Lawler wins controversial split decision over Condit at UFC 195

There was no hiding his devastation and disbelief after losing a welterweight title fight against Robbie Lawler via split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48) in the main event of UFC 195 Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. White says he ultimately had it three rounds to two for Condit, who ended up on the wrong end of a split decision from the judges.

Lawler said he’s “not going to make a decision today” about when he can fight next after staging the 2015 fight of the year against Rory MacDonald, when in July Lawler rallied while down on the scorecards to knock out MacDonald in the fifth round.

Lawler now improves to 20-7 and it was his second successful title defense and his 5th straight victory in the octagon while Condit now falls to 30-9.

On the closeness of the fight: “I think this fight was closer (than the St-Pierre fight)”. “He came with a game plan and we battled it out”. “I thought I won rounds two and five”.

Lawler first fought in the UFC shortly after turning 20 years old, but he didn’t win a UFC title until he was 32.

“I’ve got over 40 MMA and kickboxing fights… ‘And still’-but let’s do it again”. The final round had the crowd on its feet and roaring with approval at each of the 265 combined strikes hurled by the two fighters in what may go down as the best fifth round in UFC history.

But Condit was undeterred, continuing to pressure and attack the champion, who gallantly hanged on.

Miocic, who came into his fight tonight as the number four ranked heavyweight, stormed across the cage after his victory and screamed “give me my shot!”

The tale on Lawler’s resurgence since returning to the UFC is well told by now, but yet his performances continue to leave spectators in awe.

And that’s where things got really insane.

In the Philippines, the UFC has a new home in Cignal TV, the country’s foremost direct-to-home company, after the two groups agreed to an extensive three-year deal that will see the UFC beamed on various platforms.

“It’s hard to move on from a fight like that but mentality wise it’s like, ‘OK, I did some great stuff and I showed some heart but it’s you just have to be a professional.’ I can’t pat myself on the back for seven months and think that’s just going to get me another victory”. While he, like Lawler, couldn’t immediately recall numerous details about the decisive third round, Condit did believe he had won the fight when the final bell rang.

Lawler was correct in that neither man lost, as Condit’s stock had to go up even in defeat. White said during the post-fight press conference.

Miocic put the red-hot Arlovski down less than one minute into the first round when a clean right hand early in the fight placed “The Pitbull” in serious danger.