib Nurmagomedov
There really isn’t any other option.
Pettis was in a dogfight with Gilbert Melendez until he stung “El Nino” with a short right hand and locked up the fight-ending guillotine choke. The finish is a testament to what a tremendous talent “Showtime” is — a guy that can create and exploit small openings as well as anyone in the sport — but also points to his continued difficulties with pressure grapplers and that’s exactly what Nurmagomedov is.
Even though he’s been sidelined with a knee injury for the last several months, the unbeaten Dagestani standout profiles as someone with the tools to test Pettis, and given that he’s already dominated the only other potential challenger in the running right now in Rafael dos Anjos, he should have next.
Travis Browne versus Junior dos Santos/Stipe Miocic winner
Browne did what he pretty much always does against inferior talent at UFC 181, manhandling Brendan Schaub from the outset and ultimately picking up the finish in the closing seconds of the opening round. It was quickly evident that “Hapa” was on a different level than “Big Brown” and that’s precisely how things played out.
The step the Hawaiian heavyweight has yet to take, however, is proving that he can beat one of the truly elite talents in the division.
Provided the UFC sticks to the plan and pairs Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum together in a title unification fight, Browne should meet the winner of this weekend’s UFC on FOX main event between Junior dos Santos and Stipe Miocic. The timing lines up and all parties will need one more strong win to really solidify themselves as the top contender in the division.
Todd Duffee versus Ben Rothwell
After a 33-second knockout victory against Anthony Hamilton and consecutive first-round knockout wins overall, it’s time to find out where Duffee really stands in the heavyweight ranks.
There is no denying he’s a dangerous prospect — he has obvious power, a massive frame and solid movement — but he hasn’t faced the stiffest competition available just yet. Every win counts, but busting up Tim Hague, Phil De Fries and Hamilton doesn’t even earn you a place in the top 15.
Rothwell is a tough veteran coming off a first-round knockout win over Alistair Overeem and the right level of talent to test the promising, but still unproven Duffee. He’s an experienced, durable fighter with good power and solid defensive wrestling that would serve as a serious litmus test for the 29-year-old up-and-comer.
Tony Ferguson versus Jorge Masvidal
With Masvidal recently having to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Norman Parke, the talented American Top Team representative needs a new dance partner and “El Cucuy” feels like the ideal match.
Ferguson has won four straight to climb into contention for a spot in the top 15 and showed Saturday that he’s both durable and opportunistic, weathering an early storm against Abel Trujillo before finishing him with a rear-naked choke in the second.
“Gamebred” is the type of guy that can give contenders a serious test and expose the pretenders — a slick counter-boxer with highly underrated wrestling, both offensively and defensively. Ferguson hasn’t faced anyone on his level to date and needs a win over a Masvidal-type to solidify his standing as a threat, while the American Top Team standout hasn’t quite convinced people that he should be facing top 10 competition just yet.
Put it all together and these two would be the perfect lightweight pair.