"UFC 181: Hendricks Vs. Lawler II" Results: Two Title Fights, Big Title Change, CM Punk Signs, More

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Preliminary card

* Clay Collard defeats Alex White via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

* Sergio Pettis defeats Matt Hobar via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

* Raquel Pennington (#13) defeats Ashlee Evans-Smith via technical submission (bulldog choke, Round 1, 5:00)

* Corey Anderson defeats Justin Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

* Josh Samman defeats Eddie Gordon via KO (head kick, Round 2, 0:38)

* Urijah Faber (#3) defeats Francisco Rivera (#11) via submission (bulldog choke, Round 2, 1:34)

Main Card

Tony Ferguson vs. Abel Trujillo

Ferguson comes into this fight winning 6 of 7 fights in the UFC, 9 of 10 if his time on The Ultimate Fighter is included. Trujillo has lost only once in his five UFC bouts.

Round 1: Trujillo pushes forward with a four punch combo, connecting with three to open the fight. Ferguson answers with a body kick, but gets dropped by a huge right hook. Trujillo pounces, but Ferguson gets back to his feet easily. Trujillo with a couple of stiff jabs and a huge double leg takedown. Ferguson works his way up to his feet but is taken down again. Trujillo stacks Ferguson up and lands some ground and pound, but again Ferguson gets to his feet. Ferguson hits a big right hand and a jab that sends Trujillo moving backwards. Trujillo's technique and speed aren't what they were at the beginning of the round, he's slowed down noticeably

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Abel Trujillo

Round 2: Trujillo opens with a two punch combo that doesn't do damage, but Ferguson answers with a big body kick, and a loud leg kick. Trujillo tries to shoot in but it's stuffed and Ferguson shortly threatens a D'arce choke. Ferguson tries to switch to an armlock but loses his position. Ferguson works back up and drags a visibly tired Trujillo down and works from the turtle position. Trujillo then gets up, scores a takedown of his own, but can't keep Ferguson down. Ferguson peppers Trujllo with jabs and kicks against the cage, then snaps Trujillo down and works from the turtle position again. Ferguson sinks the hooks in, locks in a rear naked choke and gets the tap!

Result: Tony Ferguson defeats Abel Trujillo via submission (rear naked choke, Round 2, 4:19)

* CM Punk appeared on the UFC broadcast and announced that he had signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion.

Todd Duffee vs. Anthony Hamilton

This is Duffee's first fight in two years, due to a career threatening medical condition. Hamilton has won 7 of his last 8 fights.

Round 1: Almost immediately Todd Duffee lands a huge 1-2 combination and knocks Hamilton out.

Result: Todd Duffee defeats Anthony Hamilton via KO (punch, Round 1, 0:33)

A highlight package featuring the Jon Jones/Daniel Cormier feud is shown.

Travis Browne (#3) vs. Brendan Schaub

Travis Browne boasts a 16-2-1 record. Schaub is coming off of a controversial but uneventful loss to former UFC Champion Andrei Arlovski.

Round 1: Schaub repeatedly tries takedowns that get stuffed, but lands a nice uppercut instead. Browne answers with a jab and is using his length to keep Schaub at bay. Schaub gets Browne's back to the cage and scores with a big double leg takedown. Browne gets to his feet, but Schaub gets him down with a nice outside trip. Browne again gets to his feet and breaks free. Browne blasts Schaub with a big uppercut that drops him. Browne shortly gets side control and mount while trying to land hammer fists. Browne gets mount, then takes Schaub's back and flattens him out and lands dozens of big punches to end the fight.

Result: Travis Browne defeats Brendan Schaub via TKO (ground strikes from back mount, Round 1, 4:49)

UFC Lightweight Championship
Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (c) vs. Gilbert Melendez (#1)

Both fighters haven't competed in well over a year. Neither have ever been finished in a fight in their professional MMA career.

Round 1: Melendez immediately throws strikes to get in close and applies a body lock against the cage. Pettis breaks free and throws a head kick that is blocked. Melendez counters with a nice combo that sets up a shot, and scores a takedown. Pettis gets back up to his feet and Melendez is trying to take his back. Melendez throws in some punches, but Pettis finally breaks free. Within seconds Melendez throws another four punch combo and takes Pettis down again. Pettis breaks free once more, lands a soft head kick, but leaves himself open to be pushed into the wall again. The two trade punches as Pettis is against the cage, and Pettis hits a big one that staggers Melendez. For the first time, they take the center of the cage and Pettis scores with a flying knee, but is quickly punched and pushed back to the cage. A body kick from Pettis closes the round.

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Gilbert Melendez

Round 2: Melendez tags Pettis with a hook but can't get the takedown. The same series happens again, but Melendez breaks the clinch and lands two punches. Melendez is reckless, but in a controlled manner that has Pettis' back to the cage. He lands a few more punches, but gets cracked with a left and grabs a guillotine choke for the submission!

