UFC 201: Tyron Woodley needs to keep Robbie Lawler grounded to force old habits and seize chance, says Dan Hardy

This weekend the UFC welterweight title is on the line, as champion ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler takes on challenger Tyron Woodley. Here, UFC fighter and commentator, Dan Hardy looks ahead to the highly anticipated UFC 201 main event bout

Robbie Lawler defends his UFC welterweight championship at UFC 201 against Tyron Woodley (Getty)

The welterweight title is up for grabs this weekend, in what will be the current champion, Robbie Lawler’s third title defence. He will face Tyron Woodley in Atlanta, Georgia, in the main event of UFC 201. When Lawler made his UFC debut, way back in 2002 at UFC 37, it was clear that he had potential. Undefeated in four fights at the time, he was a very raw talent - reckless and aggressive, and always game for a scrap. In just over ten years he has developed into one of the most fearsome competitors in the sport, and returned to the UFC to fight his way to the title.

His counterpart in this combative affair calls himself ‘The Chosen One’. Whether he has been chosen to take the belt from Lawler in dramatic fashion, or fall at the feet of the reigning champion, is yet to be seen. A powerful, highly credentialed wrestler, Woodley will have the technical ability to challenge the champion at close range, but it won’t be easy. Lawler has specified his craft, and has been very clever in streamlining his training to align with his natural abilities, and instinct.

With Lawler having no intention of taking Woodley down and submitting him, it does make the task a little more straightforward for the challenger. Lawler is your quintessential ‘Sprawl and Brawler’, a born heavy-hitter who has focused his wrestling practice on defensive skills: takedown defence, anti-clinch, and getting out of bad positions on the ground, and back to his feet. If Woodley can’t keep Lawler on the mat, that may make for a very long evening.

There is no doubt that Tyron Woodley has fight-ending power. He wields his right hand like the Hammer of Thor, like it is the one shot he needs to win the fight. And at least a third of the time it is… But as devastating a weapon as it is, a reliance on one technique can make one a little predictable. In Woodley’s defence though, he has been out of action for eighteen months, and we don’t know what he has been doing with that time. The luxury of sitting back and studying your sport for an extended period has proven to be very beneficial at times.

Tyron Woodley gets his shot at Robbie Lawler's welterweight title (Getty)

If Woodley is smart he will have diversified his attack, prepared his cardio for the additional championship rounds, and returned to his wrestling roots. The one thing that is certain with Lawler is that the more time he spends stuck on the floor, the more frustrated he gets. With that frustration comes a reversion to old habits like biting down on his mouthguard and swinging for the fences, which must be terrifying, but does create better takedown opportunities when he over-commits to punches.

In his many years on the professional circuit, Lawler has gained better control over that aggressive instinct, and is now much better at channelling it. I’m sure he sees Woodley as the next challenger to his throne, in a long line of title defences that he has yet to make. Woodley, meanwhile, is certain that the belt is leaving with him. He was promised this shot when Johny Hendricks couldn’t make weight and was removed from their scheduled bout, and has waited a long time for his opportunity. It is going to be one hell of a fight.


 Woodley needs to disrupt Lawler in order for himto revert to his old ways 
 (Getty)

The co-main is an electrifying match-up in the women’s strawweight division. This weight class is really taking over right now, and after her recent successful defence, champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be paying close attention. Number three ranked Rose Namajunas feels like she is within reach of that title shot with a win here, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, at number five, is hot on her heels. Both are talented strikers. While Karolina probably has the edge when it comes to striking, this is matched by the well-roundedness of Namajunas.

We also have plenty of other superb match-ups to look forward to including Matt Brown vs Jake Ellenberger, two welterweights campaigning for a foothold in the shark tank of a welterweight division. Also, don’t miss Sunderland’s Ross Pearson, taking a short notice fight in a higher weight class against an extremely dangerous kickboxer in Jorge Masvidal. Another loaded card for your viewing pleasure.

Watch UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley live on BT Sport 2 from 1am BST on the morning of Sunday, July 31^st or catch the Early Prelims from 11:30pm BST on Saturday night on UFC Fight Pass