Robbie Lawler destroys Rory MacDonald's nose to defend title at UFC 189

In a night full of wars, Robbie Lawler had to outlast a gutsy performance from Rory MacDonald but still got the job done with a fifth-round TKO to defend his welterweight title in an instant classic at UFC 189.

Lawler was making the first defense of his belt since beating Johny Hendricks last year and faced MacDonald in a rematch after beating the Canadian by split decision in 2013.

The early going saw patience from both men as they tried to find their range, but as soon as the second round began the action picked up in a major way.

Lawler found his range and started to unload combinations that forced MacDonald to abandon his game plan, in which he tried to feed the champion a steady diet of body kicks while trying to opening up shots to the head.

The damage mounted when MacDonald's nose got busted and blood started to flow down his face in a steady stream. It appeared Lawler was in control until the third round started.

MacDonald went back to his original strategy, and it was a head kick that nearly changed the course of the fight as Lawler was hurt and stumbled backwards.

MacDonald poured on the offense with Lawler trapped against the cage, but couldn't quite get his shots through the champion's defense to get the finish.

Lawler fought back in round four after a difficult start, which brought the fight to the final five minutes with each fighter wearing a crimson mask of blood.

Before the start of the final round, Lawler spit blood in his corner and stared down MacDonald before coming out like a rocket, and it was one straight punch down the middle that put an end to the fight, as his fist connected with an already busted nose that took the brunt of the damage.

MacDonald crumpled onto his back in pain, and Lawler needed only a couple more punches before the referee called a stop to the fight.

"That was an accumulation of a beatdown," Lawler shouted after the win. "That wasn't one punch — that was years of fighting right there. I'm the champ. I'm here to stay."

Lawler needed a ton of heart to win his first title defense, but he got the job done in one of the most action-packed championship bouts in recent memory. On the other side of the Octagon, MacDonald loses in his first bid to win the welterweight gold, but maybe he's walking the same path as his teammate and mentor Georges St-Pierre, who stumbled out of the blocks in his inaugural title fight in the UFC as well before becoming one of the longest reigning champions in MMA history.