Result: Anthony "Showtime" Pettis defeats Gilbert Melendez via submission (mounted guillotine choke, Round 2, 1:53) to defend the UFC Lightweight Title.

UFC Welterweight Championship
Johny Hendricks (c) vs. Robbie Lawler (#1)

These two fought in February, with Hendricks emerging victorious in a close fight. Hendricks has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during the bout.

Round 1: Lawler comes out aggressive and scores with a punch, two big knees to the body and a hook. Lawler is really pushing forward, relentless. The two lock up and trade a series of big punches. Lawler slips but is back up and pushed against the cage, but he's still working offense. The two stay there for a while, and Lawler continues to land knees and elbows as Hendricks unsuccessfully tries to take him down. Big knee to the head of Hendricks, but it doesn't seem to faze Hendricks. Hendricks has control against the cage but isn't landing any offense, while Lawler repeatedly scores with knees to the body. Finally Hendricks throws a knee to the body and breaks the clinch after four unsuccessful takedown attempts. Back in the center of the cage, Hendricks lands a punch-leg kick combo, a 2-3 combo, and then a three punch, leg kick combo followed by a takedown. Hendricks moves into half guard, but doesn't do any damage. Close round.

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Robbie Lawler

Round 2: Hendricks opens the round with a leg kick and a body kick after Lawler misses a head kick. Lawler scores with a jab but the two feel each other out for the first minute, as Hendricks starts to land leg kicks. Hendricks with a good 1-2, leg kick combo, as a big weakness for Lawler has been exposed. That record keeps playing as Hendricks hits the combo again, and tries to take Lawler down off the cage again. When it doesn't work, Hendricks repeatedly knees Lawler's thighs and finally takes Lawler down. Lawler is down, but his back is against the cage so Hendricks can't do much offensively. Lawler makes it to his feet but eats a knee to the body. Lawler with a big front kick to the face that gets Hendricks' attention. Hendricks goes back to the jab-straight combinations and single leg kicks, but Lawler catches him with a counter hook. Lawler lands a good body kick but slips. Hendricks piles on top of him to close the round.

Wrestling Inc scores round 2 10-9 for Johny Hendricks, tying up the fight

Round 3: Hendricks again opens with a leg kick, then a jab-straight. Lawler answers with a front kick to the body and jab-straight of his own, but Hendricks keeps scoring with the jab-straight-leg kick. He keeps throwing the combo and mixing in single leg kicks to keep Lawler guessing. Lawler is throwing the occasional right hand over the top and front body kick, but nothing is doing damage. Two jabs and a straight from Hendricks, and Lawler looks like he's at his mercy right now. He can't keep up the pace he set in the first round, and Hendricks is making him pay for it. Another big combo makes Lawler cover up, but Hendricks is still wary. Hendricks scores on a big takedown easily in the center of the cage, but Lawler won't let his back hit the mat and gets back to his feet. Hendricks puts Lawler against the cage but pins his head to Lawler's thigh to avoid the elbows against the cage, then takes Lawler down again.

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Johny Hendricks, to give Hendricks a 29-28 advantage.

Round 4: We get more of the same to start round 4, with Hendricks imposing his will. Referee Herb Dean separates the two from the cage due to inactivity, and Hendricks proceeds to return to the same combo he's used the last three rounds. Lawler with a good kick and a knee to the body, but he keeps eating jabs and straights and isn't checking leg kicks. Hendricks gets his fifth takedown of the fight. Lawler gets back to his feet, but he's no better off there. Hendricks tries to take Lawler down but it's stuffed and Lawler hits about ten big punches and elbows to close.

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Johny Hendricks, giving Hendricks a 39-37 advantage

Round 5: An uneventful first 1:20 as Hendricks puts Lawler's back against the cage. Herb Dean splits them up and Lawler is more active on the feet, hitting a jab, body kick and front body kick. Hendrick with a looping right hand and tries to take Lawler down, but they just end up against the cage and getting split again. Hendricks with a jab as Lawler won't commit to anything. Hendricks again puts Lawler against the cage, and it just looks like a stalling tactic at this point. Lawler sprawls and works big hammer fists, and Hendricks wants no part of them. Big elbows to the body by Lawler, and Hendricks gets up. Lawler unloads on Hendricks with huge punches and a body kick to close the round!

Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Robbie Lawler, with Hendricks retaining a 48-47 advantage.

Result: Robbie Lawler defeats Johny Hendricks via split decision (48-47 Lawler, 48-47 Hendricks, 49-46 Lawler) to become new UFC Welterweight Champion

49-46 seems like a really unusual score card.