According to MMAjunkie.com, UFC 173 just bolstered its lineup, as recent welterweight title challenger Robbie Lawler steps in for an injured Tarec Saffiedine to face Jake Ellenberger at the event.
Saffiedine was originally scheduled to face Ellen…
According to MMAjunkie.com, UFC 173 just bolstered its lineup, as recent welterweight title challenger Robbie Lawler steps in for an injured TarecSaffiedine to face Jake Ellenberger at the event.
Saffiedine was originally scheduled to face Ellenberger at UFC 172 on April 26 in Baltimore, but the Belgian striker suffered a setback in training, and he had to drop off the card.
Seeking a quick replacement, the UFC brass turned to Lawler, and the fight was arranged for May 24’s UFC 173 card.
While Lawler stepping back into the UFC Octagon on short notice is not a bad thing by any means—the dude brings it every time he sets foot inside the cage—UFC 173 has been plagued by injuries and last-minute overhauls.
The event was originally scheduled to feature middleweight champion Chris Weidman against VitorBelfort, but Belfort was replaced by LyotoMachida after the Nevada State Athletic Commission moved to ban TRT from combat sports.
Then, Weidman elected to have surgery on a nagging injury to his knees, forcing him to push back his encounter with “The Dragon” until July 5’s UFC 175 card.
Needing a strong main event to fill the void, the UFC booked a bantamweight showdown between champion RenanBarao and Team Alpha Male’s T.J. Dillashaw.
Now, the card gains another solid offering with Lawler vs. Ellenberger. Ranked No. 1 and No. 5 in the division, respectively, Lawler and Ellenberger represent the 170-pound’s elite ranks, and the winner will take a solid stride toward title contention.
Lawler‘s latest bid at the title ended in defeat, as he dropped a unanimous decision to Johny Hendricks at UFC 171 on March 15. Still, the fight was ultra competitive, and Lawler significantly boosted his stock with a solid, gutsy showing in the night’s main event.
Ellenberger, on the other hand, has not fought since July 2013 at UFC on Fox 8, where he lost a unanimous decision to Rory MacDonald in a relatively lackluster affair.
Ellenberger suffered at the more technical hands of his foe in that fight, and he was never able to work his game plan and impose his will inside the cage.
Now, “The Juggernaut” looks to get back on track and work his way into title talks once more as he faces the hard-hitting, relentless Lawler at UFC 173.
With this addition, the UFC 173 fight card now includes:
Despite many setbacks and last-second arrangements, the card filled out nicely, and fight fans look to be in for another night of exciting, action-packed bouts.
According to MMAjunkie.com, UFC 173 just bolstered its lineup, as recent welterweight title challenger Robbie Lawler steps in for an injured Tarec Saffiedine to face Jake Ellenberger at the event.
Saffiedine was originally scheduled to face Ellen…
According to MMAjunkie.com, UFC 173 just bolstered its lineup, as recent welterweight title challenger Robbie Lawler steps in for an injured TarecSaffiedine to face Jake Ellenberger at the event.
Saffiedine was originally scheduled to face Ellenberger at UFC 172 on April 26 in Baltimore, but the Belgian striker suffered a setback in training, and he had to drop off the card.
Seeking a quick replacement, the UFC brass turned to Lawler, and the fight was arranged for May 24’s UFC 173 card.
While Lawler stepping back into the UFC Octagon on short notice is not a bad thing by any means—the dude brings it every time he sets foot inside the cage—UFC 173 has been plagued by injuries and last-minute overhauls.
The event was originally scheduled to feature middleweight champion Chris Weidman against VitorBelfort, but Belfort was replaced by LyotoMachida after the Nevada State Athletic Commission moved to ban TRT from combat sports.
Then, Weidman elected to have surgery on a nagging injury to his knees, forcing him to push back his encounter with “The Dragon” until July 5’s UFC 175 card.
Needing a strong main event to fill the void, the UFC booked a bantamweight showdown between champion RenanBarao and Team Alpha Male’s T.J. Dillashaw.
Now, the card gains another solid offering with Lawler vs. Ellenberger. Ranked No. 1 and No. 5 in the division, respectively, Lawler and Ellenberger represent the 170-pound’s elite ranks, and the winner will take a solid stride toward title contention.
