The Ultimate Fighting Championship travelled to Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia tonight for UFC 201: “Lawler vs Woodley.” The event was headlined by a UFC Welterweight Championship showdown between reigning champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and challenger Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley.
In tonight’s co-main event, former UFC women’s strawweight title challenger “Thug” Rose Namajunas battled undefeated Polish rising star Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Matt “The Immortal” Brown took on Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger at 170. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
UFC Welterweight Championship
Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley vs “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler
Round 1:
Woodley closed in and ate a knee and a right hook in the opening minute. He clinched with Lawler against the cage and the fighters were separated very quickly. Woodley landed a huge right hook that sent Lawler crashing to the canvas. He teed off with right hands on the ground and the bout was stopped.
Winner: Tyron Woodley by KO (Punches) at 2:12 of round one. He improves to 16-3-0 and becomes the new UFC Welterweight Champion.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs “Thug” Rose Namajunas
Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of leg kicks and Namajunas landed a one-two. She cracked Kowalkiewicz with a right cross and followed with another one. Namajunas continued to exploit her reach advantage by landing lunging lefts and overhand rights. Both women landed right hooks and Namajunas slipped after throwing a leg kick. Kowalkiewicz scored with a nice right hand and Namajunas fired back with a counter left hook and a one-two combo. Kowalkiewicz pressed the action with kicks in the final minute and she followed with knees in a clinch. Namajunas took Kowalkiewicz down late in the round and landed short elbows until the bell. 10-9 Namajunas.
Round 2:
Kowalkiewicz hurt Namajunas with knees to the body and elbows in a clinch in round two. Namajunas worked for a takedown and Kowalkiewicz scored with more knees. She continued to punish Namajunas with knees and elbows until Namajunas tried to take her back in search of a standing arm-triangle choke. Kowalkiewicz broke free and landed another hard elbow.
Namajunas countered with one-twos and Kowalkiewicz landed leg kicks. Namajunas knocked her down with a front kick and followed with a right hand as Kowalkiewicz stood. Kowalkiewicz targeted the body with knees once again and she snapped Namajunas’s head back with a right hook. Namajunas slowed down and Kowalkiewicz landed knees in another clinch. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz.
Round 3:
Kowalkiewicz continued to land knees to the body in the final round, but Namajunas bloodied her nose with a side kick. Kowalkiewicz rushed in with punches and she landed two more knees in a clinch. Namajunas replied with a leg kick and a counter right hand. Kowalkiewicz stuffed a takedown and she swarmed on Namajunas with knees and punches. Namajunas fell to her back and Kowalkiewicz landed elbows from the top. She postured up with punches and avoided Namajunas’s submission attempts. Namajunas rolled and tried to stand, but Kowalkiewicz punched from a partial back control until just before the bell. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz.
Winner: Karolina Kowalkiewicz by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. She improves to 10-0-0.
Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger vs Matt “The Immortal” Brown
Round 1:
Ellenberger floored Brown right away with a huge right hook and he followed with more punches on the ground. Brown recovered enough to get back to his feet and he landed knees in close. He backed Ellenberger up with left and right hooks. A liver kick dropped Brown and Ellenberger unloaded with punches until the bout was stopped.
Winner: Jake Ellenberger by TKO (Kick To The Body & Punches) at 1:46 of round one. He improves to 31-11-0.
Erik “El Goyito” Perez vs Francisco “Cisco” Rivera
Round 1:
Rivera connected with a right-left combination in the opening seconds and he followed with a hard left hook. The fighters traded punches and Rivera continued to find success with left hooks. Perez threw a head kick and Rivera answered back with leg kicks. Both men landed kicks to the body and Perez landed right hands after catching one of Rivera’s kicks. Rivera regained his footing and he landed jabs and hooks. Perez drove forward and took him down for a split second, but Rivera immediately stood against the cage. Perez jumped in with a knee and both men landed right hooks. Rivera scored with a nice left hook late in the close round. 10-9 Rivera.
Round 2:
The second round began with an exchange of punches and both men landed leg kicks. Perez threw a spinning backfist, but Rivera countered with two right hooks. Perez used more spinning attacks and he opened a cut on Rivera’s temple, which he targeted with a spinning back elbow. Both men landed combinations and Perez held a clear speed advantage. He briefly got Rivera down, but Rivera returned to his feet and threw heavy punches. He landed some hard left and right hands, but Perez backed him up with kicks and took him down against the cage. 10-9 Perez.
Round 3:
Rivera dropped Perez with a looping right hook in round three and the fighters teed off with wild haymakers. Huge shots landed for both men, but Rivera punched himself out and Perez secured an easy takedown. Rivera bled heavily from the temple and Perez peppered him with punches from the top. Rivera beckoned for a standup, but Perez stayed busy with short punches and elbows throughout the round. Rivera finally stood in the final 30 seconds and Perez landed an elbow. He finished the round with an inside-leg kick. 10-9 Perez.
Winner: Erik Perez by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 16-6-0.
Ryan “Baby Face” Benoit vs Fredy “El Profe” Serrano
Round 1:
Benoit pressured Serrano with kicks and punches early on, but Serrano countered with a slam takedown. Benoit battled back to his feet and he dropped Serrano with a one-two. Serrano began to bleed from the nose as Benoit battered him with punches on the ground. Serrano stood against the cage and Benoit backed away after landing a flurry. He spun Serrano around with a leg kick and Serrano fired back with an axe kick. Benoit hurt Serrano with a body kick and a right hand late in the round. 10-9 Benoit.
Round 2:
Benoit landed a right-left combo early in round two and Serrano shot in for a takedown against the cage. Benoit stayed on his feet and Serrano threw an axe kick after the fighters separated. He slammed Benoit down and looked to set up an arm-triangle choke, but Benoit exploded out and returned to his feet. Serrano landed a spinning wheel kick to the face, but Benoit was unfazed. Serrano secured another slam takedown and he landed on top in side control. He dropped thigh strikes to Benoit’s face in the final 30 seconds. Close round. 10-9 Serrano.
Round 3:
Serrano took Benoit down in the final round, but he was unable to mount much offence from the top and the fighters were stood up. Serrano crawled towards Benoit and tried to take him down, but Benoit wound up on top. Serrano stood and somersaulted forward. Benoit easily thwarted Serrano’s takedown attempts and he landed one-twos and chopping leg kicks. He backed Serrano up with a hard right hand after a late clinch. 10-9 Benoit.
Winner: Ryan Benoit by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 9-4-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)