UFC 195
UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on January 2, 2016, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] The pay-per-view card was headlined by a UFC Welterweight Championship bout between defending champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Carlos Condit, with Lawler retaining the title via controversial split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) after a grueling five-round war that combined high-volume striking, grappling exchanges, and dramatic momentum shifts.[1][2] The fight, which earned Fight of the Night honors and $50,000 bonuses for both competitors, is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining and competitive welterweight title bouts in UFC history due to its relentless pace and close scoring.[3][3] In the co-main event, heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic delivered a stunning first-round knockout (punches) over former champion Andrei Arlovski at just 0:54, securing Performance of the Night honors and positioning himself for an immediate title opportunity against then-champion Fabricio Werdum later that year.[1][4] Miocic's emphatic victory marked his second consecutive win following a loss to Junior dos Santos and highlighted his striking power, ultimately launching a dominant run that included multiple heavyweight title defenses.[5][6] The main card also featured welterweight action with Albert Tumenov defeating Lorenz Larkin by split decision, featherweight prospect Brian Ortega submitting Diego Brandão with a triangle choke in the third round, and lightweight Abel Trujillo submitting Tony Sims with a guillotine choke in the first round.[1] The full 11-fight card, including prelims on Fox Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass, showcased a mix of established stars and rising talents, with additional highlights including Dustin Poirier's unanimous decision win over Joe Duffy in a lightweight prelim bout.[1] UFC 195 drew an announced attendance of 10,300 spectators, generating a live gate of $2,003,986, and achieved approximately 230,000 pay-per-view buys, underscoring its appeal as a marquee early-year event.[7][8]Event Information
Date and Venue
UFC 195 was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on January 2, 2016, marking the promotion's first numbered event and pay-per-view of the year.[1][8] The event was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, a prominent venue frequently used by the UFC for major cards due to its central location in the Las Vegas area and capacity to host large audiences.[1][9] As the 195th event in the UFC's history, it followed closely after UFC 194 on December 12, 2015, continuing the promotion's tradition of high-profile year-end and early-year spectacles.[10][1]Promotion and Attendance
UFC 195 was promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization and officially billed as UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit.[1] Broadcasting for UFC 195 included the main card airing live on pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. ET, with prelims broadcast on Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET and early prelims streaming on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET.[11] The event drew an announced attendance of 10,300 and generated a live gate revenue of $2,003,986 from ticket sales.[7] Estimates for the pay-per-view buyrate vary between 230,000 and 300,000 buys, reflecting solid interest in the main event.[8][12]Background
Welterweight Title Buildup
Robbie Lawler captured the UFC welterweight championship at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014, defeating defending champion Johny Hendricks via split decision in a grueling five-round bout marked by intense striking exchanges.[13] Lawler, returning to the UFC after a stint in Strikeforce, showcased his power punching and durability to edge out Hendricks in a closely contested rematch from their earlier encounter at UFC 171.[14] He then defended the title for the first time at UFC 189 on July 11, 2015, stopping Rory MacDonald via TKO in the fifth round after a bloody war that highlighted Lawler's resilience and knockout power.[15] Carlos Condit, a former WEC welterweight champion who transitioned to the UFC in 2009, earned the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012, by defeating Nick Diaz via unanimous decision in a high-volume striking affair.[16] His interim reign lasted until November 2012, when he lost to Georges St-Pierre in a unification bout at UFC 154, marking his last opportunity at undisputed gold prior to UFC 195. Condit built his reputation with versatile skills, including a notable third-round TKO victory over Rory MacDonald at UFC 115 in June 2010, where he overcame an early deficit with knees and punches in the clinch.[17] Following injuries and a win against Thiago Alves, he positioned himself as the top contender after St-Pierre vacated the title in late 2013.[18] The UFC 195 main event represented Lawler's second non-interim title defense against a seasoned challenger in Condit, who sought to claim the undisputed belt for the first time since his 2012 interim success.[19] Pre-fight narratives emphasized the stylistic contrast: Lawler's legendary chin and knockout power tested against Condit's dynamic striking arsenal and submission threats, with both fighters boasting a combined finishing rate exceeding 87 percent.[20] Betting odds opened with Lawler as a slight favorite at -145 before shifting to a near pick 'em (-110 each), reflecting the anticipated closeness of the matchup.[21] The bout emerged as the new headliner after Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm was rescheduled to UFC 193 in November 2015.[22]Heavyweight Contender Bout
