Hendricks grabs title

Johny Hendricks won the vacant welterweight championship Saturday night, unanimously outpointing Robbie Lawler in five rounds at UFC 171 in Dallas. Tyron Woodley won the co-feature, stopping Carlos Condit to set up a likely title bout against Hendricks (left in photo) in the 170-pound division. Fighting in Hendricks’ adopted hometown, Lawler (right) opened a cut beside Hendricks’ right eye in the fourth round. All three judges scored the fight 28-27 for Hendricks. The title was vacated by Georges St. Pierre, who had held it since 2007. In his final defense, St. Pierre took a disputed split decision over Hendricks in November. Hendricks improved to 16-2, and Lawler fell to 22-10 with one no-contest. The winner’s background as a two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Oklahoma State helped him take down Lawler twice. Also on the main card, welterweight Hector Lombard dominated the bloody Jake Shields, winning by unanimous decision. Shields lost a title bout to St. Pierre in 2011. – AP