Lawler vs. Condit: Career Stats, Highlights for Both Fighters Ahead of UFC 195

The new UFC year is set to start with a bang, as Carlos Condit will take on welterweight champion Robbie Lawler on Saturday, January 2, at UFC 195.

The two were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 193, but Lawler had to pull out of the card after suffering a thumb injury, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports.

Their bout was swapped with the women's bantamweight title bout between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm, and two months later, fans will finally get to see two of the most exciting fighters on the planet go head-to-head. Bleacher Report's Jeremy Botter can't wait:

Both are experienced, battle-tested veterans with a tendency to turn every fight into a brutal, all-out war, and Lawler's title defence against Rory MacDonald may have been the best fight of 2015.

Here's a look at both fighters and some of their career highlights. 

 

The Champion: Robbie Lawler (26-0, 20 KO)

The 33-year-old Lawler has taken the long road to stardom, leaving the company in 2004 after successive losses against Nick Diaz and Evan Tanner. He fought for several small companies before working his way back to the top through Strikeforce, culminating in a return to UFC in 2013.

A switch back to the welterweight division turned out to be the right move for Lawler, who lost a unanimous decision against Johny Hendricks for the vacant title in 2014—his only loss since his return to UFC.

He avenged the loss at UFC 181, beating Hendricks in another decision to take the top spot in the division.

Lawler is big for a welterweight, and his power has transitioned well from the middleweight to welterweight division. He may not be much of a threat on the ground, but as a raw attacking force and counterpuncher, he represents a huge threat every time he enters the Octagon.

As you can tell from this interview, he knows his main strengths very well, predicting a knockout win over Condit and claiming he would even knock out Georges St-Pierre should he return to fighting:

He gives up a few inches to Condit in terms of height (5'11” versus 6'2”) but not as far as reach goes, which could be a huge factor. The lack of height means he can pack more muscle going into the bout, but he remains remarkably explosive and light on his feet, allowing him to dictate the distance and punch at will.

Lawler is more than your average brawler―he enters every bout with a clear plan and sticks to it. Against the taller Condit, he's likely to move inside as much as he can and set up his straight left hand.

 

The Challenger: Carlos Condit (30-8, 15 KO)

Condit enters the bout having lost three of his last five fights, but it would be unwise to count out the 31-year-old before the first punch is thrown. His resume includes wins over Diaz and MacDonald, and he pushed both St-Pierre and Hendricks the distance in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

He won the interim welterweight title off Diaz in 2012, which likely played a big part in the decision to match him with Lawler at this time. Condit has only fought once since March of 2014 and ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto only ranks him eighth in the welterweight division.

Like Lawler, Condit is an exciting fighter to watch, and 28 of his 30 wins have come before the final bell. He's durable, has a solid chin and likes to attack early and often, using his long legs in a similar manner to MacDonald.

The latter found success with his kicking game against Lawler, and Condit has the element of surprise on his side, having fought just once in the last 22 months.

Movement will be key for Condit. Lawler brings a rare kind of power and explosive punching ability, and he's an adept counterpuncher, which should serve him well against Condit, who has a tendency to step into his kicks and punches.

The two have the same reach (74.0”), so if Condit gets his kicking game going, he can really control the distance.

 

Prediction

Lawler has to be the favourite based on the fact Condit hasn't been in the Octagon all that much in the last two years, but this should be a very close and exciting fight, and a possible early candidate for Fight of the Year. A stoppage is possible, although a close decision seems more likely.

 

All statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.

Follow @ReverschPass

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UFC 195: Latest Lawler vs. Condit Odds, Predictions and Pre-Weigh-In Hype

The UFC welterweight title showdown between champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Carlos Condit will headline a stellar bill at UFC 195 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday evening.

Lawler is coming into this one on the back of a thrilling defence of his crown at UFC 189 earlier in the year, when he stopped Rory MacDonald late on during an absorbing contest. It was a display that bodes well for another gripping tussle here, especially given Condit’s own penchant for being involved in exciting bouts.

Here’s a closer look at the main card for UFC 195, how the bookmakers are seeing things and an examination of how the two showpiece fights are likely to pan out on the night.

 

Odds accurate as of 2:45 p.m. GMT on Dec. 29. Full listings available on Oddschecker.

 

Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit

This is a bout that has all the hallmarks of an early contender for 2016's fight of the year, as Lawler defends his welterweight crown against Condit.

Both of these men love to fight on the front foot, are always seeking to keep their opponent under pressure and can gain the upper hand with a wide variety of skills.

What’s likely to make this one even more entertaining is that both Lawler and Condit have extraordinarily strong chins, meaning it's a battle likely to go the distance.

Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiappetta has high expectations for the welterweight tussle:

Warrior-like qualities were evident in Lawler’s previous defence, when he was able to beat MacDonald in one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

Condit has lost three of his last five fights but seemed back to his best with a stoppage win over Thiago Alves in May. He’ll be keen to win this title outright for the first time, having been interim champion for a spell in 2012.

What we should expect from these two is plenty of striking, plenty of big hits and an all-out war to determine who takes home the strap. The UFC gave us a sneak preview of what's to come from Lawler’s perspective:

As the technically superior fighter, Condit will seek to utilise his agile footwork and striking accuracy in an attempt to take rounds. It’s a game plan he will need to stick to stringently, because if the fight descends into an anarchic one, the superior power of Lawler is likely to take over.

Condit has previously indulged in slugfests, though, and although his willingness to trade will make for an entertaining fight for the fans, its likely to aid Lawler in getting over the line at the end of a brutal five rounds.

Prediction: Lawler via decision

 

Stipe Miocic vs. Andrei Arlovski

In the co-main event, Stipe Miocic will be seeking to put an end to the brilliant run of former champion Andrei Arlovski in what should be a fine heavyweight showdown.

Since losing to Anthony Johnson in 2013, Arlovski has found his stride. He’s had six professional bouts since then, culminating in a very impressive win over Frank Mir at UFC 191. As FOX Sports: UFC noted in the build-up to the bout, the Belarusian has been getting some help from the very best in the business, too:

Miocic will feel he has enough to cope with his opponent, though. The American has been edging closer to a potential title shot against Fabricio Werdum throughout 2015 and will be keen to end the year on a high here. He’ll be hoping his wrestling skills will be too much for Arlovski to handle on the night.

As this exchange on social media proves in the build-up to the fight, it seems as though Miocic is in relaxed mood ahead of what is one of the most significant nights of his life:

Miocic will have to be at his very best if he’s to halt Arlovski’s winning run, but with a potential No. 1 contender status up for grabs with a win, the American will be determined to get the job done. Expect Miocic to edge a tight, tenacious showdown in what’ll be a strong appetiser to the evening’s main event.

Prediction: Miocic via decision

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Rizin FF 2: Highlights, Results and Top Knockouts from Thursday's Fights

Muhammed Lawal finished off Rizin FF 2 in spectacular style on Thursday, with a thunderous knockout of Jiri Prochazka securing the heavyweight tournament title in Saitama, Japan.

Lawal, who beat Brett McDermott and Teodoras Aukstuolis to make it to this stage, connected sweetly with a right hand in the first round to win the final of this bracket. Earlier, there was a win for former PRIDE star Fedor Emelianenko, as he forced Singh Jaideep into submission via punches in his first fight since 2012.

Here are the results in full from the card at the Saitama Super Arena and some of the standout moments from Thursday’s fights.

 

Lawal, Emelianenko Shine at Rizin FF 2

After three brutal fights in as many days, Lawal secured his spot at the summit of the Rizin heavyweight standings in emphatic fashion.

Aukstuolis was expected to be a dangerous opponent for the American after his progression to the final, but after some exchanges on the ground, Lawal caught him off guard with a thunderous right hand. As we can see, once the man from the Czech Republic lurched forward recklessly, the fight was over not long after:

The American was clearly in a confident mood after he’d beaten Aukstuolis to make it into the final two. As we can see here courtesy of Zombie Prophet, there was a swagger about Lawal as he downed the Lithuanian:

Earlier on in the day, MMA legend Emelianenko was far too good for Jaideep. The 39-year-old Russian has been on the MMA scene for what seems like an eternity, and he showed exactly why as he made light work of his opponent.

Despite the Indian enjoying an advantage in terms of height and reach, the wily Emelianenko eventually found a way to manoeuvre his way inside and secure a takedown. From there, it was tough going for Singh, who eventually tapped out to a flurry of punches:

The Russian actually walked away from MMA competition three years ago and was making his comeback appearance here. After the lopsided nature of this win, it’s clear he’ll be a very tough man to beat moving forward in Rizin, despite his advancing years.

Away from the heavyweight division, there was a nasty finish in the lightweight clash between Andy Souwer and Yuichiro Nagashima.