Stipe Miocic entered UFC 195 riding a wave of momentum in the heavyweight division, having secured four wins in his previous five UFC bouts, including a grueling fifth-round stoppage victory over Mark Hunt in May 2015 and a unanimous decision over Gabriel Gonzaga in January 2014.[23][24] These performances highlighted Miocic's durability and striking power, positioning him as the No. 3-ranked heavyweight contender and a rising force capable of challenging the elite.[25][26] Andrei Arlovski, the former UFC heavyweight champion from 2005 to 2006, had staged an impressive resurgence after a nearly eight-year absence from the promotion, compiling a four-fight win streak upon his 2014 return.[27][25] His victories included first-round knockouts of Brendan Schaub and Antonio Silva, a second-round stoppage of Travis Browne, and a unanimous decision over Frank Mir, reestablishing him as the No. 4-ranked contender with his signature knockout power intact.[28][26] The matchup carried high stakes as a potential title eliminator, with the winner positioned to challenge for the heavyweight crown amid a crowded division featuring champion Fabricio Werdum and other top contenders.[29][25] Arlovski's vast experience as a former champion made him a slight favorite in some analyses despite Miocic's youth and athleticism, but Miocic emerged as the betting favorite at -225 odds due to his upward trajectory.[26][30] Pre-fight breakdowns emphasized the stylistic clash between Miocic's collegiate wrestling background and pressure fighting—allowing him to dictate pace and mix takedown threats with heavy punches—and Arlovski's elite striking, which had produced quick finishes in three of his four recent UFC wins.[31][32] Analysts noted that Miocic's ability to close distance and avoid Arlovski's counters would be crucial, while Arlovski aimed to leverage his reach and power for an early knockout.[25][33]Card Changes and Injuries
The UFC 195 event underwent significant alterations to its fight card, primarily driven by injuries affecting high-profile matchups. Originally scheduled to headline with the women's bantamweight title bout between champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Holly Holm, the card was reshaped following welterweight champion Robbie Lawler's thumb injury sustained during his UFC 189 victory over Rory MacDonald in July 2015.[34] This injury delayed Lawler's title defense against Carlos Condit, which had been planned for UFC 193 in November 2015, prompting the UFC to elevate Rousey vs. Holm to that event's main slot while shifting the Lawler-Condit rematch to headline UFC 195 on January 2, 2016. The change ensured UFC 195 retained a championship bout but altered promotional expectations, as the women's title fight's relocation to Australia capitalized on international draw.[35] Several preliminary card bouts also faced disruptions due to withdrawals. In the lightweight division, Erik Koch was forced to withdraw from his scheduled matchup against Drew Dober because of an undisclosed injury announced on December 4, 2015, and was replaced by undefeated Scott Holtzman in a short-notice adjustment.[36] Similarly, bantamweight Russell Doane pulled out of his fight with Michinori Tanaka just days after it was announced, citing injury, leading to Joe Soto stepping in as a replacement on November 30, 2015.[37] Another late change occurred on December 22, 2015, when welterweight Kelvin Gastelum withdrew from his bout with Kyle Noke due to a wrist injury, prompting promotional newcomer Alex Morono to enter on 11 days' notice.[38] Lawler's recovery timeline from the thumb fracture sustained during his UFC 189 victory was pivotal in stabilizing the main event, allowing him to proceed as planned.[39] These adjustments across the card, concentrated in the preliminary portion, highlighted ongoing challenges with fighter availability but resulted in a finalized lineup of 12 bouts by late December 2015, maintaining the event's pay-per-view viability.[40]Fight Card
Main Card Matchups
The main card for UFC 195, broadcast on pay-per-view, consisted of five bouts across multiple weight classes, headlined by a welterweight title fight scheduled for five rounds.[1] In the main event, UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler defended his title against former interim champion Carlos Condit.[1] Lawler, a durable power striker with strong takedown defense and counterpunching ability, faced Condit, a high-volume technician known for his leg kicks, knees, and transitions into grappling positions from the back.[41][29] The matchup pitted Lawler's cerebral range management against Condit's versatile, pace-setting style in a potential back-and-forth war.[29] The co-main event featured a heavyweight clash between Stipe Miocic and Andrei Arlovski, set for three rounds and viewed as a potential title eliminator.[1][29] Miocic, emphasizing volume striking and cardio endurance demonstrated in prior outings, opposed Arlovski's explosive knockout power and extensive experience with nine UFC finishes.[41] A welterweight bout between Lorenz Larkin and Albert Tumenov rounded out the non-title fights at welterweight, also scheduled for three rounds.[1] Larkin's technical striking and composure contrasted with Tumenov's aggressive pressure and knockout streak, including four consecutive finishes.[41] In the featherweight division, Diego Brandao took on Brian Ortega for three rounds.[1] Brandao's forward-pressing aggression and momentum met Ortega's slick ground game, submission expertise, and improving striking.[41] The card opened with a lightweight matchup between Abel Trujillo and Tony Sims, slated for three rounds.[1] Trujillo's aggressive wrestling and knockout power faced Sims' technical striking and experience from regional promotions.[41]Preliminary Card Matchups
