Lawler vs. Macdonald 2 - 4 things that made this an all-time great fight
Dana White called it the greatest fight ever. Despite being under promoted to the extent that it was almost hidden below the Conor McGregor show, the rematch for the welterweight championship between Robbie Lawler and challenger Rory Macdonald will be remembered for years to come. Two fighters at the absolute top of their game, giving everything they had for the right to be called champion.We’ll be talking about this fight for years to come. It wasn’t just a bloodbath, it wasn’t just a war, it was everything this sport is at its best. The UFC couldn’t have asked for a better advertisement for the sport. Take anyone who has never watched an MMA fight, show them this fight, and they will be a fan for life. It’s a fight that makes you remember why you love this sport so much. So what exactly made this fight so special? We look at 4 standout points.
#1 Robbie Lawler\'s Cinderella story
Robbie Lawler is almost unrecognizable from the fighter he was just 3 or 4 years ago. It’s easy to forget how one dimensional and clumsy he was. He had a power punch to match anyone in MMA, but that’s pretty much all he had. He was called the Mike Tyson of MMA but Mike Tyson never had to worry about wrestling and grappling or even kicks. In just three years though, Lawler has gone from an afterthought to a world champion. His successful championship defense against Macdonald mirrors his MMA career almost perfectly.
He started off in the UFC at the age of 20 in 2000. After mixed success initially, he established himself as a rising star. However, a series of losses led to him being cut by the promotion and many felt he would never fulfill all that potential. He struggled to establish himself outside the UFC working in small promotions before he was signed by strikeforce. When the UFC eventually decided to absorb Strikeforce, Lawler had a 3-5 record in the promotion. Yet, Lawler wasn’t one to quit. He found new life and went on a three fight win streak which included a win over Rory Macdonald at UFC 167.
Despite losing a title fight to Johny Hendricks via a close decision, Lawler worked his way back to being the number one contender and eventually beat Hendricks for the title. Going into this fight, Lawler was once again the underdog. It’s not a position he’s uncomfortable with. He has been an underdog his entire career. Every time you think he’s done, he comes back for more. Despite being the underdog, despite being down on the judges’ cards, Lawler kept moving forward, refusing to quit and knocked the young challenger out for the win.