MMA: Pettis chokes Melendez, defends belt at UFC 181

By Greg Beacham

The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Robbie Lawler won the welterweight title at UFC 181 on Saturday night, claiming a split decision over Johny Hendricks in their rematch.

Anthony Pettis also stopped Gilbert Melendez with a guillotine choke 1:53 into the second round to defend his UFC lightweight title at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Lawler (25-10) capped his remarkable mid-career resurgence with a dogged five-round effort against Hendricks (16-3), who won the vacant belt by unanimous decision in their first bout in March.

While Hendricks and Lawler didn’t match the theatrics and brutality of their spectacular first fight, Lawler got off to an impressive start in the rematch that had Hendricks backpedaling in the first round. He also finished with a strong fifth, delivering several enormous shots in the final seconds to bring the crowd to its feet.

“I thought I needed to get in his face,” Lawler said. “That’s how we fight in the UFC. That’s how we fight championship fights.”

Hendricks controlled long stretches of the middle rounds with tactics and smart strikes, but he appeared to coast to the finish of the final two rounds, perhaps swaying the judges in Lawler’s favor.

Two judges scored the bout for Lawler, 49-46 and 48-47, while the third favored Hendricks, 48-47. The Associated Press scored it 48-47 for Lawler.

Hendricks beat Lawler in one of the year’s best fights earlier this year, surviving five bruising rounds to claim Georges St. Pierre’s vacated belt. Hendricks won despite a torn biceps muscle, landing enough strikes and shining in the decisive fifth round.

Pettis (18-2) was impressive in his first title defense, finishing Melendez (22-4) for the first time in the veteran Strikeforce champion’s career.