Few highly anticipated bouts live up to the hype, but the first Johny Hendricks-Robbie Lawler bout that took place in March was everything it was made out to be.
On Saturday, the two men will again battle for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 181 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
If fans are lucky, we’ll get to see another spirited battle between these two elite fighters at 170 pounds. Hendricks eked out a win last time with a late takedown, but who has the edge this time?
Why Hendricks Might Win
Chances are, Hendricks won’t want to stand toe-to-toe with Lawler again. He survived the firefight last time, but trying it again might get him burned. His biggest advantage is in wrestling. That’s how he secured the win, and that could be the direction in which he goes early on in this fight.
Taking Lawler off his feet is the best approach for any opponent—even one with powerful punches like Hendricks.
Why Lawler Might Win
Sometimes, a guy loses a tough fight, but he emerges looking like the stronger fighter. That almost seemed to be the case for Lawler after the first bout with Hendricks.
That fight was a slugfest in which the win set unwritten rules in a stand-up affair. Lawler appeared to win that part of the battle. Hendricks tapped into his grappling background to save his title.
The question remains: Did Lawler break the champion’s spirit? We haven’t seen Hendricks in the Octagon since the first fight with Lawler.
Where is he mentally and physically after recovering from surgery to repair a torn bicep? All of those uncertainties could give Lawler the edge. He hasn’t stopped fighting since he narrowly lost to Hendricks.
Lawler has taken down Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown to set himself up for another shot. This will be his fourth fight in a little less than nine months. The rhythm, timing and momentum could be on his side.
Prediction
Few fighters have improved as much as Lawler since we first saw him back in 2002. His will, striking prowess and takedown defense will push him past Hendricks in the rematch. The more rested fighter will have less in the tank late, and Lawler will become the new champion via unanimous decision.
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