Even though he’s just two victories removed from his last title bout, Robbie Lawler (24-10 MMA, 9-4 UFC) once against punched his ticket to a UFC championship fight with a thrilling unanimous decision win over Matt Brown (19-12 MMA, 12-7 UFC) in the UFC on FOX 12 headliner from San Jose’s SAP Center.
“Ruthless” was given the grandest stage the sport to showcase his talents and prove why he should be next to challenge UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks for the belt later this year. He took full advantage of the opportunity, and engaged in a 25-minute slugfest with Brown that lived up to all expectations.
While Brown failed to make weight for Saturday’s headliner, Lawler was the consummate professional throughout fight week and closed it out with near-flawless effort. Now, he’ll get a rematch with Hendricks and hopes for a better result than his narrow decision loss to “Bigg Rigg” at UFC 171 in March.
To see what fans, media and fighters in the MMA community thought about Lawler’s title-shot earning performance, read the Twitter reactions below:
It's time for the main event of the evening!!!!! Up next: @Ruthless_RL vs @IAmTheImmortal #UFCFightNight on FOX http://t.co/ta8763HkAL—
UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2014
It's about that time.
@Ruthless_RL
#UFCFightNight on FOX http://t.co/JXyFv5IZB9—
UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2014
Oh boy, who’s ready for this? Your no-nonsense, all-offense main event:: No. 1 Robbie Lawler (23-10, 1 NC) vs. No. 5 Matt Brown (19-11).—
MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 27, 2014
Main event time. Brown sprints to the cage as Saliva's "Ladies and Gentleman" blares.—
John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) July 27, 2014
Lawler in next to Eminem's "Beautiful." Man, I hope this thing delivers like we all know it can.—
John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) July 27, 2014
Prepare for carnage.—
(@m3mma) July 27, 2014
This main event is gonna be good! #UFConFOX12—
Tarec Saffiedine (@tarecfighter) July 27, 2014
Let's go @Ruthless_RL ??????—
Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 27, 2014
He didn't win TUF. Was double (arguably triple) sub'd by Lytle. Lost to Brian Foster in UFC. And rebounded from it. Matt Brown already won.—
Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) July 27, 2014
This fight will B nuts! Oh wait is that what I think it is @IamTheImmortal one's butt! @DudeWipes back at it! @ufc @UFCONFOX #ufc #UFConFOX—
Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 27, 2014
Let us say a pray to the gods of violence that this one lives up to its awful possibilities. #UFConFOX12—
Nate Wilcox (@KidNate) July 27, 2014
I told myself after the last time @IamTheImmortal fought I would stop betting against him. #UFCFightNight—
Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) July 27, 2014
I don't even think I'm going to try to pee between rounds for this one. I don't even want to miss the HLs #UFConFOX12 get it @Ruthless_RL—
Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 27, 2014
I got chills right now. This fight is going to be epic.—
Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) July 27, 2014
My inner 'Just Bleed Guy' is really coming out.—
Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) July 27, 2014
Let's get it @Ruthless_RL—
Will Brooks
(@illwillbrooks86) July 27, 2014
#fireworks—
Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) July 27, 2014
There's about to be some very incredible face-punching guys. These two dudes are about to hit each other a lot.—
Chris Hall (@Chris81203) July 27, 2014
This one can't go the distance. Bombers! @ufc—
Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 27, 2014
Lawler has already landed a couple of pretty good shots, first minute.—
Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 27, 2014
This is getting ugly already, with the potential to be obscenely violent.—
Eric Jackman (@NewYorkRic) July 27, 2014
Robbie gets wobbled—
Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 27, 2014
Lawler has both of Brown's eyes puffed and reddened within a minute. Everything landing with both hands. Lawler is bombing surgically.—
Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) July 27, 2014
Waters getting deep. Can Immortals swim? #UFConFOX—
Mackens Semerzier (@MackDaMenaceMMA) July 27, 2014
Gun fight!!!!!—
Dana White (@danawhite) July 27, 2014
OMG OMG OMG this is a slug fest!!!—
John Stouffer (@johnstouffer) July 27, 2014
THIS FIGHT IS BRUTAL!!!!!!!!! #LawlerVSBrown—
Siyar (@Bahadurzada) July 27, 2014
Please sir, can I have some more?? #LawlerVSBrown—
russell doane (@RussellDoane135) July 27, 2014
It's only the first round @ufc fans—
Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) July 27, 2014
Amazing first rd. Lawler opens up and rocks brown. Brown returns. Lawler returns…so good!!!! 10-9 lawler #ufcfightnight—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 27, 2014
Wow great first round!! War @Ruthless_RL !! War @AmericanTopTeam !!!—
Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) July 27, 2014
Woah great first round #UFConFOX #LawlerVSBrown—
Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) July 27, 2014
Hello of a first round UFC of Fox main event—
Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) July 27, 2014
Brown gets Lawler down…Lawler gets back up. #UFConFOX12—
Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) July 27, 2014
Athletically Matt Brown is awful. I'll bet I run a faster 40.—
Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) July 27, 2014
@IamTheImmortal one winning this round so far. @ufc @UFCONFOX #ufc #UFConFOX—
Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 27, 2014
Jesus. These guys are tough as nails. Nails created from diamonds forged by hundreds of years of pressure and other manly enviro shit.—
Derek Bolender (@MMAjunkieDerek) July 27, 2014
Matt has better Thai boxing bot Robbie has better boxing. @ufc @FOXSports1—
JohnDoomsdayHoward (@JohnDoomsday) July 27, 2014
R1 Lawler
R2 Brown—
Dennis Hallman (@DennisHallman) July 27, 2014
Slower paced rd 2. Lawler looked almost too relaxed and I think brown took rd 2 #ufcfightnight—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 27, 2014
Wow great 1st and 2 round. What they got in the third. #UFCFightNight—
Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) July 27, 2014
I got them at one each…—
Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 27, 2014
This is a great fight! #UFConFOX12—
Shannon Knapp (@shanknapp) July 27, 2014
Hard kick to body by Lawler—
Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 27, 2014
One round each. @Ruthless_RL is winning this round so far. @ufc @UFCONFOX #ufc #UFConFOX—
Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 27, 2014
I'm trying to see what those dude wipes are about ! #UFConFOX—
Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 27, 2014
Midway through the third, Lawler looks in control. He cut Brown open in the first minute.—
Josh Gross (@yay_yee) July 27, 2014
Big John with another botched call on a body kick. #UFConFOX12 #MMA—
Rob Tatum (@RobTatumMMA) July 27, 2014
Lawler hits Brown with a kick that's not low, Brown grabs his junk, acts like it was low, wasn't, ref gives him break. #UFConFox12 #UFC #MMA—
Danny Acosta (@AcostaIsLegend) July 27, 2014
That was NOT legit man shit.—
Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) July 27, 2014
So, if you get hurt with a body kick, act like it hit you in the groin. It'll work. Got it. #UFConFOX12—
Hunter Alek Homistek (@HunterAHomistek) July 27, 2014
Matt brown just did the equivalent of flopping in other sports—
malki kawa (@malkikawa) July 27, 2014
You know how I know this fight will go 5 rounds? The commentator curse of "there's no way this will go 5 rds!"—
Aaron Riley (@aaronrileymma) July 27, 2014
Going to say 1st rd 10-9 Brown, 2nd & 3rd rd 10-9 Lawlor. 2 rounds to 1 Lawlor @ufc @UFCONFOX #ufconfox12 who u got so far?—
Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) July 27, 2014
Lawler came out with some pep and landed some great kicks to brown’s body which seemed to hurt him. 2-1 lawler #ufcfightnight—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 27, 2014
R3 close….small edge to Lawler—
Dennis Hallman (@DennisHallman) July 27, 2014
Lawler 2 rounds to 1. C'mon, brother!!!—
Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) July 27, 2014
2-1 @Ruthless_RL what you guys think? @ufc @UFCONFOX #ufc #UFConFOX12 #UFConFOX—
Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 27, 2014
Two to one #Ruthless—
Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 27, 2014
Brown needs to put 5,6,7,8 punch combinations together to keep Robbie on his heels. Brown has been Fantastic in the clinch @UFCONFOX—
Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) July 27, 2014
Lawler gets the quick takedown, advances into half guard.—
MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 27, 2014
They separate.Whole left side of Brown's head is bloody #UFConFOX12—
Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) July 27, 2014
Something's up with Brown's left ear … right? Doesn't look right from where I'm sitting.—
Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 27, 2014
Wow, Brown is slowing down. #UFConFOX12—
Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 27, 2014
I don't even know whose winning so far. I'd hate to be the judge of this fight—
Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) July 27, 2014
Damn this fight is amazing—
Will Brooks
