LAS VEGAS, January 3 (Agencies): All the predictions that the welterweight title fight Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden between Robbie Lawler and challenger Carlos Condit would be outstanding were wrong.
It was way better than that.
Lawler and Condit put on a bout for the ages in the main event of UFC 195, with Lawler eking out a split decision victory by the narrowest of margins.
The final round was something out of a movie script. Both men attacked and threw everything they had into it, even though both were exhausted after a frenetic first four rounds.
The crowd was roaring and they never slowed. Judges Chris Lee and Derek Cleary each had it 48-47, or three rounds to two, for Lawler. Tony Weeks scored it 48-47 for Condit, as did Yahoo Sports.
When the final bell rang, Lawler and Condit raised each other’s arms as they paraded around the ring to a deafening roar of approval from the crowd.
“Carlos is a hell of a fighter and he comes from one of the best camps in the world,” Lawler said. “He came with a game plan and we battled it out. There were two winners tonight.”
And then, Lawler drew a deep breath and said the words the crowd desperately wanted to hear:
“Let’s do it again!” he exclaimed as the crowd erupted again.
Condit, who came out kicking a great deal early and seemed to throw Lawler off his plans, was classy, as usual, in defeat.
He had put everything he had into a fight that may go down as the year’s best, even though it was only the year’s second day. He had a legitimate argument that he had finally won the big one, but he showed his class by accepting the verdict.
“I felt I had three rounds in the bank,” he admitted. “But that happens.”
Lawler was correct in that neither man lost, as Condit’s stock had to go up even in defeat.
Lee and Cleary gave Lawler the second, third and fifth rounds, while Weeks gave Lawler Rounds 2 and 5.
It was a closely contested battle that could have gone either way and could have depended in part on where the judge was seated.
Condit rocked Lawler several times, particularly in the first half of the fight, and seemed to be the one doing more damage even though Lawler has the reputation as the heavier puncher.
Lawler landed some massive shots in the fifth as they stood toe-to-toe and traded for the final minute or so of the bout.
“Neurologically, no [I wasn’t hurt], but I’m lumped up,” Condit said.
Lawler had to be wondering how Condit managed to withstand that storm. He was hitting him clearly with powerful shots and Condit simply kept coming for more.
His will to win was impressive and nearly pulled the bout out for him. He clearly earned Lawler’s never-ending respect.
“Man, Carlos is so tough,” Lawler said. “Every time I see him fight, he proves everyone wrong and shows how tough he is. The fight was everything everyone said it would be. He’s tough as hell, technical as hell and he’s in shape.”
So, too, was Lawler, who followed his incredibly exciting win over Rory MacDonald that ranks among the UFC’s greatest bouts ever with another terrific bout.
If he hasn’t become a can’t miss fighter, he has to be now. Particularly if UFC president Dana White bows to the crowd’s wishes and does an immediate rematch.
The only thing bad about the main event Saturday is that it wasn’t 15 rounds.
It was that good.
