The anticipation surrounding UFC 214 was built around the card not only being the most stacked lineup of the promotion’s 2017 calendar, but featured the return of the man widely recognized as GOAT stepping into handle business against his greatest rival.

And if if Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier was the fight every fan marked on their calendars, the welterweight clash between Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone easily topped the list of the most potentially violent tilt on the billing. Both men have a long track record of bringing the ruckus, but there was a bit more at stake as well.

With the resurgent veteran not only losing the welterweight title in his most recent bout to Tyron Woodley, btu getting knocked out in the process, doubt crept in as to whether or not the “Ruthless” one’s signature iron chin was still intact.

And while Cerrone’s ability to take a punch wasn’t in question, the free-wheeling confidence “Cowboy” has operated off of was certainly a guessing game. When the Jackson/Winkeljohn fighter is on he’s a force of nature, but when he’s met an equally vicious force inside the cage he’s been known to wilt.

Lawler built his name in the sport by moving forward behind aggression and power and it was the Lawler of old that started the fight. The Combat Club representative came charging across the Octagon out of the gates and attack Cerrone with force, but the New Mexico-based fighter weathered the storm. Cerrone found small windows of offense before landing a clean takedown that allowed him to put Lawler on the canvas to bring the opening round to a close.

The second round was all Cerrone with combinations and precision, but the final round saw Lawler rebound with force. 

The pressure Lawler poured on to start he re-ignited in the final frame and finished with his foot on the throttle. It was a hard-fought battle that lived up to the hype, but it was Lawler who took the unanimous decision victory on the judges' scorecards.