Tag: Robbie Lawler

Johny Hendricks: Added Weight Won’t Help Georges St-Pierre in Rematch

Rumor has it that former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has spent some of his time away from the cage adding some extra muscle.
St-Pierre first got the rumor-mill going when he posted this photo, captioned “Working on putting on some muscl…

Rumor has it that former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has spent some of his time away from the cage adding some extra muscle.

St-Pierre first got the rumor-mill going when he posted this photo, captioned “Working on putting on some muscle mass,” onto his Instagram profile:

MMAfighting’s Ariel Helwani later confirmed on Twitter. 

It turns out that current UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks doesn’t care—there’s no way he sees himself losing to St-Pierre, 200 pounds or not, for a second time. 

He told MMA Fight Corner (via MMAFighting): 

“I’ve heard GSP’s been watching my fights. Re-watching stuff because he’s going to have to put himself in more danger to hurt me, to mess up my game. That puts him in trouble. He’s been able to get away with so much because he’s been able to out-wrestle people. He can’t out-wrestle me. He can’t out-strength me. No matter how much weight he puts on. I think he’s at 201 pounds right now. They said he’s beefing up because he felt weak against me. He’s going to feel weak, even if he’s at 201.” 

It’s difficult to imagine St-Pierre any bigger than he was when he first fought Hendricks. Already known as one of the bigger, more muscular fighters at 170-pounds, it may not be ideal for St-Pierre to add all that weight and still be athletic enough to perform at welterweight.

No worries, though—there’s another division that could suit St-Pierre and his newfound muscle mass just fine. 

St-Pierre always cited the need to increase muscle mass as one of the major reasons a superfight between he and Anderson Silva never came to fruition. He was in the midst of one of the most dominant championship runs the UFC has ever seen and simply didn’t have the time to walk away and train for a move up in weight class. 

Walking away from the sport and tearing his ACL might just be what St-Pierre needed to finally make the move to middleweight.

Sure, St-Pierre would be giving up quite a bit of height in moving up to middleweight, but the Firas Zahabi-trained fighter shouldn’t have too much trouble coping with height, so long as he retains most of his speed and tactical prowess.

A move up in division probably wouldn’t sit well with Hendricks, considering he still hasn’t technically defeated the Canadian superstar. But, while Hendricks is cognitive of the fact he didn’t see his hand raised in his bout with St-Pierre back at UFC 167 in November, he feels that the way he fought against St-Pierre warranted a new champion.

“There’s a sense of me that I sort of felt like Robbie Lawler was my title defense because of the Georges St-Pierre fight,” Hendricks said of his victory over Lawler for the vacant UFC welterweight title. “That’s the way I’m looking at it. It’s not technically my title defense but I’ve got the same mindset.”

In reality, it’s probably in Hendricks’ best interest to simply move on from that St-Pierre fight—he’s got a torn bicep and a flock of new challengers to worry about.

Lawler and Matt Brown are scheduled to face off on July 26 to determine the No. 1 contender upon Hendricks’ return. Rory MacDonald just proved to the world that he doesn’t always have to sit back and coast in his victory against Tyron Woodley. Even Woodley, who woefully underperformed in his last bout, is taking no time off to redeem himself in his next fight against Dong Hyun Kim—a welterweight currently riding a four-fight winning streak with back-to-back TKO finishes. 

The overflowing crop of challengers hasn’t stopped Hendricks from thinking about certain fighters more than others, though. 

Hendricks is currently on the mend from a torn bicep he suffered before his title fight with Lawler. He won the title, but not at full strength —part of him wonders what could have been had he been closer to 100 percent at UFC 171.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ll throw with whoever’s the No. 1 contender. I’ll fight them. I’m not going to run away from that, but there’s a part of me that wants to see how I can do against Robbie Lawler, healthy. Then again, there’s part of me that wants to sort of train for Matt Brown or Rory MacDonald or whoever else is out there.”

 

Kristian Ibarra is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. He also serves as the sports editor at San Diego State University’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Aztec. Follow him on Twitter at @Kristian_Ibarra for all things MMA. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

CagePotato Presents: The 10 Best UFC Brawls of the Year (So Far)


(This photo and all photos after it via Getty)

By Jared Jones

It’s the halfway-ish point of the year, which means that we are a mere six or so months away from handing out our annual Potato Awards in categories such as “MMA Fail of the Year”, “Media Shill of the Year”, and the always coveted “Krazy Horse Bennett Arrest of the Year.” But because you Taters have been good this year, we’re going to allow you to open one present early: Our definitive ranking of the best UFC brawls of the year, so far.

