Dos Anjos dismantles Lawler to take decision in UFC Winnipeg closer

Rafael dos Anjos is a natural welterweight after all.

The former lightweight champion submitted a flawless performance at UFC on FOX 26 on Saturday, outstriking Robbie Lawler both in space and from the clinch through five rounds to take the bill's welterweight main event by unanimous decision in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

After losing the 155-pound crown to Eddie Alvarez and dropping a decision to Tony Ferguson last year, dos Anjos has now emerged as a veritable force at 170 pounds with three straight victories over quality competition in just six months. Saturday's headliner had been billed as a welterweight title eliminator, and the Brazilian called out reigning champion Tyron Woodley moments after the statement victory - his first under the tutelage of coach Jason Parillo.

In a closely contested first round, dos Anjos chopped at Lawler's base with low kicks and battered his midsection with knees from the Muay Thai clinch, while Lawler backed him against the cage and ripped combos in spurts.

The 33-year-old maintained a steady pace and struck at his patented high clip, but really let his hands fly in the second stanza, sending Lawler to the fence with some blistering body work and a flying knee before unleashing an unanswered 23-second storm:

The ever-durable Lawler survived the onslaught - with a smile, no less - to answer the third-round bell, and while he managed to slow the action down with some solid clinch work, dos Anjos regained the reins with a short elbow and shove off the break that sent the former welterweight champ crashing to the canvas:

Dos Anjos fearlessly descended into top position and uncorked nasty elbows on his foe to close out the frame, and with Lawler fighting on sheer resolve and standing on chewed-up legs, the Brazilian pulled away on the scorecards with a workmanlike effort in Rounds 4 and 5.

Aside from a flying knee to close out the fourth, dos Anjos neutralized Lawler's fearsome finishing power by wearing him out against the fence and scoring points with short shots to cap an astounding 200-plus strike showing. When the scorecards were read, all three judges rightfully gave dos Anjos the nod by lopsided tallies of 50-45.

Lawler has now split a pair of bouts since losing the welterweight crown to Woodley by first-round knockout at UFC 201 last summer, with the victory coming in the form of a unanimous decision over Donald Cerrone at UFC 214. He's gone 9-3 since rejoining the promotion in 2013.