Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Welterweight Title Fights

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1. Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald
UFC 189 “Mendes vs. McGregor”
July 11, 2015 | Las Vegas
Headliners Chad Mendes and Conor McGregor were upstaged by unadulterated violence, as Lawler retained his welterweight championship with a fifth-round technical knockout against MacDonald in the UFC 189 co-main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Lawler closed out the Canadian 60 seconds into Round 5, bringing a decisive conclusion to an instant classic. MacDonald forced the champion to rally to keep his title. He withstood a ghoulish onslaught from Lawler in the second round, the “Ruthless” one leaving his face mangled with a seemingly endless volley of punches down the pike. Straight lefts followed digging jabs, as Lawler slammed one fist after another into his face. The Tristar Gym’s MacDonald shifted the momentum in a blink, as he wrapped a head kick around his opponent’s defenses. Lawler staggered and absorbed a barrage of punches, standing elbows and knees from the challenger but refused to wilt. Round 4 provided more of the same from the two welterweights, who stood and traded. MacDonald seemed to get the better of the exchanges, especially early in the frame. However, the damage to his face left him vulnerable. Less than a minute into the fifth round, Lawler sent a straight left crashing directly into MacDonald’s nose. He crumbled to his back in visible distress, and Lawler finished him with follow-up punches.

Sherdog’s Top 10 series is voted upon by a panel of Sherdog.com staff members and contributors: Jordan Breen, Tristen Critchfield, Mike Fridley, Brian Knapp, TJ De Santis, Mike Sloan, Eric Stinton, Jesse Denis, Joshua Ramsey, Joseph Santoliquito, Andreas Hale, Josh Stillman and Anthony Walker.