UFC President Dana White scored Saturday’s UFC 195 main event between Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit for the challenger, but had nothing but praise for the retaining champion after the event.
“He’s our Evander Holyfield. He’s never in a boring fight,” White said at the post-fight press conference (via FoxSports.com). “When he gets hurt he continues to go toe-to-toe. Robbie reminds me, he’s our Evander Holyfield and I respect so much when you’re in a fight like this and you have to come out in that fifth round and do what Robbie did and he did it. Great fight.”
Lawler edged the split decision after two judges gave him the third round. With all others clear for one or the other, that wound up being the swing-round in the champion’s favor. Given opinion on the bout the night of and in the days following the event, may hold its spot as the “Fight of the Year” for 2016, supporting White’s stance further as Lawler had the best fight of 2015 and one of the best fights in 2014 as well.
Penick’s Analysis: Lawler’s not had an easy route to this point, and his two title fight victories by split decision had strong cases to go the other way, but the entertainment level of his fights is undeniable right now. The inability for his opponents to put him away and his unrelenting ability to hurt people make for some epic bouts, because he’s been taking damage only to dole out significantly more in return. It’s always fun to watch, and it’s brought us some of the best moments of the last few years, as in the entirety of that fifth round on Saturday night. If he can keep that up, he’s must-see TV every time he’s out.
[Photo (c) Joe Camporeale via USA Today Sports]
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