5 of the best welterweight fights in MMA history

Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 – UFC 189

There’s absolutely one fight that must always be mentioned when discussing the best welterweight fights ever. It’s Robbie Lawler defending the welterweight championship against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 – or you know, the consensus greatest fight of all time.

The two fought each other before at UFC 167, with Lawler the split decision winner, but the rematch produced one of the most memorable fights of all time. It had everything you could want from a five-round championship fight. An absolute war displaying incredible heart, skill, and perseverance.

The opening round was the least eventful frame of this legendary scrap. It started out with a slow feeling out process where the two predominantly fought out of striking range. MacDonald was the more active fighter, popping his jab to keep the champion honest. With just over a minute left, MacDonald shut for a takedown but only to be stuffed and eat a knee from Lawler in return.

The action would turn up a notch in round two. MacDonald continued to throw the jab, while Lawler began to find his. Both fighters were exchanging more and landing more, trading significant strikes and alternating who’d get the better of the exchange. Lawler’s combinations start to land clean, with a beautiful one-two combo opening a cut on the bridge of MacDonald’s nose with 1:37 left in round two. MacDonald returns a flush combination shortly after, but at this point, the momentum belongs to Lawler

Round three would start out similar to round two with Lawler having success pumping his jab and worsening the damage already done to MacDonald’s face. A few minutes in, MacDonald shoots a takedown by snagging one leg, but Lawler would sprawl out to defend the takedown and keep it standing. With his face covered in his own blood, MacDonald would seize momentum in the last minute of the round when he rocks Lawler with a right head kick. The round would finish with Lawler wobbly on his feet throwing desperation bombs while MacDonald unloads strikes on him looking for the finish.

MacDonald wastes no time going back to the right head kick in the opening seconds of round four. This one is partially blocked, but MacDonald follows it up with strikes to push Lawler back up against the fence. From here, MacDonald again looks for the finish and uncorks several strikes, but Lawler is able to weather the storm and survive. While Lawler looks to get his composure back, MacDonald continues to throw the right head kick but is now disguising it by masking it behind punches. MacDonald’s output would tapper off, allowing Lawler to recover and build some momentum.

When the bell rang to end the fourth round, fight fans would witness one of the most chilling and iconic moments in mixed martial arts history. Lawler would clear the blood from his mouth onto the canvas and engage in a death stare with MacDonald. Lawler takes a few steps towards MacDonald, who doesn’t budge an inch, making referee John McCarthy step in and separate the two.

When the fifth round began, it brought out the best of Lawler – a champion notorious for his thrilling and unforgettable fifth-round performances.

From the start, Lawler comes out aggressive by going back to the punch combinations that gave him success earlier in the fight. With each strike that lands, a bloody and battered MacDonald begins to break. At exactly one minute into the final round, Lawler lands a big left hand that makes MacDonald cover his face with his hands and fall back to the ground, prompting McCarthy to step in and end the fight.

Remarkably, headed into the final round all three judges had it scored 39-37 in favor of MacDonald. Making it all that much more special that Lawler would successfully defend his welterweight championship for the first time with the TKO finish.