It’s been a rocky year for the UFC, to say the absolute least. Pay-per-view numbers are tanking, fan interest is waning due to market oversaturation, and even the promotion’s new video game has been plagued by (albeit hilarious) technical issues. But the great thing about the UFC/MMA in general is that all can be forgiven with a few great fights, and these 10 brawls are undoubtedly the kernels of corn hidden amongst the soggy floor-turds that the UFC has been shitting out this year.

To repeat: This list is only dedicated to the best *brawls* of the year, which implies a fight in which both participants take their fare share of licks. TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao was a one-sided beatdown, albeit a brilliant one-sided beatdown, and therefore bears no mention here. Except that I just mentioned it. God damn it.

Let’s just get to the top 10 brawls of the year, nearly all of which contain links to full fight videos for your viewing pleasure…

#10 — Kevin Souza vs Mark Eddiva: TUF Brazil 3 Finale

(Check out Souza vs. Eddiva in its entirety here.)

A classic example of two guys with more heart than brains (or defensive capabilities) leaving it all in the octagon, Kevin Souza vs. Mark Eddiva opened up the FS1 prelims for the TUF Brazil Finale in a huge way.

Watching Souza vs. Eddiva was kind of like watching two women play Tekken for the very first time, in that both fighters only seemed to understand how one button on their controllers worked — for Eddiva it was leg kicks, for Souza it was the overhand right. These two techniques were traded with absolutely zero setup for two highly entertaining rounds, earning both men a $50,000 “Fight of the Night’ bonus in an evening of otherwise unmemorable decisions and memorable-for-all-the-wrong-ways squash matches. It was Souza, however, who walked away from the fight victorious via an always rare standing TKO.


(This photo and all photos after it via Getty)

By Jared Jones

It’s the halfway-ish point of the year, which means that we are a mere six or so months away from handing out our annual Potato Awards in categories such as “MMA Fail of the Year”, “Media Shill of the Year”, and the always coveted “Krazy Horse Bennett Arrest of the Year.” But because you Taters have been good this year, we’re going to allow you to open one present early: Our definitive ranking of the best UFC brawls of the year, so far.

It’s been a rocky year for the UFC, to say the absolute least. Pay-per-view numbers are tanking, fan interest is waning due to market oversaturation, and even the promotion’s new video game has been plagued by (albeit hilarious) technical issues. But the great thing about the UFC/MMA in general is that all can be forgiven with a few great fights, and these 10 brawls are undoubtedly the kernels of corn hidden amongst the soggy floor-turds that the UFC has been shitting out this year.

To repeat: This list is only dedicated to the best *brawls* of the year, which implies a fight in which both participants take their fare share of licks. TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao was a one-sided beatdown, albeit a brilliant one-sided beatdown, and therefore bears no mention here. Except that I just mentioned it. God damn it.

Let’s just get to the top 10 brawls of the year, nearly all of which contain links to full fight videos for your viewing pleasure…

#10 – Kevin Souza vs Mark Eddiva: TUF Brazil 3 Finale

(Check out Souza vs. Eddiva in its entirety here.)

A classic example of two guys with more heart than brains (or defensive capabilities) leaving it all in the octagon, Kevin Souza vs. Mark Eddiva opened up the FS1 prelims for the TUF Brazil Finale in a huge way.

Watching Souza vs. Eddiva was kind of like watching two women play Tekken for the very first time, in that both fighters only seemed to understand how one button on their controllers worked — for Eddiva it was leg kicks, for Souza it was the overhand right. These two techniques were traded with absolutely zero setup for two highly entertaining rounds, earning both men a $50,000 “Fight of the Night’ bonus in an evening of otherwise unmemorable decisions and memorable-for-all-the-wrong-ways squash matches. It was Souza, however, who walked away from the fight victorious via an always rare standing TKO.

#9 — Yui Chul Nam vs. Kazuki Tokudome: Fight Night 37

The utter ass-whooping that Kazuki Tokudome suffered in the first round of his fight with Yui Chul Nam at Fight Night 37 was comparable only to Maynard-Edgar 1 in terms of its lopsidedness. From the opening bell, Nam blitzkrieged Tokudome with big right hands both in the clinch and on the break, wobbling his Japanese counterpart multiple times in the process. Had Tokudome been that one French guy from TUF 11, he would have surely quit on his stool between rounds.

But as was the case in Maynard-Edgar 1, the second round told a different story entirely. Tokudome scored a huge double leg takedown in the opening stanza, then utilized some heavy top control to peck away at the South Korean with short shots from above. While not able to inflict nearly as much damage on his opponent as he received in the first round, Tokudome arguably earned a 10-8 of his own in the second thanks to his complete positional dominance. “Askrening”, I believe it’s called.