Lawler‘s latest bid at the title ended in defeat, as he dropped a unanimous decision to Johny Hendricks at UFC 171 on March 15. Still, the fight was ultra competitive, and Lawler significantly boosted his stock with a solid, gutsy showing in the night’s main event.
Ellenberger, on the other hand, has not fought since July 2013 at UFC on Fox 8, where he lost a unanimous decision to Rory MacDonald in a relatively lackluster affair.
Ellenberger suffered at the more technical hands of his foe in that fight, and he was never able to work his game plan and impose his will inside the cage.
Now, “The Juggernaut” looks to get back on track and work his way into title talks once more as he faces the hard-hitting, relentless Lawler at UFC 173.
With this addition, the UFC 173 fight card now includes:
Despite many setbacks and last-second arrangements, the card filled out nicely, and fight fans look to be in for another night of exciting, action-packed bouts.
UFC 171 was a big weekend for the welterweight division. The event featured many high-profile battles including the fight for the vacant UFC Welterweight Championship between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.
Lawler came up just short in the main even…
UFC 171 was a big weekend for the welterweight division. The event featured many high-profile battles including the fight for the vacant UFC Welterweight Championship between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.
Lawler came up just short in the main event to Hendricks.
The talking points were not just related to the fights. Nick Diaz surfaced during the weigh-ins to heckle the main event fighters, and he made it known he wants to return to action for a title fight.
A fight for the gold is unlikely. Diaz has been absent from the sport since dropping his last bid for the title against Georges St-Pierre. For over a year, he has been gone, and he is no longer ranked in the official UFC divisional rankings.
Regardless, the right move for the UFC is to pit Diaz and Lawler against one another in a title eliminator bout.
Hendricks, the newly minted champion, is out injured. He recently had surgery to repair his bicep, and he will be out of action for some time. That gives the UFC some leeway in making more welterweight bouts to determine the next contender.
Diaz spouted to Sportsnet‘s Joe Ferraro (via Mike Johnston) that everyone will make more money with him in the title picture, and that is hard to argue against. The Stockton native is a polarizing figure that has MMA fans buying pay-per-views to watch him win or to watch him get beat up.
He draws. He is interesting.
The same cannot be said for the slate of contenders that are currently lining up for title shots. Rory MacDonald, TyronWoodley, Hector Lombard and others are good fighters but have not generated interest from the fans. They have failed to promote themselves.
Lawler narrowly lost at UFC 171, and he is the No. 1-ranked welterweight in the division. He is one fight away from challenging for the strap once more. Diaz is the perfect foil.
The two first met at UFC 47 in 2004. Diaz stunned everyone with a knockout over the powerful Lawler in the second round.
Since that time, both men have grown as fighters and personalities. They found success outside of the Octagon and returned better than ever.
If Diaz wants another title shot, a fight against Lawler is his quickest path. He can knock off the top contender and put himself right back at the forefront of the division. Lawler will have the opportunity to avenge one of his early losses, restake his claim as the top contender and get his next title fight.
Stylistically, this is the type of fight that the UFC salivates over.
This is the perfect fight. Two aggressive, well-rounded fighters who ultimately enjoy exchanging blows while looking for a knockout. Lawler and Diaz are marketable, and the fight would generate a lot of interest.
In the new age of MMA, without GSP and other stars, the UFC is in dire need of fights that sell.
This one sells.
It is a fight that everyone would love to see, and that is why the UFC needs to sign the rematch with a title shot on the line.
This is the proper time to make the rematch. Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler II would be the must-see fight of 2014.
UFC 171 was a big weekend for the welterweight division. The event featured many high-profile battles including the fight for the vacant UFC Welterweight Championship between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.
Lawler came up just short in the main even…
UFC 171 was a big weekend for the welterweight division. The event featured many high-profile battles including the fight for the vacant UFC Welterweight Championship between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler.
Lawler came up just short in the main event to Hendricks.
The talking points were not just related to the fights. Nick Diaz surfaced during the weigh-ins to heckle the main event fighters, and he made it known he wants to return to action for a title fight.
