Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler II headlines UFC 181 following hand injury to Chris Weidman

A hand injury to Chris Weidman has delayed his title defense against Vitor Belfort until early 2015 and UFC 181 will now be headlined by Johny Hendricks defending the UFC welterweight title against Robbie Lawler.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC announced the change in a press release issued to the media on early Monday evening.

UFC 181 will come from the Mandalay Bay Events Center on December 6th and the co-main event will also be a title fight as Anthony Pettis defends the UFC lightweight title against Gilbert Melendez.

The UFC will be holding a press conference for the event on Friday at the MGM Grand’s Premier Ballroom with UFC President Dana White, Hendricks, Lawler, Pettis, and Melendez. The event is free and open to the public.

Tickets for UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II, go on sale Friday, September 26 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,000, $750, $550, $400, $250 and $125 (prices do not include applicable service charges). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000, and the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, September 24 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, September 25 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

The current UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II fight card is below.

Johny Hendricks (16-2) vs. Robbie Lawler (24-10, 1NC)
Anthony Pettis (17-2) vs. Gilbert Melendez (22-3)
Travis Browne (16-2-1) vs. Brendan Schaub (10-4)
Corey Anderson (4-0) vs. Gian Villante (12-5)
Todd Duffee (8-2) vs. Anthony Hamilton (12-3)