The Dutchman won it via first-round knockout via punches, but as we can see here courtesy of WHOATV, it was a victory set up after a vicious stomp to the head of the Japanese competitor:

Kron Gracie made it two wins from two in MMA with an impressive triumph over Erson Yamamoto. The submission specialist was able to lock in a deep armbar early on and although that didn't initially do the trick, a triangle choke finished this one not long after:

Veteran heavyweight Bob Sapp also picked up a decision win over Akebono Taro. As we can see, although the pace of this one was pretty slow, there were plenty of big shots landed:

In terms of technical ability, the finish of the day arguably went to Rena Kubota, who landed this flying armbar to secure a win over Jleana Valentino:

Overall, the card was one that had plenty of entertaining finishes. But in the openweight clash between Baruto Kaito and Peter Aerts, eventually won by the former, there were some less-than-glamorous moments:

With two events done in the space of three days, it’s clear Rizin does have a long way to go and plenty of rough edges to smooth down. But for MMA fanatics who long for the days of PRIDE, it’s a brand that will trigger some nostalgia, especially with the likes of Emelianenko showing he still has what it takes to get the job done.

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Fedor Emelianenko Gets First-Round KO in First Fight After 3-Year Retirement

Fedor Emelianenko is back.

The Russian MMA fighter considered by many to be the greatest of all time at heavyweight—if not all weight classes—earned a first-round knockout victory Thursday in his return to action after more than three years in retirement. It happened at Rizin Fighting Federation 2, the new Japan-based promotion that held its first event Dec. 29 and that came into existence shortly after Emelianenko announced his return to the sport.

The 39-year-old Emelianenko (35-4-1) handled relative MMA unknown Jaideep Singh (2-1) in approximately three minutes. Ground and pound was the key to victory.

Official #RIZIN Result: Fedor Emelianenko def. Jaideep Singh via TKO (Submission to Punches) R1 3:02. https://t.co/447KfBOGDz

— Sherdog.com (@sherdogdotcom) December 31, 2015

Singh, an imposing figure who was a champion kickboxer but a comparative novice in MMA, never appeared to get his offense going. Emelianenko landed a takedown after approximately 90 seconds of low-output standup action. 

After Emelianenko connected with the takedown, he quickly achieved full mount, from which position he began to work his vaunted ground and pound. Singh had few, if any, responses to the position or the strikes, and tapped out to punches to end the contest.

Despite the fact that it was a fairly one-sided affair, Emelianenko's return to MMA was a much-ballyhooed occasion among hardcore MMA fans. The longtime Pride heavyweight champion retired in 2012 after three consecutive wins over less-than-elite opponents.

Emelianenko has never competed in the UFC. The closest he came was the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion. The Russian entered that promotion on a nine-year-long unbeaten streak and won one fight there, but then lost what was then considered a shocking upset to Fabricio Werdum. Werdum has since gone on to claim ownership of the UFC heavyweight title.

Rizin promotion officials made no immediate announcement regarding a potential next opponent for Emelianenko, or any potential timeline for such a matchup.

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Joe Rogan Opens Up on Ronda Rousey's Future, Distractions, Training Camp, More

UFC commentator Joe Rogan is concerned former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may never return to her best following her shock loss to Holly Holm.

Rousey was brutally knocked out in the second round of her showdown with Holm at UFC 193 in circumstances that stunned the MMA world. Earlier this month, Rowdy claimed she has not been able to eat an apple since the fight and would be back in action in “three to six months,” per ESPN Magazine’s Ideas of the Year edition (h/t Rory Brigstock-Barron of the MailOnline).

However, in an exclusive interview with Stephie Haynes of Bloody Elbow, Rogan cast doubts over whether we will see Rousey, who won 12 fights in a row before losing to Holm, at her absolute peak again:

When Holly Holm head kicked Ronda and knocked her out, we witnessed a traumatic brain injury, make no mistake about it.

I had this conversation with Dana (White), and he was like, "Oh, Ronda's fine," and I'm like, "Listen man, you can't say that." She's not fine. You don't get head kick knocked out and be fine. That's not fine. There's damage for sure. The question is, how much damage? We just don't know.

Rogan also questioned whether Rousey would be quite as durable if her and Holm were ever to rematch. Warning, expletive language used. “What's it gonna be like in the second fight? What if Holm hits her with a shot and her legs buckle?” he pondered. “Then we realise, ‘Oh s--t, her chin's not there anymore.’”

Despite the emphatic outcome, with Holm dominating Rousey for more than one round before finishing the contest, the prospect of a rematch has been pondered in some quarters, with Lewis McKeever of Bloody Elbow noting it’s “expected” the pair will go head-to-head again at UFC 200 in July.

