Robbie Lawler’s reign as the UFC welterweight champion has ended at 18 months.
Tyron Woodley became the ninth undisputed UFC welterweight champion after a clean and quick first round knockout.
It was the fastest end to a UFC welterweight title fight after Woodley hit a quick right hook on Lawler’s jaw and resulted and hit a flurry of punches that forced the referee to call it quits 2:12 into the first round. The new champ took advantage of Lawler taking a methodical and cautionary approach and utilized his speed to end the fight quickly.
Woodley’s journey to the top saw him rise up the ranks in Strikeforce after a successful college wrestling career at the University of Missouri, starting his career with a 10-0 record before being handed his first loss in his first title shot.
"I was in the back, I was relaxed, I was nervous that I wasn't nervous, I knew what Robbie brings to the table. This was not the fight I would have picked because Robbie is my teammate, but I've been picturing myself with the belt around my waist and I made it happen."
Since then, he has been 5-2 in the UFC and on a two-fight win streak. His long road to the top of the mountain has taken him 10 years but for Woodley, the end result was well worth it.
On the FOX post-fight panel, highly ranked welterweight Stephen Thompson said that he wanted a title shot. Woodley, unfazed said that instead he'd prefer a "money" fight with Nick Diaz.
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