Johny Hendricks striking Mike Pierce (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Johny Hendricks is scheduled to rematch Robbie Lawler at UFC 181 on December 6th, and not only will it be the welterweight champ’s first title defence, it will be the first rematch of his MMA career.

Hendricks decisioned Lawler in March to lay claim to the promotion’s vacant welterweight title, but the decorated wrestler has been sidelined with injuries since.

So how does Lawler intend to approach Lawler in the rematch? And offer the feared slugger some new looks and challenges? While speaking to UFC.com recently, the 31 year-old relayed the following:

“It’s pretty easy,” the former NCAA wrestling champ said while discussing rematches. “You sit there and you go, okay, I know he knows I can do this and I can do that, so how do you hide it a little bit better? That’s what helped me to stay where I was at – I was always adapting. I was staying with the same thing, but making it better. For example, I always hit a single leg, but what I learned was how to hide it. And once I learned that, then it became easier to move forward and to face these guys. Because even though they know it’s coming, they don’t know when because this is what I’m doing to prevent them from knowing that. That’s sort of what this fight is going to be for me. Okay, Robbie knows I can do this, he knows I can do that. I know what he can do. So how am I going to overcome that?”

While Hendricks hasn’t fought since UFC 171, Lawler has earned a split decision win over Rory MacDonald and scored a stoppage win over Jake Ellenberger.

UFC 181 will be hosted by the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will also feature lightweight champ Anthony Pettis taking on Gilbert Melendez.