(@illwillbrooks86) July 27, 2014
It almost looks like Lawler's using this for practice to go 5 against Johny again.—
Brad Taschuk (@bradtaschuk) July 27, 2014
3 rounds to 1 Lawlor. He looks in better shape as well. We'll c how the 5 round goes. Who would've though that these 2 would go 5 rds?—
Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) July 27, 2014
R4 Lawler
3rds to 1 for Robbie
Matt needs the finish…I am excited to see how he comes out in the 5th
#NowOrNever
#goforit—
Dennis Hallman (@DennisHallman) July 27, 2014
3-1 @Ruthless_RL and @IamTheImmortal know it @ufc @UFCONFOX #ufc #UFConFOX—
Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 27, 2014
3 rounds to 1 Lawler—
Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) July 27, 2014
Lawler came out rd 4 with direction and purpose. Brown isn’t looking very good, lawler is fresher 3-1 #ufcfightnight—
Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 27, 2014
One final round to decide who earns a shot at the UFC welterweight title! #UFCFightNight—
UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2014
That's how u start a final round!—
Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) July 27, 2014
Brown looks exhausted. Really went for it to start the round.—
Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 27, 2014
If Robbie holds on, I bet he will say this was a tougher fight on him than the Hendricks five-rounder was.—
Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 27, 2014
Haha my striking > these guys! ?? #LawlerVSBrown—
Siyar (@Bahadurzada) July 27, 2014
Punch him in the belly man baby—
Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) July 27, 2014
Matt Brown is a #dog I swear lol @ufc—
Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) July 27, 2014
What a fight!!! Both true warriors! I'm happy if either guy to wins. Pulling for Brown tho! He has an amazing story! #UFConFOX12—
Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 27, 2014
Awesome fight…amazing round 5 @IamTheImmortal @Ruthless_RL—
Eddie Wineland (@EddieWineland) July 27, 2014
2 Real fighters right here!!! #UFConFOX12—
Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 27, 2014
Exhale …—
RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) July 27, 2014
THAT WAS AWESOME #UFConFOX12—
Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) July 27, 2014
What a fucking fight.—
Duane Finley (@DuaneFinleyMMA) July 27, 2014
Wowwwwwwwwww awesome fight..—
Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) July 27, 2014
Round 6 plz #UFConFOX—
Mackens Semerzier (@MackDaMenaceMMA) July 27, 2014
Lawler should have this fight in the bag. Brown is one tough bastard.—
Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) July 27, 2014
I say @Ruthless_RL 4 rounds to 1—
Mike Kogan (@MikeKogan) July 27, 2014
Good fight iv got Lawler winning it but Brown had his moments for sure #UFConFOX12 #UFCFightNight—
John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) July 27, 2014
As a fighter you always want to have fights like these….. Till the next morning when pain sets in—
Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 27, 2014
Unbelievably impressed with Matt Browns aggressive attacks in the 5th. U can't fake that kind of toughness! @ufc—
Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) July 27, 2014
That's why I love the @ufc 2 guys throwing it all out there! Great main event—
Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) July 27, 2014
Matt Brown. What a machine—
Thomas E Watson (@TomKongWatson) July 27, 2014
That's what fightin' is all about… @Ruthless_RL !!—
Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) July 27, 2014
What a war!!—
AL IAQUINTA (@ALIAQUINTA) July 27, 2014
Damn what a fight congrats @Ruthless_RL—
Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) July 27, 2014
This fucking guy makes it look like, to him, it's no big deal. @Ruthless_RL #UFConFOX12 @AmericanTopTeam—
Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) July 27, 2014
Ruthless!!! @Ruthless_RL With the W to lock up the #titleshot Way to go Robbie! #ATTNation #UFCFightNight #UFConFOX #UFConFOX12 #ATTtakeover—
American Top Team (@AmericanTopTeam) July 27, 2014
And the winner, earning a shot at the UFC welterweight title… @Ruthless_RL #UFCFightNight—
UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2014
UFC on FOX 12 results, photos: Robbie Lawler tops gritty Matt Brown in shootout wp.me/p3WzJ0-vM6—
(@MMAjunkie) July 27, 2014
I'm taking off my dress shoes and putting on my Adidas and getting ready to walk back to Vegas! I didn't see that coming!!!—
Dana White (@danawhite) July 27, 2014
For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 12, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.
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