UFC 181: Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler 2 — The Rundown

Fights fans throughout the world can rejoice this month because the UFC 181 PPV event in Vegas means   Christmas comes early thanks to a stacked night of fireworks. The main card is peppered with gifts of MMA action featuring a sizzling lightweight duel, followed by two pairs of heavyweights colliding just before two UFC titles are put on the line. With all of the action lined up from Sin City here is the main card rundown on what to expect this weekend from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks vs. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler II – 5 Round Welterweight Title Bout

The icing on this already delicious treat of a PPV is the rematch to end all rematches as Johnny Hendricks (16-2) defends his welterweight strap for the first time by taking on Robbie Lawler (24-10) in Part 2 of their unforgettable first encounter earlier this year in Texas. An instant classic for frantic fight fans famished for high octane strikes, deadly combinations and game changing punches from all angles. The killer pace set by both men in their 25 minute war at UFC 171 garnered them newfound recognition in and out of the Octagon. Sadly, there could only be one winner and that was the Texas Boy who scored a UD by nabbing the 5^th round thanks to his takedowns & controlling his foe in the final frame.

Since then, the dazzling duo of 170-pound daredevils has taken drastically different paths. Hendricks, the first UFC welterweight champ in 6 years not named Georges St. Pierre, hasn’t fought since that March match. On  the other hand, Robbie Lawler worked his way back to a second title bid stringing together back-to-back triumphs. First, a 3^rd round TKO stoppage of hard-nosed Jake Ellenberger in May followed by a unanimous verdict over the rugged Matt Brown in July. Recovering from a torn bicep was the reason for “Bigg Rigg’s” layoff so it will be reassuring to see him at 100% when he steps back in the cage. What’s not reassuring for the Texan is that in his absence, Lawler easily dispatched of two top guys while awaiting his retake with fate. Can Hendricks now validate that his own title reign can match or maybe even top the run that came before him or is Lawler ready to prove that he won’t let the title slip from his hands a second time?

Co-Main: Anthony “Showtime” Pettis vs. Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez – 5 Round Lightweight Title Bout

Title holder Anthony Pettis (17-2) hasn’t fought since he captured UFC gold in front of a raucous hometown Milwaukee crowd in 2013. That August night the Wisconsin native needed less than a round to submit then division kingpin, Benson Henderson, via armbar at UFC 163. Pettis was set to make his first title defense that December before a serious knee injury sidelined those plans. His opponent enters the Octagon following his own layoff seeing as how Gilbert Melendez (22-3) hasn’t gone to battle since his classic war opposite Diego Sanchez at UFC 166 last October. The match earned countless awards and notoriety amongst the MMA community both from press and fans alike thanks to its non-stop action featuring brutal stand up, slick submission attempts and a pace yet to be matched by any pair of fighters in any division. The Californian was slated to lock horns at UFC 170 this past February but an unknown reason scrapped his match from the card. It will be quite interesting to see if the layoffs affect either combatant when they headline from Las Vegas for this historic match pitting the last ever WEC versus the last ever Strikeforce lightweight champion.

Luckily, Anthony and Gilbert recently spent a couple of months competing opposite one another as head coaches for Season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter. So, their feet haven’t been completely misplaced away from the Octagon. Nonetheless, new challengers have stayed grounded awaiting the winner of this 155-pound title tilt inside a landscape that has changed drastically within the months that they were away. Which triumphant fighter fits right back in with this new world reconfiguring it to his demands, while the loser endlessly stares at an empty past that no longer exists?

Travis “Hapa” Browne vs. Brendan “Big Brown” Schaub – 3 Round Heavyweight Bout

Coming off of lackluster performances in each of their last bouts, Travis Browne (16-2-1) and Brendan Schaub (10-4) lobby to get back to their winning ways. Minor setbacks are always a part of the game but none could have come at a worse time for either man. Browne was knocking on the door of a title shot before being taken to school by now Interim Heavyweight Champion, Fabricio Werdum this past April. Two months later, betting favorite Brendan Schaub welcomed seasoned fighter Andrei Arlovsky back to the Octagon at UFC 174 only to be surprised by an upset decision from the former UFC title holder.  Schaub was on the wrong end of a split verdict as “The Pitbull” Arlovsky reminded him why you can’t ever count out veteran experience.

