UFC
Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit now official for UFC 195 headliner in Las Vegas on Jan. 2
Sep 4, 2015 - 9:35:41 AM Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit now official for UFC 195 headliner in Las Vegas on Jan. 2

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With Robbie Lawler's thumb injury not requiring surgery, he's back on the schedule for the UFC.

It was announced on FS1's Fox Sports Live program late Thursday night that the UFC Welterweight Champion will defend his title as expected against Carlos Condit at UFC 195 on Jan. 2, 2016.

The fight was originally scheduled for Nov. 14 at UFC 193 in Australia, while UFC 195 was originally slated to be headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Those two fights have now simply switched places, and Lawler-Condit will top the first pay-per-view card of 2016.

Lawler captured the UFC Welterweight Championship from Johny Hendricks in December of 2014, and defended it in one of this year's best fights, stopping Rory MacDonald in the fifth round at UFC 189.

Condit's getting another shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship, his first since a loss to Georges St-Pierre in November of 2012. He returned from an injury layoff in May, taking out Thiago Alves in two rounds.

Penick's Analysis: With Lawler's injury only pushing him back a short time, this was expected, but it's good to see it made official so quickly. It's a great fight just looking at it stylistically, and it's going to be an exciting matchup to headline the first card of the year. As has been the case with the fight since it was initially announced, there are others who have a claim for being the division's No. 1 contender, but this is one of the more intriguing fights to be made regardless, and should be a great fight in Las Vegas.