Robbie Lawler‘s journey through mixed martial arts has been nothing short of compelling and is a tale told in two parts. The opening chapters were filled with both success and failure—great expectations and letdowns—while the second half that is currently being written has a story of redemption fit for a Hollywood portrayal of a prize fighter.
As the saying goes, “Everyone loves a comeback story,” and Ruthless has battled back from the brink of obscurity to become one of the most dominant forces in what is arguably the most talent-stacked division under the UFC banner. Simply put: Lawler isn’t the type to squander second chances, and his work inside the Octagon over the past two years is proof to solidify that notion.
Since making his return to the UFC in early 2013, the American Top Team standout has won five of his six showings inside the cage as he’s notched one impressive performance after another. Over this stretch, the storied knockout artist has not only returned to form but surpassed previous expectations as he’s battered a collection of top-ranked opponents en route to becoming a title contender.
Yet the one setback he’s suffered during what has been an extraordinary resurgence came when the stakes were at their highest when he squared off with Johny Hendricks for the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171 back in March. The 32-year-old powerhouse and Bigg Rigg put on one of the year’s best scraps as they took turns teeing off on one another throughout the duration of the 25-minute affair with Hendricks earning the split-decision nod on the judges’ scorecards.
And while Lawler is admittedly not one to linger in the past, that doesn’t take anything away from his determination not to repeat it. He has his sights set on Hendricks and championship gold once again as the dynamic striker heads into their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 181 on Dec. 6. Since coming short that night in Dallas, Lawler has worked furiously to get another shot at the welterweight crown, and he accomplished that task on the strength of back-to-back victories over fellow members of the divisional upper tier of the 170-pound fold.
Hendricks has been on the sidelines recovering from a torn bicep he suffered in their first meeting and hasn’t stepped inside the Octagon in eight months, but none of this makes any difference to the current No. 1 contender. He sole focus is locked on what he has to do to get his hands on the welterweight title, and that’s exactly what Lawler plans to do at UFC 181 on Saturday night.
“I’m not too worried [about Hendricks’] time off,” Lawler told Bleacher Report. “I’m thinking about how I’ve improved as a fighter now. I’m not necessarily thinking about how Johny’s training is going. I’m focused on making myself the best fighter I’ve ever been before, and that’s the only issue that matters to me. I’m going to be the best fighter I’ve ever been on fight night, and that’s what the problem is going to be for Johny Hendricks.”
While the lion’s share of attention will fall on the fate of the welterweight title Saturday, Lawler‘s renewed run at the highest level of the sport stands a great chance of being unaffected regardless of the outcome. Granted, winning his first UFC title would be a tremendous feather to add to his cap, but failing to do so won’t change the fact that fight fans have fallen back in love with watching Lawler work when the cage door closes.
Over the course of his current run of success, he’s reminded MMA‘s passionate fanbase what made him a must-see attraction in the first place, and that’s an incredible accomplishment in its own right. Every second of any fight Lawler is just one clean shot away from bringing his opponent’s night to a brutally abrupt end, and the lingering threat of such things will always be one of the biggest attractions in combat sports.
It’s the very thing that made him want to be a fighter growing up, and the fact he’s now someone people tune into see for that exact reason is a part he’s honored to play.
“I just go out there and do what I do best, and that’s fight,” Lawler said. “I let my hands and feet go and try to finish fights. I guess fans appreciate that, and that’s what I always looked up to when I watched martial arts and boxing growing up. I always appreciated guys who went out there looking to finish and gave it their all. That’s what I’m looking to do every time I go out there.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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