Dana White confirms Robbie Lawler-Johny Hendricks trilogy fight
View attachment 147
LAS VEGAS - A deciding trilogy fight is on tap between UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and former champion Johny Hendricks.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news Thursday with reporters at the MGM Grand.
"We just feel like the trilogy makes sense," White said. "Do the third fight between these two."
Montreal's Rory MacDonald had been initially promised the next shot at the welterweight title, but between the razor-thin margin in the two Lawler-Hendricks fights and the fact Lawler and MacDonald have already fought, White feels the trilogy fight was the best way to go at this time.
"Robbie and Rory just fought," White said of a UFC 167 won by Lawler via split decision.
Lawler and Hendricks fought twice in 2014. Hendricks' unanimous decision victory over Lawler to win the the vacant title at UFC 171 was the MMAFighting.com Fight of the Year. Lawler won the UFC 181 rematch and the championship. via split decision.
While a date has yet to be announced, the UFC noted a change of venues on the early 2015 schedule. The company had booked Montreal's Bell Centre on March 14 for UFC 185. The building will instead host UFC 186 on April 25; Dallas will be the site for UFC 185.
View attachment 147
LAS VEGAS - A deciding trilogy fight is on tap between UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and former champion Johny Hendricks.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news Thursday with reporters at the MGM Grand.
"We just feel like the trilogy makes sense," White said. "Do the third fight between these two."
Montreal's Rory MacDonald had been initially promised the next shot at the welterweight title, but between the razor-thin margin in the two Lawler-Hendricks fights and the fact Lawler and MacDonald have already fought, White feels the trilogy fight was the best way to go at this time.
"Robbie and Rory just fought," White said of a UFC 167 won by Lawler via split decision.
Lawler and Hendricks fought twice in 2014. Hendricks' unanimous decision victory over Lawler to win the the vacant title at UFC 171 was the MMAFighting.com Fight of the Year. Lawler won the UFC 181 rematch and the championship. via split decision.
While a date has yet to be announced, the UFC noted a change of venues on the early 2015 schedule. The company had booked Montreal's Bell Centre on March 14 for UFC 185. The building will instead host UFC 186 on April 25; Dallas will be the site for UFC 185.