For the first time since 2008, the UFC welterweight title was up for grabs by a person not named Georges St-Pierre. At UFC 171 on Saturday night in Dallas, Texas, Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler engaged in a five-round battle that had as much activity as it did tense moments.
Ultimately, it was Hendricks who emerged the victor, earning a unanimous decision victory 48-47 across all three judges scorecards. The Oklahoma State University alumnus didn’t get there easily, as he was nearly finished halfway into the fight. Yet, he managed to hang on and by the fifth round, was in total control of the bout.
“Robbie was so freaking tough. I feel very blessed,” Hendricks said. “He caught me, in that fifth round I had to win it.”
These, then, are the Tweets of the professionals of mixed martial arts who watched the action and the crowning of a new welterweight king.
And it’s official Hendricks is the NEW champ!
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014
Fight was wild! Curious to hear what was going on with Hendricks. Both dudes are awesome. #lawler #hendricks #UFC171
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 16, 2014
It’s time for the Title Shot!!!! @JohnyHendricks let’s do this for old time sake!!! @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) March 16, 2014
Judges … Smh …
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) March 16, 2014
Close fight. Hell of a fight by both guys. Let @TWooodley get some! Rematch of the 05 Big 12 finals. #UFC171
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) March 16, 2014
Proud of big rig for pulling out 5th round. Last fight was a deciding factor against gsp. #heart
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) March 16, 2014
Woo hell of a fight #171 @Ruthless_RL @JohnyHendricks !
— Ed Herman (@EdHermanufc) March 16, 2014
True warriors…👊
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) March 16, 2014
Wide open divison. I foresee change in 2014 #Exciting #UFC171
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 16, 2014
Riggs showed he was a champion. Robbie was so close to getting that gold, damn! #ufc @ufc #MMA
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) March 16, 2014
If you aren’t a fan of the @ufc you better be one after that main event @JohnyHendricks @Ruthless_RL 👍👍👍
— Shane Victorino (@ShaneVictorino) March 16, 2014
I just want a chance against Aldo in a main event to give the fans a fight Ike this!!! @danawhite @ufc
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 16, 2014
Who wants to see me fight @JohnyHendricks in vancouver for the @ufc welterweight title? Bringing the title back to canada!! @danawhite
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) March 16, 2014
Thank U @Ruthless_RL & @JohnnyHendrick2 for an amazing fight!Congrats Bigg Rigg new UFC Welterweight Champ! #2Warriors #Respect #UFC171
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 16, 2014
I felt like Robbie was holding back… But then didn’t bring it hard like he could have. Or maybe he was tired? What do you think?
— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) March 16, 2014
Most insane fight
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) March 16, 2014
Right call but was cheering on Robbie in that last round great fight! #UFC171
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) March 16, 2014
What journey 4 the new Champ! Congrats! @johnyhendricks Where’s our boy nickdiaz209 #norcal @ufc http://t.co/wWrSgSs7QZ
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) March 16, 2014
This is the weirdest fight. There athletic ability is canceling out & they seem uncomfortable against another south paw. What do you think?
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) March 16, 2014
Lawler is on another level tonight . *Gets hit* , smiles …….. His evolution as a fighter is showing ! #UFC171
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 16, 2014
What. A. Fight! #UFC171
— Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) March 16, 2014
Lawler showed up nice!! Awesome fight! #Ufc171
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) March 16, 2014
Johny Hendricks is ur new @ufc champion!!!!!!! Go pokes!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 16, 2014
This has been one of my favorite fights in the history of mma EVER!!! @Ruthless_RL @ufc @JohnyHendricks !!!!!
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) March 16, 2014
Johnny Hendricks should be your new UFC welterweight champion. Johnny KNOWS HOW TO WIN. #UFC171
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 16, 2014
— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) March 16, 2014
Great fight. Shame one guy has to lose. #UFC171 #WelterweightGold
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) March 16, 2014
Disagree #RobbieLawler wins 48-47 #UFC171
— Mike Ciesnolevicz (@MikeCies) March 16, 2014
My brother beat all these motherfuckers #wackasshendrix #sorryassjudges
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 16, 2014
Wth
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 16, 2014
CARLOS CONDIT‘S KNEE EXPLODED
Condit chin is strong #UFC171
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 16, 2014
As condit got taken down my dude @BadIntentions91 noticed he grimaced he might have hurt his right knee
— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) March 16, 2014
I hate when fights end like that #UFC171
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 16, 2014
Damn I feel so bad for @CarlosCondit right now….