Secluded from the title hunt even if temporarily puts these men back in front of the drawing board. That drawing board has brought them against one another and incidentally, no moment in their career has been more pivotal than now to produce an impressive result come Saturday night. Nothing can help erase the memory of their horrid last outings quicker than a highlight reel finish or dominating showcase. As the old saying goes, “pressure busts pipes or makes diamonds”.  With a combined 22 finishes by either knockout or submission in their 26 victories, it’s time for one of these two supremely talented big men to shine like a diamond and close out 2014 in style.

Todd Duffee  vs. Anthony “Freight Train”  Hamilton – 3 Round Heavyweight Bout

Continuing the flow of what is poised to be an electric night is returning standout Todd Duffee (8-2), taking on Anthony Hamilton (13-3). With the recent crowning of an interim champion following the UFC 180 event in Mexico City, the heavyweight division is on alert because a second window of opportunity has opened up now that there are two roads leading to UFC gold. So, it’s without mention that this division’s roster will be hungrier than ever to climb the ladder in the UFC rankings and earn a spot opposite one of two champions as we await another defense or possible unification in 2015.

Answering the call for new openings in the Top 10 is heavy-handed Todd Duffee whose resume boasts 10 finishes to match his 10 outings. The AKA representative knows no other way to end a fight other than by KO, ironically enough even in defeat. The Indiana native owns the record for fastest KO in the UFC heavyweight division when he stopped Tim Hague via 7-second knockout in 2009. Duffee has quick, powerful hands and knows exactly how to use them. Nevertheless, Hamilton is ready to outgun the firepower of his foe as he enters the cage having won 7 of his last 8 bouts and packs four 1^st round finishes. Just as much as his opponent wants to leapfrog into the upper echelon of the weight class, “The Freight Train” can derail those plans with an impressive award winning performance of his own and has the tools to do so. When these two giants hit the screen don’t bother going to the fridge for a snack or even looking down at the remote because you might miss something spectacular.

Tony “El Cu Cuy” Ferguson vs. Abel “Killa” Trujillo  – 3 Round Lightweight Bout

Opening the main card for the final PPV of 2014 is hard-hitting Abel Trujillo (12-5) taking on Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter winner, Tony Ferguson (16-3).  Trujillo has only lost 1 out of his last 9 matches and his last two bouts have ended in 2^nd round knockouts. The North Carolina native most recently shocked the world as he upset former WEC champ, Jamie Varner, via highlight reel one-punch KO for their blistering bout at UFC 169 this past February.  The come-from-behind home run came at the most opportune time since Trujillo was likely down on the scorecards going into the 2^ndstanza and badly dazed as Varner was coming on strong. During a heated exchange of punches the William Penn University four-time NAIA All American wrestler launched a counter right hook that separated his man from his senses earning Trujillo a much deserved “Performance of the Night” award.

Ferguson enters the cage having only lost 1 out of his last 10 bouts. Out of those 10, the California representative has merely gone the distance 3 times. “El Cu Cuy” is a methodical striker with sniper-like patience whose only weakness might be when facing decorated wrestlers as seen in his sole UFC career loss to TUF 12 finalist, Michael Johnson. For this Saturday’s brutal barn burner of barbaric proportions fans can expect a memorable ending since combined, these men bring 21 finishes out of their 28 victories.  If statistics mean anything, they might hint at the fact that bringing 3 judges for this action-packed lightweight match-up may be a complete waste of time.

There you have it fight fans, your UFC 181 rundown so that you may now be the best talker at your UFC fight party or counter any picks going around at the local sports bar. The live action hits televisions on PPV from the Mandalay Bay Events Center inside the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas. Tune in for the broadcast or follow Boxeomundial on Twitter and Facebook for real time results as the UFC ends the year with one of its biggest PPVs headlined by to championship title fight in Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 and Pettis vs. Melendez.