Returning for the first time since his stunning first title defense over Rory MacDonald at UFC 189, welterweight champion Robbie Lawler hoped to continue his incredible late career form with another violent masterpiece. Defending the gold this time against fellow savage warrior, former interim champion Carlos Condit, could the ‘Ruthless’ kingpin keep hold of his title, or did ‘The Natural Born Killer’ usher in a new era for the 170-pound division?
Locked, cocked and set to continue the New Year’s fireworks, UFC 195 might be a little light on star power following the promotion’s epic shows last month but its five main card duels each have the potential to be excellent encounters nonetheless. Headlined by a spectacular welterweight title battle pitting two of the division’s most violent and tenured warriors, what can we expect to happen at the UFC’s first event of what should be yet another history-making year?
Originally scheduled to feature the most heavily hyped title bout in the organisation’s short history, UFC 189 took what many believed to be a terminal blow when featherweight champion Jose Aldo pulled out with just two weeks remaining. Undeterred by this setback, his opponent, Irish sensation Conor McGregor remained to save the card, and received a new foe; former title challenger and wrestling stud Chad Mendes.
Thanks to all the hype surrounding UFC 189’s (now-aborted) main event you’d be forgiven for forgetting that the card also features this, a massive welterweight title showdown between two of the division’s finest competitors. Hoping to defend his title for the first time is the longtime MMA veteran Robbie Lawler, but he faces a tough challenge in the shape of a destiny-seeking young Canadian.
