What a Ruthless end to a career.
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler had his last fight this past Saturday night, starching Niko Price in the first round at UFC 290 in Las Vegas. A few devastating punches from the clinch was all it took for Lawler to end Price’s night.
The typically stoic Lawler expressed his emotion in the cage afterward, showing how much it meant for him to cap his career on a high note. Although the last chapter has been a struggle, including a 3-6 record since 2016, Lawler deserved to go out with a bang by adding another highlight to his tremendous reel.
For those of you more recent MMA fans, you might only remember Lawler in his current form. And that is unfortunate because it’s not a fair representation of the savage fighter that Lawler was at his peak. Lawler was never better than during his run from 2013-2016 when he went 8-1 against the best welterweights on the planet. That included winning the 170-pound title against Johny Hendricks and defending it in back-to-back Fights of the Year against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit.
That rematch with McDonald was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023, and if you haven't seen it, please check it out below. One of the best MMA fights you will ever see.
To further educate you on the totality of Lawler’s career, he joined the famed Miletich Fighting Systems camp in Bettendorf, Iowa, at 16 years old. It was there that he got the chance to learn from some of the sport’s pioneers like Pat Miletich, Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia, and Jens Pulver. Please read this article to learn more about the Miletich camp and Lawler’s early exploits in fighting.
As I mentioned earlier, Lawler’s prime run was during his second UFC stint. He first fought for the promotion from 2002-2004, during which he went 4-3. It was after consecutive losses to Nick Diaz and Evan Tanner that he exited the promotion. From 2005-2008, Lawler went 8-1-1 competing in various organizations, including SuperBrawl, King of the Cage, ICON Sport, Pride, IFL, and Elite XC.
Once Elite XC went out of business, Strikeforce took over Lawer's contract, and he competed for them from 2009-2012. During his Strikeforce tenure, he experienced inconsistent results, going 3-5. Although he fought the best competition available, a hallmark of his lengthy career, he suffered losses to notable names like Jake Shields, Ronaldo Souza, and Tim Kennedy. Posting a below .500 record meant that fans didn't expect much from him when the UFC acquired Strikeforce in 2013.
But that is when he produced the defining moments of his legacy by winning and defending a UFC title while representing the American Top Team gym. During that time, he put on some of the most exciting fights in the company’s history, even though he was thirty years old and had already competed for over a decade.
And at his peak is how we should all remember him. Lawler was intimidating, devastating, and indeed ruthless. He was never the voluble type, always preferring to let his fists do the talking. And talk they did.
Lawler was prone to explosive bursts of unadulterated violence. As soon as one of his lethal left hands connected flush and he saw that his opponent was hurt, the maniacal part of his fighting DNA would spring into action, and his devastating finishing ability would be on full display. It was like a switch flipped inside him, and his violent impulses would take over. But as soon as the fight ended, he would return to his introverted, unassuming self. In that way, fighting was the perfect form of self-expression for a guy like him.
I want to end this tribute with the following quote from Lawler that I found in a UFC tribute video for him. It perfectly sums up Lawler’s mentality and why fans adored him all these years.
"I'm just a guy who went out there and gave it his all. Plain and simple. I just went out there and tried to take somebody's head off, tried to knock somebody out. No nonsense, and I did it with respect. I went in there with respect, left with respect, and treated my opponents with respect. And that's what martial arts is about to me. It's about going out there, giving it your all. Things might not go your way, and you might have some ups and downs but people like guys who battle and go out there and fight. And that's what I've tried to do my whole career, and it's been fun."
Thank you, Robbie, for doing exactly that, and giving us so many unforgettable memories.
Excellent article ! Keep writing!