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9. Robbie Lawler vs. Murilo Rua
EliteXC “Uprising”
Sept. 15, 2007 | Honolulu
Gold was on Lawler’s mind when he locked horns with Rua at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, and he struck it. The San Diego native wiped out Rua with punches 2:04 into the third round of their main event, laying claim to the EliteXC middleweight title. The Chute Boxe standout thought he could wear down Lawler but never made it to the championship rounds to test the American’s gas tank. Rua enjoyed some success with leg kicks but could not match the firepower he encountered. Lawler was inhumanely patient at times, content to circle on the outside and probe for openings. In the third round, he backed Rua to the fence with a volley of power punches, floored him with a left uppercut and then pounded him unconscious with standing-to-ground punches and crouching hammerfists.

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