SUNRISE, Fla. -- In a shocking comeback that represented one of the most entertaining few minutes of mixed martial arts you'll ever see, Robbie Lawler knocked out Melvin Manhoef Saturday at Strikeforce Miami.Manhoef stalked Lawler in the early going, and Lawler started the fight off with a high kick. But once Manhoef got settled in he started using the hard-striking style that has made him a big star among fight fans in Japan, peppering Lawler with punches and kicks. It looked like Manhoef was well on his way to dominating the fight, and then suddenly -- shockingly -- Lawler leveled Manhoef with a huge right hook that sent him flat on his back, where Lawler pounced and finished it, knocking Manhoef unconscious with a left hand on the ground.
The win represents more than just a comeback in the cage on Saturday night: It's also a comeback for Lawler's career. Lawler only fought once in 2009, losing a first-round submission to Jake Shields. Lawler needed a big win to start 2010, and on Saturday night he got it.
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