A new welterweight champion was crowned for the first time in six years when Johny Hendricks (16-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) defeated Robbie Lawler (22-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) for the vacant belt in the UFC 171 headliner.

It was an incredible back-and-forth battle for five full rounds that was ultimately decided in the final frame when “Bigg Rigg” secured the most significant takedown of his career.

Saturday’s event from Dallas’ American Airlines Center was stacked with significant matchups in the 170-pound weight class, but none was more important than Hendricks’ victory over Lawler to capture the belt in the main event.

To see what fighters in the MMA community thought about Hendricks’ title-winning performance, check out these Twitter reactions below:

It’s timeeeeeeeee. — Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) March 16, 2014

Is Robbie trying the ALI rope a dope ? Also remember Robbie vs Melvin manhoff…he doesn’t check leg kick well — Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) March 16, 2014

I wonder if Robbie is trying to get Hendricks to gas himself — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 16, 2014

This fight is crazy #UFC171 — Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) March 16, 2014

Great recovery by Hendricks though ! mannnnn #UFC171 — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 16, 2014

It is a back hand heavy division. Wrestlers with an overhand. If the approach is singular, it’s not good enough. #LimitedFlow #WayTooSlow — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 16, 2014

What a fight on UFC tonight ! Extrategy And a Crazy boxe Rob impressive night Com estratégia o Rob Lowller impressiona na luta ! — Rodrigo Nogueira (@Minotauromma) March 16, 2014

Holy shit! This is a fight of the year candidate and it ain’t even over yet!!! @ufc @Ruthless_RL @JohnyHendricks — Joe Duarte (@JoeDuarteMMA) March 16, 2014

Am I the ONLY person that sees the rope a dope happening here? Soaking up Johny’s energy. #longPlay #ufc171 — Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) March 16, 2014

This is the weirdest fight. There athletic ability is canceling out & they seem uncomfortable against another south paw. What do you think? — Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) March 16, 2014

Good fight but weird fight… #UFC171 — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 16, 2014

What a WAR!!!! Hendricks vs Lawler — Dana White (@danawhite) March 16, 2014

Best performance in Lawler career — Murilo Bustamante (@murilobusta) March 16, 2014

Somebody got fotn bonus…. — Tim Boetsch (@TimBoetsch) March 16, 2014

Lawler showed up nice!! Awesome fight! #Ufc171 — Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) March 16, 2014

Hendricks is taking over with 1 min left!! #ufc171 — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014

Johny Hendricks is ur new @ufc champion!!!!!!! Go pokes! — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 16, 2014

Johnny Hendricks should be your new UFC welterweight champion. Johnny KNOWS HOW TO WIN. #UFC171 — James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 16, 2014

Great fight — Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) March 16, 2014

Hendricks should be the new 170 champ 48-47…let’s see how the judges scored it! #ufc171 — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014

Think Robbie won 3-2. But not sure such a hard fight to score — Chris Clements (@menaceclements) March 16, 2014

I have it Hendricks 3-2. Great last round by Hendricks #UFC171 — Anthony Perosh (@AnthonyPerosh) March 16, 2014

That was insane. 3-4 Robbie 5 Johny. 1 johny 2 flip coin — TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) March 16, 2014

What do you think of that decision?? @ufc #UFC171 — Travis Browne (@travisbrowneMMA) March 16, 2014

I just want a chance against Aldo in a main event to give the fans a fight Ike this!!! @danawhite @ufc — Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 16, 2014

Great fight. Shame one guy has to lose. #UFC171 #WelterweightGold — Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) March 16, 2014

If Hendricks does win, Robbie can use Hendricks line against Gsp. “Look at him, now look at me”😉 — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 16, 2014

Congrats big rigg — Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 16, 2014

I felt like Robbie was holding back… But then didn’t bring it hard like he could have. Or maybe he was tired? What do you think? — Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) March 16, 2014

And it’s official Hendricks is the NEW champ! — Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) March 16, 2014

This fight lived up to the hype… MMA is the greatest sport in the world! How can u not love MMA after watching such a fight! — 187er (@SiyarTheKiller) March 16, 2014

Right call but was cheering on Robbie in that last round great fight! #UFC171 — John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) March 16, 2014

Wide open divison. I foresee change in 2014 #Exciting #UFC171 — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 16, 2014

Wth — Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 16, 2014

My brother beat all these motherfuckers #wackasshendrix #sorryassjudges — Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 16, 2014

UFC 171 results: Johny Hendricks wins welterweight title against gritty Robbie Lawler http://t.co/vs1Ero6mXb — MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) March 16, 2014

For complete coverage of UFC 171, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

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Check out video highlights and a recap of UFC 171:

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