However, Bleacher Report’s MMA writer Jonathan Snowden doesn’t feel another bout with Holm would be ideal for Rousey at this juncture:

Rogan feels the former champion may have been a little too distracted heading into the fight with Holm at UFC 193, too: 

The Ronda Rousey story in a lot of ways is a classic tale. It's a tale of a legend and a tale of falling into all of the traps that have come before that we've seen from famous celebrities and athletes. Everything except drugs... she fell for the distractions.

When you're an athlete, especially a combat sports athlete, that stoic existence, that singular focus on the task, is one of the most under-appreciated aspects of training and becoming a successful fighter.

The commentator states he thinks Rousey had that focus “earlier in her career,” but now “she’s overrun with distractions.” Indeed, in the wake of her loss to Holm, Rowdy is trading the Octagon for the silver screen, with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta confirming the bantamweight will film two movies before coming back to MMA, per Damon Martin of FOX Sports.

Should Rousey come back and be thrust into an immediate rematch with Holm, it’s imperative she adopts different tactics than were on show in November.

At UFC 193, Rousey was far too upright in her forays toward Holm. She even sought to trade blows with her opponent, which is peculiar when you consider Holm is a world champion boxer. The end result was Rousey being tagged easily, and as frustrations noticeably grew, she became an easy target for a knockout.

Rogan thinks it’s important for Rousey to branch out in her training beyond current coach Edmond Tarverdyan:

Ronda's got to go to a camp that has the full arsenal. She's got to go to a Firas Zahabi or a Matt Hume, or someone like that, in my opinion. If I was talking to her, that's what I would tell her. I'd say, ‘You can't just train with a judo coach and Edmond holds the pads for you.' 

Edmond has definitely done some great things for her boxing technique, that can't be denied. Her combinations when she hits the pads are very impressive, but there are other elements that come with striking. It's not just about throwing your hands and having the technique look good.

“I think she needs someone who will objectively assess her game as an outsider,” Rogan adds. Warning, expletive language used. “Not someone like Edmond, who trained her from the beginning with mitts; she needs someone else, as well. …When we talk about MMA being high level problem solving, Holly Holm solved the problem. She had all the answers and she got a f--king A+.”

It’s important these amendments are made. As noted by MMA journalist Josh Gross, for Rousey, a rematch against Holm could well be make or break for her reputation:

After a loss as spectacular as the one Rousey suffered, there are always going to be major question marks upon return. But the tangible evidence shows us the former champion is remarkably talented and hugely determined—two qualities that will put her in a strong position should she face Holm again.

Changes will be needed and, in that respect, this defeat may serve to push Rousey into becoming a much more rounded fighter. Once these movie commitments are complete, the loss will also prompt Rowdy into refining her focus back toward MMA and reestablishing herself as one of the biggest names in the game.

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Gabi Garcia Knocks Out Lei'D Tapa at Rizin in the Best Worst Fight of 2015

If you stayed up late or woke up early for Rizin Fighting Federation’s second event, you got treated to the best worst fight of 2015.

Noted Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Gabi Garcia (1-0) made her long-awaited MMA debut against professional wrestler Lei’D Tapa (0-1). And it was glorious.

Tapa nearly stunned the MMA world when she leveled Garcia early in the fight.

Garcia survived and continued. They got into another exchange, and Tapa thought she was out of danger. But Garcia is huge. Her massive wingspan allowed her to flail her right hand backward and connect flush, dropping Tapa. Garcia pounced and finished with hammerfists.

What a glorious mess of a fight.

To be fair, both women were making their MMA debuts without any prior striking experience. To expect high levels of striking would have been naive, but the resulting mess gave fans plenty of entertainment.

And Twitter enjoyed it quite a bit:

There is no division for these two women. There just isn't enough talent in the world for women at this weight, but it was an entertaining sideshow for Rizin’s second event. And there will remain interest in Garcia’s MMA career. There is no one like her in this sport.

Rizin is the perfect promotion for Garcia. Japan loves these types of fights, and Rizin will be able to pay willing participants to stand opposite the ring from her. Tapa showed that Garcia is vulnerable, and that will add a bit more intrigue to Garcia’s next fight in terms of whether she has improved or will get dropped again.

The Brazilian wasn’t able to dominate this fight like many people, myself included, expected.

When MMA technique is this poor, it usually results in more entertainment than some mid-level fights, and that is exactly what we saw out of Garcia vs. Tapa. Technique was null and void. Garcia’s Sound of Music backfist, however, will be a memorable moment from the best worst fight of 2015.

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