UFC 171
UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on March 15, 2014, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.[1] The pay-per-view event featured 13 bouts, drawing a record crowd of 19,324 attendees and generating a live gate of $2.6 million.[2] The main event was a welterweight championship bout for the vacant title between top contender Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler, following Georges St-Pierre's decision to vacate the belt on December 13, 2013, for an indefinite hiatus due to personal issues after his controversial win over Hendricks at UFC 167.[3] Hendricks won by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) after five rounds of intense striking exchanges, becoming the new UFC welterweight champion and marking the first undisputed title bout at welterweight without St-Pierre since 2006.[1] In the co-main event, Tyron Woodley defeated Carlos Condit via technical knockout (punches) at 2:00 of the second round, marking a significant knockout victory that propelled Woodley toward future title contention.[4] Other notable main card fights included Myles Jury's unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) victory over Diego Sanchez in a lightweight bout, showcasing Jury's striking control, and Hector Lombard's unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) win over Jake Shields in the welterweight division, highlighting Lombard's striking power.[4] The preliminary card featured competitive matchups such as Ovince Saint Preux's first-round submission (guillotine choke) of Nikita Krylov in the light heavyweight division.[4] Overall, UFC 171 was praised for its high-level welterweight action and set a new attendance benchmark for UFC events in Dallas.[5]Background
Welterweight Title Vacancy
On December 13, 2013, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre announced his indefinite leave of absence from mixed martial arts, effectively vacating the title just weeks after his controversial split decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 on November 16, 2013.[3][6] St-Pierre cited personal reasons for stepping away, including a desire to address mental health challenges and avoid the pressures of championship defenses, marking the end of his second reign that began in 2008.[3] In response, the UFC opted to crown a definitive new welterweight champion at UFC 171 on March 15, 2014, rather than establishing an interim title, with Hendricks positioned as the top contender due to his recent performance against St-Pierre.[7] This decision underscored the organization's intent to resolve the division's leadership promptly, pairing Hendricks against Robbie Lawler in the main event to determine the undisputed titleholder.[8] St-Pierre's departure created a significant void in the welterweight division, which he had dominated for nearly seven years, compiling eight successful title defenses since reclaiming the belt from Matt Serra in 2008 and establishing himself as one of the most technically proficient and resilient champions in UFC history.[9] His era featured a blend of elite wrestling, striking, and cardio that repelled all challengers, leaving the division in need of a new figurehead to maintain its competitive prestige and global appeal.[10] The vacancy at UFC 171 thus represented a pivotal transition, ensuring the welterweight belt's legacy continued without prolonged uncertainty.[7]Fight Card Development and Changes
UFC 171 was initially slated to feature a light heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and challenger Glover Teixeira, as announced by UFC officials on December 4, 2013.[11] However, following St-Pierre's title vacancy, the matchup was relocated to headline UFC 172 on April 26, 2014, in Baltimore, to allow the welterweight title fight to main event UFC 171, with the change announced on December 13, 2013, and the event details confirmed on January 10, 2014.[12][13] This shift opened the main event slot, which was filled by a welterweight title fight between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler for the vacant championship after Georges St-Pierre's indefinite leave announcement on December 13, 2013.[14] Several bouts underwent changes due to injuries and other issues leading up to the event. On January 28, 2014, flyweight Darrell Montague withdrew from his scheduled fight against Will Campuzano due to injury and was replaced by Justin Scoggins. Similarly, on January 30, 2014, bantamweight Julianna Peña pulled out of her bout with Jessica Andrade after suffering a severe knee injury in training, with her TUF 18 teammate Raquel Pennington stepping in as replacement.[15] Further alterations occurred closer to the date. Light heavyweight Thiago Silva was removed from his fight against Ovince Saint Preux on February 7, 2014, following his arrest on charges related to aggravated assault with a firearm stemming from a domestic incident; the UFC subsequently terminated his contract.[16] Nikita Krylov, dropping from heavyweight for his light heavyweight debut, filled the vacancy.[17] On March 4, 2014, middleweight Tor Troéng withdrew due to a shoulder injury sustained in training, and undefeated newcomer Sean Strickland was announced as his replacement against Bubba McDaniel.[18] At the official weigh-ins on March 14, 2014, lightweight Renée Forte came in at 157 pounds, one pound over the non-title limit, resulting in a catchweight bout against Francisco Trinaldo and a 20 percent forfeiture of his purse to his opponent.[19] These adjustments finalized the card after multiple revisions, reflecting the common challenges of injury and legal matters in MMA event planning.Event
Date, Venue, and Promotion
