UFC president Dana White has stated that Robbie Lawler will retire after his fight with Niko Price at UFC 290 on 7/8 and capping off a 22-year career in the sport.
Two days before UFC 290, Lawler’s second fight with Rory MacDonald from UFC 189 in 2015 is being added to the ‘Fight Wing’ of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Lawler entered the UFC after four pro fights as a member of Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS) out of Davenport, Iowa. After losses to Nick Diaz and Evan Tanner, Lawler left the promotion and fought for numerous groups including PRIDE, IFL, Elite XC, and Strikeforce. He became the Elite XC Middleweight Champion in September 2007 by knocking out Murilo ‘Ninja’ Rua and was the group’s only champion in the division when it went out of business. He had several noteworthy fights in Strikeforce including a come-from-behind victory against Melvin Manhoef and a 50-second knockout of Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland.
His career was sputtering but got back on track after Strikeforce dissolved and he returned to the UFC in 2013 and moved down to welterweight. After three wins out of the gate, he fought Johny Hendricks for the vacant title after Georges St-Pierre walked away and lost by unanimous decision in a close fight where Hendricks secured a late takedown and won the final round in March 2014. Lawler posted wins against Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown that year to earn a rematch with Hendricks and won by split decision to become the 170-pound champion.
That led to the war against Rory MacDonald in July 2015, which is one of the most violent fights in history and one where both fighters left a piece of themselves in the cage that night. Amazingly, Lawler came back months later had another war with Carlos Condit, and won that fight by split decision, which was heavily debated.
Lawler was knocked out by Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 to lose the title and went 2-6 over the next six years. His last win was against Nick Diaz in September 2021 and he last fought in July of last year when he was stopped by Bryan Barberena. Lawler and Price will headline the prelims of UFC 290 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for International Fight Week.