A fight for the gold is unlikely. Diaz has been absent from the sport since dropping his last bid for the title against Georges St-Pierre. For over a year, he has been gone, and he is no longer ranked in the official UFC divisional rankings.
Regardless, the right move for the UFC is to pit Diaz and Lawler against one another in a title eliminator bout.
Hendricks, the newly minted champion, is out injured. He recently had surgery to repair his bicep, and he will be out of action for some time. That gives the UFC some leeway in making more welterweight bouts to determine the next contender.
Diaz spouted to Sportsnet‘s Joe Ferraro (via Mike Johnston) that everyone will make more money with him in the title picture, and that is hard to argue against. The Stockton native is a polarizing figure that has MMA fans buying pay-per-views to watch him win or to watch him get beat up.
He draws. He is interesting.
The same cannot be said for the slate of contenders that are currently lining up for title shots. Rory MacDonald, TyronWoodley, Hector Lombard and others are good fighters but have not generated interest from the fans. They have failed to promote themselves.
Lawler narrowly lost at UFC 171, and he is the No. 1-ranked welterweight in the division. He is one fight away from challenging for the strap once more. Diaz is the perfect foil.
The two first met at UFC 47 in 2004. Diaz stunned everyone with a knockout over the powerful Lawler in the second round.
Since that time, both men have grown as fighters and personalities. They found success outside of the Octagon and returned better than ever.
If Diaz wants another title shot, a fight against Lawler is his quickest path. He can knock off the top contender and put himself right back at the forefront of the division. Lawler will have the opportunity to avenge one of his early losses, restake his claim as the top contender and get his next title fight.
Stylistically, this is the type of fight that the UFC salivates over.
This is the perfect fight. Two aggressive, well-rounded fighters who ultimately enjoy exchanging blows while looking for a knockout. Lawler and Diaz are marketable, and the fight would generate a lot of interest.
In the new age of MMA, without GSP and other stars, the UFC is in dire need of fights that sell.
This one sells.
It is a fight that everyone would love to see, and that is why the UFC needs to sign the rematch with a title shot on the line.
This is the proper time to make the rematch. Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler II would be the must-see fight of 2014.
Johny Hendricks’ face told the story after his clash with Robbie Lawler at UFC 171. Bloody and bruised, Hendricks took punches from Lawler that would’ve dropped an ordinary man. Following the fight, Hendricks handed out some major props to Lawler&mdash…
Johny Hendricks’ face told the story after his clash with Robbie Lawler at UFC 171. Bloody and bruised, Hendricks took punches from Lawler that would’ve dropped an ordinary man. Following the fight, Hendricks handed out some major props to Lawler—and a slight to former champion Georges St-Pierre.
Speaking to UFC Tonight (h/t Bleacher Report MMA), the newly crowned UFC welterweight champ said that Lawler was a tougher fight than GSP. Hendricks cited Lawler‘s punching power as the biggest difference between the two competitors.
Lawler has always been known for his punching power and this GIF courtesy of Bloody Elbow shows that Hendricks found out firsthand just how hard “Ruthless” can punch.
GSP was considered not only the best welterweight while competing, but also the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. Hendricks saying Lawler was a tougher fight than one of the all-time greats is tough to comprehend at first, but it only takes one look at Hendricks’ face after the fight to know it’s true.
Hendricks didn’t face much adversity in terms of power shots from St-Pierre in their clash, as GSP used a technical game plan to out-point Hendricks on the scorecards.
That wasn’t the case with Hendricks-Lawler, as MMA Junkie indicates that the two men set a record for the most significant strikes landed in a UFC title match.
The fight came down to the fifth and final round for many fans, as it seemed both men had won two rounds apiece. Hendricks controlled the first two rounds and Lawler made a comeback in the third and fourth rounds.
It appeared as though Hendricks’ early leg kicks did their job, as Lawler‘s pace slowed in the final round. Hendricks was able to capitalize and scored an unanimous decision victory to take the vacant UFC welterweight strap.
(“I’m only making HOW MUCH for this?!” Photo via Getty.)
MMAManifesto released the complete list of disclosed salaries for UFC 171 earlier today, and the biggest takeaway seems to be that former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard continues to make six times more money to show with a 3-2 octagon record than current welterweight champion Johny Hendricks does with an 11-2 record. But hey, at least his decision win over Jake Shields last weekend was a goddamn barnburner, amiright?
