- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
UFC 201: Robbie Lawler vs Tyron Woodley Toe to Toe Preview – A Complete Breakdown
- Updated: July 30, 2016
Robbie Lawler defends his title against Tyron Woodley this July 30, 2016 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
One sentence summary:
Phil: A potential Carlito’s Way title fight, where our hero takes out the threats, but loses at the last minute to that guy that no-one expected.
David: MMA’s favorite War Machine of few words defends his title against MMA’s most criticized Civil Pugilist of few weapons.
Stats
Record: Robbie Lawler 27-10-1 NC Tyron Woodley 15-3
Odds: Robbie Lawler -150 Tyron Woodley +130
History / Introduction to both fighters
Phil: Robbie Lawler does what he wants, sometimes to his own detriment, but then tries to make up for it by trying really hard to win right at the end. That’s the fractal of his career.
David: It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Lawler lose, but it feels like just yesterday since we’ve seen him look human. While the image of Lawler reigning the division in conjunction with getting triangle choked by Evan Tanner to punctuate his UFC exit in 2004 is still difficult to process, there’s nothing about his current journey that falls below inspired.
Phil: This is one of the more legitimately puzzling title shots in recent memory. Woodley is not particularly popular with the brass, is often not that fun to watch, and has a recent record which is eclipsed by multiple contenders, most notably Wonderboy. I just don’t get it. I’m figuring he must have cut some kind of deal, but I have no idea what it could be. Still, I like Woodley. He’s a sharp guy; a student of the game, both inside and out of the cage.
David: I thought for sure Woodley would be the Jon Fitch of 2016: a tough, successful welterweight doing everything in his power to earn a title shot. Just without the aesthetics to help market him into that status. Instead he somehow pulled a Chael Sonnen: accidentally stumbling into the title picture for god knows what reason. The Dong win is fine, and Gastelum is a really underrated welterweight (I’d mention the Hendricks win in support for this, but Hendricks looked like someone whose fate was decided by Pontius Pilate). But that’s slim.
What’s at stake?
David: I have a feeling that welterweight is about to undergo a middleweight shift into the Lovecraftian unknown. Lawler is great. I love the guy. But I have a hard time seeing him defend for more than two fights, and I suspect this fight is the beginning. Yes, I’m picking Woodley.
Phil: I also have an ominous feeling. If Woodley wins this… it is a severing. Like Nunes-Tate, where there was a line of interest tying back to the fighter that people cared about (Rousey), which finally got cut away. In this manner, Lawler losing is a severing of a period of unbelievably thrilling title fights and of a final connection back to that GSP-Hendricks-Condit era.
Where do they want it?
David: I can’t just copy and paste previous paragraphs, can I? I still say that part of Lawler’s shift in proficiency is his jab. Yea I know. It’s not his best weapon. He’s got Predator’s shoulder cannon stuffed inside his left for that. But it’s a punch he’s good at hiding from his opponent until it’s too late. The reason I point at out his jab is that I notice he throws it more as the fight wears on. Again, not a lot. But just …
continue reading in source www.bloodyelbow.com
