By Brad Lewis
UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler heads into Sunday's (NZT) title defence against Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 off the back of two of the greatest title fights in the history of the sport.
Following his Fight of the Year winning performance over Rory MacDonald in July 2015, the American won a controversial split decision against Carlos Condit in January in a fight that produced the best round in UFC history.
Robbie Lawler vs Rory MacDonald (Getty Images)
The 15-year MMA veteran is riding a five-fight win streak and is in the fighting form of his career.
Lawler, 34, is arguably the most popular champion in the UFC and his aggressive nature guarantees exciting fights.
The challenge in front of Lawler on Sunday is very familiar, but also a very challenging one.
Woodley has trained with Lawler at American Top Team in Florida for most of his professional career.
The two don't hide their fondness for each other, but have promised that friendship will play no part when the cage door closes.
Woodley's a powerful wrestler with heavy hands and incredible early fight speed, but the key for this bout will be the early rounds.
Woodley will be extremely dangerous for the first two rounds but has been known to fade late, and against a tough nut like Lawler, that spells danger to me and will prove to be the challenger's downfall.
Lawler is on the verge of super stardom if he's not already there, and with Jon Jones likely to fade away for the next two years, Lawler has the chance to join Connor McGregor and Ronda Rousey as the UFC's top stars.
A super fight with Georges St-Pierre is heavily rumoured if he can get past Woodley, and with so much on the line, I can't see the champion losing.
Elsewhere on the card I think Rose Namajunas books a women's strawweight title shot with a win over Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and perennial welterweight contender Matt Brown gets back on track over veteran Jake Ellenberger.
Newshub.