Of course, being that the Texas Boxing and Wrestling Authority has decided against releasing the actual salary figures for UFC 171 (a choice typically left up to the discretion of the presiding athletic commission), the numbers you will see after the jump are more an estimate based on the fighters past earnings more than anything else. These figures are also likely to change when the TBWA informs us that a handful of these fighters were high as shit at UFC 171 three months from now.
Hector Lombard: $300,000 Johny Hendricks: $150,000 ($50,000 to show, $50,000 win bonus, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus) Robbie Lawler: $133,000 ($83,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus) Tyron Woodley: $104,000 ($52,000 to show, $52,000 win bonus)
(“I’m only making HOW MUCH for this?!” Photo via Getty.)
MMAManifesto released the complete list of disclosed salaries for UFC 171 earlier today, and the biggest takeaway seems to be that former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard continues to make six times more money to show with a 3-2 octagon record than current welterweight champion Johny Hendricks does with an 11-2 record. But hey, at least his decision win over Jake Shields last weekend was a goddamn barnburner, amiright?
Of course, being that the Texas Boxing and Wrestling Authority has decided against releasing the actual salary figures for UFC 171 (a choice typically left up to the discretion of the presiding athletic commission), the numbers you will see after the jump are more an estimate based on the fighters past earnings more than anything else. These figures are also likely to change when the TBWA informs us that a handful of these fighters were high as shit at UFC 171 three months from now.
Hector Lombard: $300,000 Johny Hendricks: $150,000 ($50,000 to show, $50,000 win bonus, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus) Robbie Lawler: $133,000 ($83,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus) Tyron Woodley: $104,000 ($52,000 to show, $52,000 win bonus) Ovince St. Preux: $96,000 ($23,000 to show, $23,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus) Dennis Bermudez: $78,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus) Jake Shields: $75,000 Diego Sanchez: $60,000 Carlos Condit: $55,000 Rick Story: $27,000 Frank Trevino: $17,600 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus, $1,600 from Forte for missing weight) Myles Jury: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Kelvin Gastelum: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Jessica Andrade: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Alex Garcia: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Justin Scoggins: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Sean Strickland: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Robert Whiteford: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 win bonus) Daniel Pineda: $15,000 Will Campuzano: $10,000 Nikita Krylov: $8,000 Raquel Pennington: $8,000 Jimy Hettes: $8,000 Sean Spencer: $8,000 Robert McDaniel: $8,000 Renee Forte: $6,400 ($8,000 to show, $1,600 to Trevino for missing weight)
Overpaid: Given the current pay-scale of today’s top MMA fighters, it would be hard to argue that Hector Lombard is *not* the most overpaid fighter in the UFC, and possibly all of MMA. He seems to have found his groove at welterweight, sure, and made a statement in his own right by coasting to victory over a former (Strikeforce) champion in Jake Shields last weekend. But for a guy who made $700,000 for his first underwhelming fight in the UFC and continues to make 300K per fight to date, Lombard has yet to truly put in three decent rounds of fighting. Consecutively, at least.
Underpaid: I could just take the easy route here and say “everyone below Diego Sanchez,” but I’m going to focus on one guy in particular: Dennis Bermudez. The former is currently riding a six-fight win streak over solid competition, and hasn’t dropped a fight since coming up short in the TUF 14 Finale, but he’s still making just a 14K/14K split? Then again, maybe that’s the point of these new “Performance Bonuses” — you pay each guy so little that they have no option but to fight like their life is on the line. Because it is. Touche, UFC. Touche.
Oh yeah, and Carlos Condit at $55,000 to show seems downright criminal considering how exciting and consistent a fighter he is (his past few losses aside), but we’d like to imagine that the former WEC champ is really making his bank in undisclosed, locker room bonuses and dose sweet HEADRUSH monies. We have to believe that to get out of bed each morning and continue writing about this crazy, crazy sport, really.
According to MMAjunkie.com, UFC 173 just bolstered its lineup, as recent welterweight title challenger Robbie Lawler steps in for an injured Tarec Saffiedine to face Jake Ellenberger at the event. 
