Corey Anderson Defeats Tom Lawlor In Odd Decision

A light heavyweight scrap took the second slot on the main card of UFC 196. The two 205-pounders who did battle were Corey Anderson (8-1) and Tom Lawlor (10-6, 1 NC).

Anderson landed a leg kick early. Lawlor answered with a barrage of punches, one of them being a stiff uppercut. An inside leg kick found the mark for “Beastin 25/8.” “Filthy” connected with a straight left hand and a right hook. Commentator Joe Rogan pointed out that the two fighters clashed heads, but no time was called and neither one seemed bothered by the accident. Anderson landed another inside leg kick as the round ended. Round one belonged to “Filthy,” or so it seemed.

Lawlor got a hold of Anderson’s leg for a brief takedown at the start of round two. “Filthy” grazed his opponent behind the ear. A straight right hand to the body landed for Lawlor. A straight right connected for “Beastin 25/8.” He later landed a one-two combination. Lawlor snapped his opponent’s head back with a stiff straight left. Lawlor threw was some wild hooks as Anderson’s back was against the fence. Anderson landed a knee to the body as the second stanza ended.

A short right hand found the target for “Filthy” early in the final frame. Anderson completed a takedown and was in side control. He dropped down an elbow. Lawlor forced Anderson to half guard. The fight was stood back up and the two met in the center of the Octagon. A straight right landed for “Beastin 25/8” as the final horn sounded.

Shockingly, two of the three judges gave every round to Anderson. The first round looked to clearly be in Lawlor’s favor. The final judge gave “Beastin 25/8” two rounds.

Final Result: Corey Anderson def. Tom Lawlor via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)