This is the UFC 173 live blog for Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Ellenberger, a welterweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Lawler, who has won three of his past four fights, will face Ellenberger, who has won three of his past five fights, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 173 live blog below.
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Round 1: The referee in charge of the action is Herb Dean. Lawler is southpaw while Ellenberger is orthodox. Head kick from Lawler, but it’s blocked, twice. And now a good middle kick from Lawler. Ellenberger has yet to throw much of anything. Uppercut, left straight combo for Lawler. Right hand thrown, but misses for Ellenberger. Ellenberger is throwing, but from way outside and hitting nothing. Good body shot, but Lawler whips around a right hook. Good body shot from Ellenberger and a left hook. Lawler throws a blocked head kick to close the round.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Lawler
Round 2: Good straight left from Lawler and he’s pursuing. Hard. Ellenberger attempts a shot, but can’t get it and eats a knee. Ellenberger gets in on Lawler and now behind him, but they’re both standing. Lawler breaks, but eats a body shot. Ellenberger eats a hard left. And another. Lawler gets taken down, but reverses and is now pounding on a turtled Ellenberger. Ellenberger tries to stand and face Lawler and does, but not without eating hard shots. Another takedown from Ellenberger.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Lawler
Round 3: Two right hands for Ellenberger hurt Lawler, visibly. Lawler connects with a knee in the clinch and now they separate. Good jab from Lawler. Another good jab from Lawler. Good body kick from Ellenberger, but Lawler still stalking. Another jab for Lawler and then two left straights. Hard jab again. Monster knee from Lawler drops Ellenberger to the canvas and a few follow-up punches forces the referee stoppage.
Robbie Lawler def. Jake Ellenberger via TKO at 3:06 of round 3