Robbie Lawler vs. Johny Hendricks Rubber Match in the Works; Date and Venue TBA


(Our minds haven’t fully processed this yet. / Photo via Getty)

Coming off a their title fight rematch at UFC 181 — which was nearly as exciting and definitely more controversial than the first — new UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and ex-champ Johny Hendricks will fight for the belt a third time, at an event to be named later.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the booking-in-progress yesterday. “We just feel like the trilogy makes sense,” White said. “Do the third fight between these two.”

Hendricks and Lawler have already battled through ten closely-pitched rounds, with Hendricks winning their first meeting (and the vacant UFC welterweight title) at UFC 171 by unanimous decision. Hendricks then took some time off to rehab a torn bicep, while Lawler stayed busy by TKO’ing Jake Ellenberger in May and out-pointing Matt Brown in July. When Hendricks and Lawler met again last month, Lawler convinced two of the judges to let him hold the belt for a while.

For the sake of closure (we hope?), Lawler vs. Hendricks III is the right move — somebody’s gotta get knocked out eventually, right? — and Rory MacDonald will have to wait a little longer for his shot. We’ll let you know when this fight gets tied to a specific event.


(Our minds haven’t fully processed this yet. / Photo via Getty)

Coming off a their title fight rematch at UFC 181 — which was nearly as exciting and definitely more controversial than the first — new UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and ex-champ Johny Hendricks will fight for the belt a third time, at an event to be named later.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the booking-in-progress yesterday. “We just feel like the trilogy makes sense,” White said. “Do the third fight between these two.”

Hendricks and Lawler have already battled through ten closely-pitched rounds, with Hendricks winning their first meeting (and the vacant UFC welterweight title) at UFC 171 by unanimous decision. Hendricks then took some time off to rehab a torn bicep, while Lawler stayed busy by TKO’ing Jake Ellenberger in May and out-pointing Matt Brown in July. When Hendricks and Lawler met again last month, Lawler convinced two of the judges to let him hold the belt for a while.

For the sake of closure, Lawler vs. Hendricks III is the right move — somebody’s gotta get knocked out eventually, right? — and Rory MacDonald will have to wait a little longer for his shot. We’ll let you know when this fight gets tied to a specific event.