The first half of the third round was much of the same for Tokudome, who despite having both his eyes nearly swollen shut by the strikes of Nam, continued to dominate with top control. But you can never keep a good Nam down, as they say. “The Korean Bulldozer” (awesome nickname, BTW) was eventually able to reverse the position and secure a takedown of his own, which was apparently all he needed to earn a split decision win.

Matt Brown vs. Robbie Lawler: An Early Head-to-Toe Breakdown

In just over a month, Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler will face off with a shot at the welterweight title on the line. Both of these guys are outstanding fighters, and each has had a significant career resurgence in the past two years.
Lawler came over fr…

In just over a month, Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler will face off with a shot at the welterweight title on the line. Both of these guys are outstanding fighters, and each has had a significant career resurgence in the past two years.

Lawler came over from Strikeforce and dropped to the welterweight division. He fought for the title, and although he lost, he has quickly risen to No. 1 in the division. 

In 2011, Matt Brown’s UFC career was in trouble. He lost four out of five, all by submission and all around the middle of the fight.

Then, Brown decided to just start knocking everyone out, and he has now won seven fights in a row, including six by (T)KO.

These two are going to put on a show come July 26, so let’s take a look at who has the edge.

Begin Slideshow

Robbie Lawler Opens as a -260 Favorite Against Matt Brown for UFC on FOX 12 Headliner


(That’s how you’re gonna beat ’em, Butch. They keep underestimating you. / Photo via Getty)

Once again, welterweight contender Matt Brown is heading into battle as an underdog. According to BestFightOdds, the betting line for the July 26th UFC on FOX 12 main event between Brown and Robbie Lawler opened with Lawler as a strong -260 favorite and Brown as a +180 ‘dog. “The Immortal” is currently on a seven-fight win streak, and was the betting underdog in four of those fights, including his last match against Erick Silva, God knows why.

Of course, Lawler represents the toughest test of Brown’s career by far, and it’s not surprising that the oddsmakers are favoring him here. On the other hand, Brown keeps knocking people off in brilliant performances, showing no regard for these silly, arbitrary betting lines with their pluses and minuses that half of you still don’t understand. Anybody feel like dropping some cash on him?


(That’s how you’re gonna beat ‘em, Butch. They keep underestimating you. / Photo via Getty)

Once again, welterweight contender Matt Brown is heading into battle as an underdog. According to BestFightOdds, the betting line for the July 26th UFC on FOX 12 main event between Brown and Robbie Lawler opened with Lawler as a strong -260 favorite and Brown as a +180 ‘dog. “The Immortal” is currently on a seven-fight win streak, and was the betting underdog in four of those fights, including his last match against Erick Silva, God knows why.

Of course, Lawler represents the toughest test of Brown’s career by far, and it’s not surprising that the oddsmakers are favoring him here. On the other hand, Brown keeps knocking people off in brilliant performances, showing no regard for these silly, arbitrary betting lines with their pluses and minuses that half of you still don’t understand. Anybody feel like dropping some cash on him?

Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown: July 26th Can’t Get Here Soon Enough

Even if it ends up being a temporary sabbatical, Georges St-Pierre’s decision to walk away from the UFC was the best thing to ever happen to the welterweight division.
St-Pierre was a dominant champion. So dominant, in fact, that watching him def…

Even if it ends up being a temporary sabbatical, Georges St-Pierre’s decision to walk away from the UFC was the best thing to ever happen to the welterweight division.

St-Pierre was a dominant champion. So dominant, in fact, that watching him defend his championship felt like an exercise in repetitive futility. There was a time, back before Matt Serra came along, when St-Pierre took risks. But Serra changed everything for St-Pierre on April 7, 2007. St-Pierre never again wanted to experience the feeling of losing, so he changed his style. His wrestling skill gave him the ability to nullify the offense of nearly every opponent he faced. It gave him an edge, and he embraced it; after the loss to Serra, St-Pierre only finished three opponents. He went to the decision nine times.

St-Pierre wanted to win at all costs, and he didn’t care if the fans enjoyed watching the process. He was dominant for so long that the welterweight division began to feel hopeless. Challengers made their way up the ranks, only to be sent tumbling back down the ladder by St-Pierre’s wrestling.

But then Johny Hendricks came along and gave St-Pierre all he could handle. The judges awarded St-Pierre a split decision at UFC 167, but the majority of those who saw the fight believed Hendricks won. Media outlets unanimously gave the fight to Hendricks. And then St-Pierre walked away, leaving the division without a champion.

But his departure also gave the division an air of mystery for the first time in years.

Hendricks is now the champion, having claimed the belt in March with a win over Robbie Lawler. There is no shortage of contenders for his championship. Rory MacDonald and Tyron Woodley meet in June, with the winner inching ever closer to the top of the heap. Hector Lombard and Dong Hyun Kim, winner of four in a row, will square off in July. Carlos Condit, sidelined with an injury, is surely plotting his way into a rematch with Hendricks.