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 16, 2014
Damn I feel bad for condit! Hope nothing serious! #UFC171
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 16, 2014
🙁 rough night for them but I am so proud of my @JacksonsMMA brothers. @BubbaTheMenace @DiegoSanchezUFC @CarlosCondit
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) March 16, 2014
That sucks for Condit.., always love watching him fight. Hopefully it’s nothing too bad. #UFC171 great showing for Woodley!
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) March 16, 2014
🙁 I hate seeing that I swear just sad #GodBlessU CC
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) March 16, 2014
Great job by Woodley!!! Rough injury for Condit… #UFC171
— Mark Bocek (@MarkBocek) March 16, 2014
Big congrats to @TWooodley looked great all fight!!!!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) March 16, 2014
That is a statement performance even with the way it ended.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) March 16, 2014
Hate to c that happen to anyone’s knee!! condit-I feel ur pain. #ufc171
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) March 16, 2014
Dam what a shit ending to what was looking like a good fight hope Condit knee is not fucked! #UFC171
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) March 16, 2014
Good work on replay of Condit knee twist/finishing kick. Woodley did what he had to do. Both had great moments. Fun fight! #UFC171
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 16, 2014
MYLES JURY GETS PAST DIEGO SANCHEZ
Man, Jury looked nasty tonight. #UFC171
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 16, 2014
Diego all heart as always but jury stayed tight and won all 3 rds 30-27 #ufc171
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014
Diego is a lunatic… I love it. #ufc171
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) March 16, 2014
Jury is for real guys 👏@ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) March 16, 2014
Congrats @FuryJury on a great win technical all around @tonypalafox1 @AllianceMMA coaches @georgecastromma @amel619 @EricDelFierro
— Danny Martinez (@dannymma125) March 16, 2014
I’m friends w/ both Diego & Myles. Honestly no won that fight. Jury is more talented but Diego was the only 1 who tried to finish! #UFC171
— Frankie Lester (@thefranklester) March 16, 2014
Very technical and smoove performance from @FuryJury who really outsmarted yet another competitor in the @ufc #UFC171
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 16, 2014
HECTOR LOMBARD EMERGES AS A CONTENDER
Great fight @HectorLombard is doing a great job!!!
— Pedro Rizzo (@pedrorizzo1) March 16, 2014
Wow @HectorLombard looking like an absolute beast tonight. Incredible to see such domination against a top 10 guy.
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) March 16, 2014
Can never count out a submission artist… That guillotine looked tight but was too little too late. #UFC171
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) March 16, 2014
Hector just looks like a scary ass dude #ufc171
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) March 16, 2014
#UFC171 Shields is paying for poor shots
— Matt Lindland (@mattlindland) March 16, 2014
Wow wicked trip/leg sweep by Lombard #ufc171
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014
Lombard’s judo is so damn pretty! #UFC171
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) March 16, 2014
Hector looks like the juggernaut #UFC171
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 16, 2014
OSP CHANNELS JASON VON FLUE
Nikita didn’t know when to let go ! #UFC171
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 16, 2014
That’s why I don’t bet on fights! #ThatDidntLastVeryLong
— Matthew (@mattmitrione) March 16, 2014
I knew he was out before the ref stopped it. Slick choke. #UFC171
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) March 16, 2014
OSP gets the Von Flue choke!! Rd 1 win! #ufc171
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014
Can’t forget OSP very nice!
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 16, 2014
The Von Flue choke makes another appearance. Nice. #UFC171
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) March 16, 2014
#UFC171 that’s one of those things, you should never get caught in. Usually happens when the guy on bottom is being stubborn.
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) March 16, 2014
#VonFlue choke is the perfect move to counter guys who hold a guillotine with no position for no reason. #ufc171
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 16, 2014
I love me a good Von Flue choke!!!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) March 16, 2014
Nice explanation @joerogan , but let’s be honest here. I’ll give u $100 if the so called Von flue choke works on any decent BJJ purple belt.
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) March 16, 2014