The preliminary card for UFC 195 featured five bouts broadcast on Fox Sports 1, headlined by a bantamweight matchup between Michael McDonald and Masanori Kanehara, both scheduled for three rounds.[1] McDonald, a former top prospect looking to rebound from consecutive losses, faced Kanehara, a durable Japanese veteran with experience in Pancrase and Deep, bringing an international flavor to the division. Following that, welterweights Kyle Noke and Alex Morono clashed in a three-round bout, pitting the Australian Noke's grappling expertise against Morono's aggressive striking style in his early UFC tenure.[9] In the women's strawweight division, Nina Ansaroff battled Justine Kish over three rounds, highlighting two rising talents with Ansaroff's judo background contrasting Kish's undefeated record entering the event. The Fox Sports 1 prelims continued with a lightweight showdown between Drew Dober and Scott Holtzman, both set for three rounds, as Dober aimed to build momentum with his knockout power while Holtzman made his promotional debut, followed by Dustin Poirier vs. Joe Duffy.[42] The early preliminary card, streamed on UFC Fight Pass starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, consisted of two three-round bouts to open the night.[11] Bantamweights Joe Soto and Michinori Tanaka squared off, with Soto's dynamic submissions facing Tanaka's precise kickboxing from his Shooto roots. Welterweights Edgar Garcia and Sheldon Westcott followed in a three-round contest, featuring Garcia's Mexican striking heritage against Westcott's power punching.[42]Results
Main Card Outcomes
The main card of UFC 195 featured five high-stakes bouts, headlined by the welterweight championship clash between champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Carlos Condit. Lawler retained his title via split decision after a grueling five-round war marked by mutual respect and intense exchanges.[42] In the opening round of the main event, Condit established early momentum with precise striking, including a lead right hand that floored Lawler midway through the frame, though the champion quickly recovered and fired back with heavy counters before the bell.[2] Lawler shifted the tide in Round 2, landing a devastating right hand that dropped Condit and allowed brief top control, though Condit scrambled up and responded with leg kicks to slow his opponent. Round 3 saw Condit regain volume with combinations and body work, outlanding Lawler in significant strikes while avoiding major damage. In Round 4, Condit wobbled Lawler with a sharp head kick and maintained pressure through clinch knees, nearly sweeping the round on the scorecards. The championship rounds culminated in Round 5, where Lawler's late rally with power punches and aggression edged out Condit's defensive resilience, leading to judges' scores of 47-48 for Condit and 48-47 twice for Lawler. The co-main event pitted heavyweight contenders Stipe Miocic against former champion Andrei Arlovski, ending abruptly in Miocic's favor via TKO (punches) at 0:54 of Round 1. Arlovski pressed forward early, but Miocic countered with a crisp right hand that crumpled the challenger against the cage, allowing ground strikes to prompt referee intervention before Arlovski could recover.[43] Welterweight action followed with Lorenz Larkin facing Albert Tumenov, where Tumenov secured a unanimous decision victory (29-28 across all cards) through effective wrestling and clinch control that neutralized Larkin's damaging leg kicks. Tumenov dictated the pace by closing distance repeatedly, landing takedowns and top pressure to outwork Larkin over three rounds despite the latter's crisp striking volume.[44] In the featherweight bout, Brian Ortega submitted Diego Brandão via triangle choke at 1:37 of Round 3, marking a strong performance for the undefeated prospect. Brandao started aggressively with a slam takedown and ground strikes, but Ortega reversed position and locked in the choke from the bottom, forcing the tap despite Brandao's resistance.[45] The main card opener saw lightweight Abel Trujillo defeat Tony Sims by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:18 of Round 1. Trujillo capitalized on an early exchange, pulling guard to secure the choke after Sims attempted to advance position.[46]Preliminary Card Outcomes