And then there is Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown, who will face off in the main event of UFC on Fox 12 on July 26. UFC President Dana White made the announcement via Twitter on Tuesday.

White also confirmed that the winner will receive the next shot at the title.

My initial reaction to the announcement was one of surprise. Lawler is fresh off a shellacking of Jake Ellenberger last weekend; Brown competed just over two weeks ago. That gives both fighters less than two months of turnaround time, which doesn’t seem like a lot of time for a professional fighter to get ready for a bout that could vault him into a title fight.

The surprise quickly faded, however, and was replaced by one thought: Man, this fight is going to be awesome.

Lawler and Brown are tough fighters. They are durable. They hit hard. Most importantly, they both have a penchant for being involved in exciting fights. Brown and Lawler are finishers; Brown has finished six of his last seven fights, and Lawler has finished three of five fights since returning to the UFC from Strikeforce.

Yes, it will be exciting, and it will likely be violent. But it’s also an important fight for both men. Lawler will be attempting to get the Hendricks rematch after coming so very close to defeating him the last time around. Brown wants to complete one of the UFC’s more interesting Cinderella stories in many years; his rise from the brink of losing his job all the way to the top of the welterweight division just begs for a storybook ending.

It’s a fight with big implications, and it has the potential to be absolutely thrilling from beginning to end. It is also a perfect example of where the welterweight division stands without St-Pierre in 2014: a new champion with new challengers. Veteran competitors are getting a second chance at glory. The title picture no longer feels like a foregone conclusion, and fans can look forward to great fights that are not heavily dependent on wrestling.

July 26 can’t get here soon enough.

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Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown #1 Contender Fight Booked for UFC on FOX 12 in July [F*CK YES]


(First Condom Depot and now Ultra Lube. This sport is turning into one big game of grab-ass, I tell ya. Photo via Getty.)

Fresh off third round TKO’s of Erick Silva and Jake Ellenberger at Fight Night 40 and UFC 173, respectively, Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler are set to do battle in what will surely go down as “The greatest brawl since Frye vs. Takayama” at UFC on FOX 12 on July 26th. The announcement was made by Dana White via Twitter earlier today, who also confirmed that the winner of Brown vs. Lawler will earn the next shot at Johny Hendricks when he returns from bicep surgery.

Suffice it to say, any MMA fan whose isn’t verging on a Scanners-esque mindsplosion trying to comprehend the awesomeness of this fight is either dead or dying. Lawler and Brown are essentially mirror images of each other — uber-violent, no-nonsense brawlers who have experienced improbable career comebacks in recent years — and their upcoming clash is all but guaranteed to deliver a “Fight of the Year” nominee and a clear cut #1 contender at 170 lbs.

Is it just me, or does the booking of Lawler vs. Brown signify the culmination of what has been an amazing couple of months for MMA?


(First Condom Depot and now Ultra Lube. This sport is turning into one big game of grab-ass, I tell ya. Photo via Getty.)

Fresh off third round TKO’s of Erick Silva and Jake Ellenberger at Fight Night 40 and UFC 173, respectively, Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler are set to do battle in what will surely go down as “The greatest brawl since Frye vs. Takayama” at UFC on FOX 12 on July 26th. The announcement was made by Dana White via Twitter earlier today, who also confirmed that the winner of Brown vs. Lawler will earn the next shot at Johny Hendricks when he returns from bicep surgery.

Suffice it to say, any MMA fan whose isn’t verging on a Scanners-esque mindsplosion trying to comprehend the awesomeness of this fight is either dead or dying. Lawler and Brown are essentially mirror images of each other — uber-violent, no-nonsense brawlers who have experienced improbable career comebacks in recent years — and their upcoming clash is all but guaranteed to deliver a “Fight of the Year” nominee and a clear cut #1 contender at 170 lbs.

Is it just me, or does the booking of Lawler vs. Brown signify the culmination of what has been an amazing couple of months for MMA? The past few UFC events have all delivered in terms of excitement, Bellator 120 was great in its own strange way, and despite being booked less than an hour ago, Brown vs. Lawler has already has already resulted in the NASDAQ going up 45 points, SKOAL’s lifetime sales tripling, and the subject of the Third Eye Blind song “Jumper” finally deciding to step back from that ledge, my friend.

MMA comes in ebbs and flows, Nation, and right now, we are in a flow. Or an ebb, maybe. I never really understood that expression. Regardless, let’s all just hold hands and pray that the injury Gods don’t f*ck this one up for us. Kumbaya, my lord, Kumbaya…

–J. Jones