Dominick Cruz, Miesha Tate, Stipe Miocic, Michael Bisping, Eddie Alvarez, Amanda Nunes, Tyron Woodley.
2016 has seen a lot of new champions crowned. Seven to be precise.
For some reason, nobody can seem to hang on to his/her belt this year and it makes for a fascinating experience for fight fans as it’s been proven that literally nothing can be predicted in the Octagon.
That last statement tends to be even truer when a fighter with the explosive power of brand new welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is taken into consideration.
‘The Chosen One’ has the ability to knock out any man on the planet and he provided some pretty unassailable evidence of that theory when he stopped one of the most durable fighters in MMA history on Saturday night.
Robbie Lawler came in to the UFC 201 main event uncharacteristically tentative as he aimed to protect himself from the early onslaught that inevitably comes opposite Woodley.
NEW UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION! @TWooodley‘s unbelievable first-round KO!??? #UFC201 https://t.co/BKBDrddCat
— #UFC201 (@btsportufc) July 31, 2016
The cautious tactic didn’t work though as all it took was a sharp feint with the left and follow through with a right to send ‘Ruthless’ to his back after just over two minutes of the opening round.
Woodley pounced, arced some thunderous ground-and-pound towards Lawler’s chin and was shoved away by referee Dan Miragliotta, safe in the knowledge that his work had been done.
Woodley vs. ‘Wonderboy’? Yes, please!