Sherdog’s Top 10: Best Title Fights

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6. Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler
UFC 171 “Hendricks vs. Lawler
March 15, 2014 | Dallas
Hendricks and Lawler did battle for the vacant UFC welterweight championship after Georges St. Pierre relinquished the crown by taking an indefinite leave of absence.

Hendricks -- who had lost a controversial decision to St. Pierre four months earlier -- was out to prove he was the rightful champion, while Lawler was looking to complete an impressive return to the UFC with a fourth straight win. The bout was competitive, with each man having his moments and securing two rounds. There was a moment in the third frame where a Lawler uppercut seemed to have Hendricks on the ropes, but the “Bigg Rigg” held on. The fifth round was the tiebreaker. There, Hendricks found another gear. He wore down a fatiguing Lawler in the clinch and battered the “Ruthless” one with left hands and leg kicks. A late takedown sealed it, as Hendricks kept the Pat Miletich disciple corralled on the canvas in the closing moments.

The unanimous decision validated Hendricks as the world’s top welterweight. Lawler has since been booked in a No. 1 contender match against Matt Brown, making a rematch with Hendricks a real possibility.

Number 5 » Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson