MMA Classic Fights: Lawler vs MacDonald 2

MMA Classic Fights: Lawler vs MacDonald 2:

By Aidan O’Connor

I will be writing regular articles covering great MMA fights that are timeless and should be viewed time and time again. The fights could be a simmering rivalry or simply an all-out war in the Octagon. Over the coming weeks I will revisit some of the greatest bouts in history.

UFC 189 Robbie Lawler v Rory Macdonald 2: July 11th 2015

This fight had it all, think of 2 lions battling it out to become the king of the pride, only that doesn’t come close to it. Robbie Lawler taking the first fight by decision which was a controversial choice in many people’s eyes as it could have gone either way, but none the less he was given the victory by split decision.

On a card where nobody really gave the bout the hype it deserved, in the shadows of Conor McGregor’s battle with Chad ‘Money’ Mendes at UFC 189 Rory MacDonald was ready for redemption in a battle with the champion Robbie Lawler. This was a chance for either fighter to cement themselves as the greatest in the division and become the champion.

As this was a 5-round fight, only the second of Rory MacDonald’s career, the bout started as expected. The patience of the two fighters were being tested as they began the feeling out process, trying not to get caught with any loose jabs and trying not to leave themselves too open. A very even round in the end, could’ve been scored for either fighter as there were not too many risks being taken and not too much to talk about but for a few combinations from each fighter and a failed takedown attempt from MacDonald.

As round 2 began and the two fighters stared at each other from across the Octagon with a dead look in their eyes. You could see that they were both ready for war. The round started off with much of the same traits as the first, keeping distance, throwing the jab and really trying to figure each other out.

Halfway through the second both fighters were throwing more and more combos, MacDonald throwing numerous kicks but also taking a number of strikes to the head himself. MacDonald seemed to focus more on the body shots which were clearly connecting and clearly creating an issue for Lawler, who began to block the shots, leaving himself open up top.

After a few shots back and forth at the end of the round Robbie started to gain momentum and threw numerous combos causing Rory’s face to open up. However Rory was not going to back down without a fight, throwing his own and landing a near perfect left hook causing Lawler to back away and compose himself once again. Somewhat like a shark scenting blood in the water, Lawler, once seeing the busted up face of MacDonald went for the kill, throwing more and more combinations before the round ended.

Round 3 and already we have seen both fighters put it on the line and show the hearts of a true warrior. Robbie once again being the aggressor in this battle but not without response as MacDonald started to let his hands go and started to open up his opponent, eventually going for a takedown that was beautifully sprawled by Robbie Lawler who then began to throw punches from the north-south position to the head of MacDonald.

As the two stood up you could see that several cuts had opened up on Rory MacDonald’s face and with this a velvet red mask-like face was on show. This however did not affect Rory as he threw numerous jabs, hooks and uppercuts eventually catching Lawler with a roundhouse kick to the head which wobbled Lawler causing him to retreat to the cage.

Rory now the aggressor beginning to exchange with the rocked Lawler who was still showing signs that he was hurt, pummeling him whilst throwing kicks, elbows, knees to the head and hooks. With 20 Seconds left on the clock and Robbie Lawler looked like he was about to lose the title after being the aggressor and seemingly winning the first 2 rounds only to be saved by the bell. As he hobbled over to his team you could see that his face had opened up and more extremely his lip was almost hanging off from the strikes most likely from the knees of MacDonald.

As the championship rounds began, this fight was anybody’s. Both fighters looked wounded and after the absolute pummeling and the end of the third, it was difficult to see how Lawler could compose himself and show the same amount of pressure as he did in the first 2 rounds.

It didn’t take long to see that round 3 was no fluke and that both fighters were well and truly still prepared for battle as Rory threw a head kick which once again stunned Robbie Lawler, pressuring him to the fence and began to open up on him, echoing the end of the third round, this time looking like Robbie would not be able to hold on as Big John McCarthy repeatedly asks Robbie if he is okay to continue.

The fight took to the centre of the Octagon where both fighters began to pace themselves, MacDonald for the sheer number of strikes he had thrown and Lawler because he was visibly still very hurt. The two began swinging to the fences, Lawler progressing forward, looking like he had perhaps gained a second wind and recovered from the beating at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth. A fairly even round ended with Robbie Lawler standing in front of Rory as the claxon went, spitting him blood from him mouth onto the canvas and staring directly into the eyes of MacDonald, who also stood there for around 5-10 seconds staring back into Lawler’s.

This moment cemented one of the most ‘Bad Ass’ moments in UFC History.

As the fifth and final round of the battle began you could hear the electricity in the crowd as the two were brought to the middle of the octagon. Who was going to take this battle? If this were to go to decision who would take the victory? The exchanges began in the centre of the octagon with tremendous pace and power from each fighter, more noticeably Lawler landing numerous strikes to the nose of MacDonald which was almost flat to his face as Rory tried to find that head kick once again. The strikes to the nose however would prove too much for Rory MacDonald as he is hit numerous times again, which seems to shatter it and falls to the ground causing the referee to step in and Robbie Lawler to get the victory and claim his Welterweight Championship once again.

This battle had it all, rivalry, heart, ability and the fight and ambition that I feel the UFC needed. This has cemented itself into the hearts of MMA fans winning multiple awards for fight of the year and also both fighters winning multiple bonuses for this bout.