Under the Microscope: Analyzing Welterweight Greats

---

Robbie Lawler

* Welterweight Record: 11-3 (.786)
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .674
* Longest Winning Streak: 7
* Record in Major Welterweight Title Fights: 1-1
* Finish Percentage: 54.5
* Finished Percentage: 66
* Notable Victories: Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald, Josh Koscheck
* Career Accomplishments: Reigning UFC welterweight champion; three-time UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner

CASE FOR: As the current UFC champion, Lawler has the primary prerequisite to be in the running, and it is always a useful exercise to see how his career would stack up if he were to bow out of the sport tomorrow. “Ruthless” is a solid candidate all the way around, with a strong record, a higher-than-average finishing percentage and a longstanding career that has seen him improve over time. Lawler’s marked improvement is the biggest X-factor for him. If he can continue this learning curve for his foreseeable prime, he will likely string together enough solid title defenses to carve a niche in the history books. His most recent win over Hendricks was his finest performance to date, and if that is any indicator of his future in the division, then Lawler has a very real shot at becoming the greatest champion in the post-Georges St. Pierre era.

CASE AGAINST: Face it: Had a single judge thought differently at UFC 181, Lawler would not be close to this discussion. Aside from being the UFC champion -- which is, of course, a genuinely impressive accomplishment -- there is not much to separate Lawler from any of the other good-but-not-great fighters. Statistically, he is nothing to write home about in any way. His finishing rate falls in the middle of the pack; his title-fight record is pedestrian; and on top of everything, he has competed against weaker competition than almost everyone else on this list. Perhaps the most unique contrast Lawler provides to this discussion is that he is a fairly one-dimensional fighter, especially when compared to the stunning diversity of other entrants. Who knows? Almost nobody expected Lawler to be more than an afterthought in the annals of MMA history, and he has convincingly rebutted that concept now. Maybe he has a truly special run in store for the future, but right now, he is just happy to be in the same breath as the others.

Continue Reading » Johny Hendricks