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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
It appears the UFC is moving towards the Robbie Lawler-Johny Hendricks trilogy fight.
Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday's new episode of UFC Tonight that Rory MacDonald has been told he will not get the next UFC Welterweight Title fight, leaving Lawler-Hendricks III as the most likely matchup for that next 170 lb. Title bout.
MacDonald had been in line to face the winner of Hendricks-Lawler II at UFC 181, having moved into contention with three straight wins in 2014. However, that came after a loss to Lawler in November of last year, and with Lawler capturing the title in a razor thin decision over Hendricks, the UFC appears to be going with that third fight instead of a Lawler-MacDonald rematch.
According to Helwani, Hendricks' camp hasn't yet heard from the UFC on that bout, but he was the clear option other than MacDonald.
Penick's Analysis: With Lawler wanting to be out until May anyway, this gives MacDonald a chance to get back in the cage, rather than sit on the sidelines for six months or longer after picking up three wins this year. At just 25-years-old, he's got plenty of time to get into this title mix, and if he wins another fight in the interim to let a trilogy bout play out, he could still get that fight in 2015. Now, a curveball could be the UFC going with something other than either of those two fights, but I don't know who would have a case over MacDonald at the moment.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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