In a championship bout that saw both fighters have their moments, Robbie Lawler won a controversial split decision over Johny Hendricks to capture the UFC welterweight gold in the main event of UFC 181.

“Ruthless” came out firing on all cylinders moments after the opening bell rang, stunning Hendricks with repeated stiff knees to the body.

The remainder of the round was a competitive frame where both fighters score with hard shots and “Bigg Rigg” scored a takedown at the tail end of the round.

In rounds 2 through 4, a cool, calm and collected Hendricks utilized effective boxing and leg kicks, occasionally bringing the action to the mat briefly from time to time, though Lawler continued to sling some leather and land a big shot now and then.

However, the champ inexplicably seemed content to coast in the fifth and final round, pushing Lawler into the cage and hanging onto takedowns that weren’t there.

As the fight came to a close, Lawler began to punish Hendricks with hard punches as he tried to force more ill-advised takedown.

In the waning moments of the contest, the Strikeforce import unleashed a brutal flurry that left Hendricks bloody and bewildered.

While many pundits felt that Hendricks had still done enough to win three rounds, two of the three Las Vegas judges felt Lawler won the fight, crowning him the new 170-pound UFC titleholder.

At the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White sad Lawler vs. Hendricks III wasn’t a bad idea, though noted that Rory MacDonald is still in the mix so he was unsure who the next welterweight title challenger would be.

Hendricks won the vacant welterweight strap against Lawler at UFC 171 in March, in what was another competitive, five-round fight.