Dana White Breaks Down The Welterweight Title Picture
Not long after revealing Matt Brown vs. Robbie Lawler would headline UFC on Fox 12, with the winner getting the next shot at Johny Hendricks welterweight title. The promotions president Dana White broke down what the current landscape looks like in the 170 pound division.
At the moment, the weight class is brimming with potential contenders. Rory MacDonald, Tyron Woodley, Hector Lombard and Dong Hyun Kim are all in the title picture, but according to White, they are all behind Brown and Lawler:
“We got Robbie Lawler who just came off a controversial loss to the champion, and number one (Lawler) is facing number five (Brown).”White said via UFC.com. “Robbie just beat the number five and number six guys in his wins, right? And he was in a controversial fight with the champ, so he deserves this fight.
If Matt Brown beats Robbie Lawler then he just beat the number one contender and he gets the fight.”
White said the winner of Woodley vs. MacDonald, who meet in June, could get a title shot after the Lawler/Brown winner has had theirs. But, the UFC head also said the victor could face the winner of Lombard vs. Kim, who will fight in August, for the next shot.
As confusing as that sounds, it’s nice to see such a buzz in the division which has previously been labeled as lacklustre. White says the Lawler vs. Brown fight has got everybody pumped and he can’t wait to see the two go at it:
“Two guys, two nasty, mean, viscous, nasty guys who love to bang, in their prime, number one and number five, banging it out for the chance to fight for the title. I love it. It’s the best fight we could have made, and thank God Lawler is such a stud he’ll turn around so fast and take this fight.
Those are the kind of guys I love to watch fight, and I know those are the kind of guys fans love to watch fight. That’s why everyone is so pumped about this fight because it’s two guys with the same style, two guys with the same mentality, and two absolute total bad asses. I love it.”
Lawler vs. Brown are set to meet on July 26 with the winner set to be the front runner for the first crack at Hendricks’ title. Who do you think deserves the first shot at the champion?