The preliminary card for UFC 195 featured seven bouts that showcased a mix of finishes and decisions, setting the stage for the main events with competitive action across multiple weight classes.[1] In the opening fight on UFC Fight Pass, Sheldon Westcott defeated Edgar Garcia by TKO (punches) at 3:09 of the first round, overwhelming Garcia with ground strikes after an early takedown.[45] Dustin Poirier then outpointed Joe Duffy via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27), dominating the lightweight matchup with superior striking volume and pressure after Duffy appeared hampered by a rib injury.[9] Michinori Tanaka edged out Joe Soto by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) in a closely contested bantamweight affair, where Tanaka's effective grappling and timely takedowns proved decisive in the later rounds.[47] Moving to the Fox Sports 1 prelims, Michael McDonald submitted Masanori Kanehara with a rear-naked choke at 2:09 of the second round, rallying from a dominant first round by Kanehara to secure the bantamweight win with a swift back-take transition.[45] Alex Morono won a split decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30) over Kyle Noke in his UFC debut, surviving early pressure and landing key strikes in an entertaining welterweight battle marked by back-and-forth exchanges.[38] Justine Kish took a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) against Nina Ansaroff in the women's strawweight bout, controlling the fight with consistent wrestling and top control to stifle Ansaroff's offense.[38] The prelims closed with Drew Dober defeating Scott Holtzman by unanimous decision (29-28 x3), relying on high-volume striking and resilience to outlast Holtzman in a gritty lightweight clash.[47]Post-Event
Bonus Awards
Following the conclusion of UFC 195 on January 2, 2016, the promotion awarded its standard post-fight performance bonuses, each valued at $50,000, consisting of one Fight of the Night (FOTN) honor and two Performance of the Night (POTN) awards to recognize exceptional efforts in the Octagon. The FOTN bonus was presented to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Carlos Condit for their main event title fight, a grueling five-round contest marked by intense exchanges, significant striking volume, and several near-finishes that kept the audience engaged throughout. Stipe Miocic earned one POTN award for his dominant first-round knockout of Andrei Arlovski in a heavyweight co-main event bout, finishing the veteran with a flurry of punches just 54 seconds into the fight and showcasing his striking power.[1][4] The second POTN went to bantamweight Michael McDonald for his resilient performance against Masanori Kanehara on the preliminary card, where he overcame an early deficit to secure a second-round submission via rear-naked choke after a slick transition from the bottom position.[48] UFC President Dana White revealed the recipients during the post-event press conference held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, highlighting these performances as the standout moments of the night.Reported Payouts
The reported payouts for UFC 195, as disclosed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, totaled $1,723,000 in base salaries and win bonuses across the 12 fights on the card.[49] These figures represent guaranteed "show" money and do not include pay-per-view revenue shares, which are often undisclosed and can significantly increase earnings for top fighters, or additional performance-based bonuses awarded post-event.[50] The highest earners were headliner Robbie Lawler, who received a flat $500,000 base pay with no win bonus for his welterweight title defense, and co-main event participant Andrei Arlovski, guaranteed $250,000.[49] Carlos Condit earned $315,000 as the challenger, while Stipe Miocic's total of $120,000 incorporated a $60,000 base salary plus a $60,000 win bonus for his upset victory.[50] Mid-card fighters saw more modest guarantees, such as Dustin Poirier at $84,000 ($42,000 base + $42,000 win bonus) and Diego Brandao at $36,000 base pay.[49] Lower-card participants included Michael McDonald with $40,000 ($20,000 base + $20,000 win bonus) and Masanori Kanehara at $14,000 base.[50] For a complete breakdown, the following table lists all disclosed payouts:| Fighter | Base Salary | Win Bonus | Total Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robbie Lawler | $500,000 | - | $500,000 |
| Carlos Condit | $315,000 | - | $315,000 |
| Andrei Arlovski | $250,000 | - | $250,000 |
| Stipe Miocic | $60,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Dustin Poirier | $42,000 | $42,000 | $84,000 |
| Lorenz Larkin | $36,000 | - | $36,000 |
| Diego Brandao | $36,000 | - | $36,000 |
| Michael McDonald | $20,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Abel Trujillo | $20,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Albert Tumenov | $20,000 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Joseph Duffy | $20,000 | - | $20,000 |
| Kyle Noke | $26,000 | - | $26,000 |
| Drew Dober | $13,000 | $13,000 | $26,000 |
| Brian Ortega | $12,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Michinori Tanaka | $12,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Alex Morono | $12,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Masanori Kanehara | $14,000 | - | $14,000 |
| Tony Sims | $12,000 | - | $12,000 |
| Scott Holtzman | $12,000 | - | $12,000 |
| Justine Kish | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Nina Ansaroff | $10,000 | - | $10,000 |
| Joe Soto | $20,000 | - | $20,000 |
| Sheldon Westcott | $10,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Edgar Garcia | $10,000 | - | $10,000 |