Tom Lawlor is a very good grappler but between his poor execution in the cage and too much partying outside it, he was facing a winless 2010. Before his fight against Patrick Cote, Lawlor cleaned up his life and joined a more professional training camp in New England. The moves worked wonders as Lawlor took Cote down anytime he wanted. He breaks a two-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory, 30-27 on all cards, in the opening preliminary bout on Spike.
It was a perfect matchup for Lawlor. But only if he played to his strength. His two losses this year came because he tried to slug it out too often with Aaron Simpson and Joe Doerksen. Lawlor got tired in those bouts.
Making sure this one hit the deck was the plan. Lawlor (7-3-1, 3-2 UFC) scored a takedown 1:03 into the first and then two more in the second. It was more the same in the third when it took just seven seconds to get Cote on his back.
Cote's a good example of what used to work in the UFC in 2006 and 2007. Elite fighters could survive as one-dimensional fighter. The slugger from Montreal simply hasn't improved his game-planning or takedown defense. Now he's facing termination with the promotion after losing his second straight. Cote may get a reprieve because this was just his second fight in the last 25 months. Cote (13-7, 4-4 UFC) has struggled to comeback from the effect of several major knee injuries.
UFC 121 undercard results (Courtesy MMAjunkie):
Jon Madsen def. Gilbert Yvel via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 1:48.
Chris Camozzi def. Dongi Yang via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
Sam Stout def. Paul Taylor via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27).
Daniel Roberts def. Mike Guymon via submission (anaconda choke) - Round 1, 1:13
Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage
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