UFC 171 took place on March 15, 2014.[1] The event was held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, marking the promotion's return to the city since UFC 103 in 2009.[20] The event was promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), with the main event adjusted to feature a welterweight title bout between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler following the vacancy of the championship by Georges St-Pierre.[21] Tickets for the event went on sale to the general public on January 17, 2014.[22]Broadcast Details
UFC 171 was broadcast in the United States across multiple platforms, providing comprehensive coverage of the event held on March 15, 2014. The main card aired exclusively on pay-per-view (PPV) starting at 10:00 p.m. EST, featuring the five-fight lineup including the welterweight title bout.[23][24] The preliminary card was divided into two segments for broader accessibility. Early prelims began at 6:00 p.m. EST on UFC Fight Pass, the promotion's digital subscription service, showcasing four bouts. This was followed by the remaining four preliminary fights on Fox Sports 2 starting at 8:00 p.m. EST, allowing viewers without PPV access to tune in via cable or satellite providers.[23][24][25] English-language commentary for the PPV and Fox Sports 2 broadcasts was provided by the veteran duo of Mike Goldberg as play-by-play announcer and Joe Rogan as color commentator, delivering analysis throughout the event.[26] The full event was later released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment on June 17, 2014, offering fans a two-disc set with approximately 300 minutes of content focused on the fights and highlights.[27]Fight Card
Main Card
The main card of UFC 171 featured five bouts broadcast on pay-per-view, headlined by a welterweight championship fight following the vacancy of the title by Georges St-Pierre.[1] The card underwent several changes prior to the event, including Nikita Krylov stepping in as a late replacement for Thiago Silva opposite Ovince Saint Preux. The bouts, in airing order, were as follows: Light Heavyweight bout: Ovince Saint Preux (14-5, American, fighting out of Knoxville, Tennessee) vs. Nikita Krylov (16-3, Russian, fighting out of Moscow).[28][29] Welterweight bout: Hector Lombard (33-4-1 with 1 NC, Cuban-Australian, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) vs. Jake Shields (29-6-1 with 1 NC, American, fighting out of La Jolla, California).[30] Lightweight bout: Myles Jury (13-0, American, fighting out of San Diego, California) vs. Diego Sanchez (24-6, American, fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico).[31] Welterweight bout: Tyron Woodley (12-2, American, fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri) vs. Carlos Condit (29-7, American, fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico).[32][33] Welterweight Championship bout: Johny Hendricks (15-2, American, fighting out of Austin, Texas) vs. Robbie Lawler (22-9 with 1 NC, American, fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa).[34][35]Preliminary Card
The preliminary card for UFC 171 featured eight bouts across various weight classes, providing a mix of established contenders and emerging talents to support the main event lineup. These fights were split between two broadcasts: four early preliminary bouts streamed on UFC Fight Pass starting at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by four preliminary bouts airing on Fox Sports 2 beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.[24] The early preliminary card on UFC Fight Pass included:| Weight Class | Bout |
|---|---|
| Featherweight | Daniel Pineda vs. Robbie Whiteford |
| Flyweight | Will Campuzano vs. Justin Scoggins |
| Middleweight | Bubba McDaniel vs. Sean Strickland |
| Catchweight (157 lbs) | Francisco Trevino vs. Renee Forte |
| Weight Class | Bout |
|---|---|
| Welterweight | Kelvin Gastelum vs. Rick Story |
| Women's Bantamweight | Raquel Pennington vs. Jessica Andrade |
| Featherweight | Dennis Bermudez vs. Jimy Hettes |
| Welterweight | Sean Spencer vs. Alex Garcia |
Results
Main Card Outcomes
In the main event, Johny Hendricks defeated Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) after five rounds to win the vacant UFC welterweight championship.[37][38] The fight, which headlined the pay-per-view broadcast, saw both fighters exchange heavy strikes throughout, culminating in a close contest decided by the judges.[39] In the co-main event, Tyron Woodley defeated Carlos Condit by TKO due to a knee injury at 2:00 of the second round.[40][41] Woodley landed a low leg kick that hyperextended Condit's knee, forcing the stoppage in their welterweight bout.[39] Myles Jury defeated Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds in a lightweight matchup.[42][43] Jury controlled the fight with superior striking and grappling, outlanding Sanchez significantly on the scorecards.[39] Hector Lombard defeated Jake Shields by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) following three rounds in the welterweight division.[44][45] Lombard dominated with aggressive pressure and takedowns, leading to a clear judges' verdict.[39] Opening the main card, Ovince Saint Preux defeated Nikita Krylov by technical submission via Von Flue choke at 1:29 of the first round in a light heavyweight contest.[46][47] Saint Preux transitioned to the choke from side control against the cage, rendering Krylov unconscious for the quick finish.[39]| Fight | Weight Class | Winner | Method | Round | Time | Scorecards (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler | Welterweight (Title) | Johny Hendricks | Unanimous Decision | 5 | 5:00 | 48-47, 48-47, 48-47 |
| Tyron Woodley vs. Carlos Condit | Welterweight | Tyron Woodley | TKO (Knee Injury) | 2 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Myles Jury vs. Diego Sanchez | Lightweight | Myles Jury | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 |
| Hector Lombard vs. Jake Shields | Welterweight | Hector Lombard | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 |
| Ovince Saint Preux vs. Nikita Krylov | Light Heavyweight | Ovince Saint Preux | Technical Submission (Von Flue Choke) | 1 | 1:29 | N/A |