UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2. December 6, 2014. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas. Robbie Lawler became the UFC Welterweight Champion with a split decision win (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) over defending champion Johny Hendricks. It was the culmination of a 13-year, 36-fight journey to UFC gold for Lawler. Their first fight at UFC 171 had ended with Hendricks winning the vacant WW belt by unanimous decision. Hendricks had also fought that first bout with a torn bicep.
The co-main event served as the TUF Season 20 coaches’ fight: Anthony Pettis made his first UFC LW title defence by submitting Gilbert Melendez with a guillotine in round two. Tony Ferguson submitted Abel Trujillo. Urijah Faber finished Francisco Rivera. UFC 181 was the final numbered PPV of 2014.
Contents
Quick Stats
Date: December 6, 2014
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Main Event: Johny Hendricks (c) vs. Robbie Lawler — UFC WW Championship (rematch of UFC 171)
Result: Lawler def. Hendricks — SD (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) — Lawler new WW Champion after 13 years
Co-Main: Anthony Pettis def. Gilbert Melendez — Sub (Guillotine) R2, 1:53 — LW Championship; TUF 20 coaches fight
Bonuses: FOTN: Samman/Gordon ($50k each); POTN: Pettis ($50k)
The Build-Up
Hendricks won the vacant WW title at UFC 171 by UD over Lawler, who made a strong case across rounds three and four before Hendricks sealed the fight with a late fifth-round takedown. The first fight’s closest fight of Georges St-Pierre’s vacated title era was followed by post-fight confirmation that Hendricks had fought with a torn bicep requiring surgery, sidelining him for nine months.
Lawler used that time productively: a TKO of Jake Ellenberger and an intense decision over Matt Brown reaffirmed him as the division’s most dangerous striker. He entered the rematch healthy, purposeful, and as the betting favourite for the first time in his title-fight career.
Main Event
Johny Hendricks (c) vs. Robbie Lawler — UFC WW Championship
Lawler opened with knees and punches in round one. Hendricks scored a late R1 takedown. Rounds two, three and four saw Hendricks mix leg kicks, combinations and wrestling — most observers gave him three of the first four rounds. The fifth round changed everything: Lawler came out furious, nearly finishing Hendricks before the final bell with a barrage of unanswered punches. Two judges gave round five and the fight to Lawler (48-47, 49-46); one scored it for Hendricks (47-48).
Robbie Lawler was announced the new UFC Welterweight Champion. Post-fight: ‘It’s been a long year. I’ve been on the grind, camp to camp, just striving to be champion, to get back to this moment.’
Co-Main Event
Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez — UFC LW Championship
Pettis had been absent since UFC 164 in August 2013 — a 16-month layoff. Melendez was the former Strikeforce LW Champion and TUF 20 co-coach. Pettis controlled the stand-up in round one with precise body kicks. In round two, he secured a clinch and locked in a guillotine choke. Melendez could not escape and tapped at 1:53. Pettis retains the LW title.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Sergio Pettis def. Matt Hobar — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — FW [125 lbs]
Clay Collard def. Alex White — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — LW
Raquel Pennington def. Ashlee Evans-Smith — Sub (Bulldog Choke) — R1, 4:59 — WBW
Corey Anderson def. Justin Jones — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — LHW
Josh Samman def. Eddie Gordon — KO (Head Kick) — R2, 3:08 — MW; Fight of Night ($50k each)
Urijah Faber def. Francisco Rivera — Sub (Bulldog Choke) — R2, 1:34 — BW
Tony Ferguson def. Abel Trujillo — Sub (RNC) — R2, 4:19 — LW
Main Card
Todd Duffee def. Anthony Hamilton — KO (Punch) — R1, 0:33 — HW
Travis Browne def. Brendan Schaub — TKO (Punches) — R1, 4:50 — HW
Anthony Pettis def. Gilbert Melendez — Sub (Guillotine) — R2, 1:53 — LW Championship; POTN ($50k); Co-Main
Robbie Lawler def. Johny Hendricks — Decision (Split) — R5 (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) — WW Championship; Lawler new champion
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Josh Samman vs. Eddie Gordon — $50,000 to each fighter.
Performance of the Night: Anthony Pettis — $50,000.
Records & Milestones
Robbie Lawler — first UFC title win after 13 years and 36 professional fights; widely described as one of the greatest career-arc comebacks in UFC history.
Johny Hendricks — first title defence loss; also first WW rematch in the post-GSP era.
TUF Season 20 — first all-women’s season; the coaches’ fight (Pettis vs. Melendez) was decided by guillotine in round two.
Legacy & Impact
Robbie Lawler’s title win at UFC 181 is the sport’s clearest example of a career taking the long route to its deserved destination. He had been cut from the UFC, fought across organisations, lost title fights, and rebuilt himself entirely. At 32, on December 6, 2014, he became champion.
The fifth round of the rematch was one of the year’s best single rounds — Lawler nearly finishing Hendricks with 30 seconds remaining, swinging with everything while Hendricks covered against the cage. That one round decided the fight and the championship.
FAQ
Was UFC 181 a rematch?
Yes. Hendricks and Lawler first fought at UFC 171 in March 2014. Hendricks won the vacant WW title by unanimous decision. UFC 181 was their rematch, won by Lawler via split decision.
Did Hendricks fight UFC 171 with a torn bicep?
Yes. It was confirmed after UFC 171 that Hendricks had a torn bicep before the fight. He required surgery and was inactive for approximately nine months before the UFC 181 rematch.
What was the TUF 20 connection?
TUF Season 20 featured Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez as rival coaches. Their LW title fight was the co-main event of UFC 181. Pettis won by guillotine submission in round two.
How long did it take Lawler to win a UFC title?
Lawler made his UFC debut in 2002 and won the WW title at UFC 181 in December 2014 — 12 years and 36 professional fights.
What happened to the WW title after Lawler won it?
Lawler made his first defence against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 in July 2015, retaining via TKO in one of the most brutal fights in WW history. He defended again against Carlos Condit at UFC 195 in January 2016.
References
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