Robbie Lawler's legendary career ended in a flash at UFC 290 as he retired after a 38-second knockout victory over Niko Price. The crowd's applause lasted longer than the fight itself, as Lawler closed his career with a stunning display. Meanwhile, KCFC's Evan "the Phenom" Elder aims to make a positive impact on the world and win a UFC championship. His lightweight bout with Genaro Valdez on July 15 during UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Bueno Silva is a step toward his goals. Learn more about their stories in the full article.
Blink and it’s over. That’s how Kill Cliff FC’s Robbie Lawler closed out his Hall of Fame career last Saturday at UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez. The last prelim of the night found the 41-year-old Lawler taking the octagon against fellow welterweight Niko Price, 33, for the final fight of his storied career. The lead-up was intense as 20,000 fans—truly, how many were rooting for Price?—took to their feet to honor Lawler, and, in fact, the applause and adulation before the first bell was longer than the actual fight.
It lasted 38 seconds. After a slow roundhouse kick by Price missed badly, Lawler pummeled the challenger with a series of left hooks and a brutal upper cut that made Price lose the concept of having bones in his legs. Price just kind of folded sideways and floated to the mat with a thud.
Lawler was genuinely touched by the respect paid by the audience and commentor Joe Rogan following the swift knock out. We, like everyone one else, look forward to the KCFC ambassador’s next endeavors. We’re sure he’ll do it with the same class and determination as he did his fight career.
KCFC’s Evan “the Phenom” Elder, 7-2-0, wants to make a difference in the world—and win a UFC championship. “I believe my purpose is to positively impact the world and other people’s lives as much as possible before I go,” he told us. “My goal is to become UFC champion and use my platform and resources to reach as many people and do as much good as I can.”
His quest for both goals continues Saturday, July 15, during UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Bueno Silva, live from the Apex in Las Vegas. Elder’s preliminary lightweight bout with Genaro Valdez, 10-2-0, can be seen beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Elder’s motivation for combat began early, he says. “I have known I wanted to fight ever since I was little, so me and my friends used to always fight each other at my house thinking we were getting better at fighting. I used to always lose and get beat up, but I would always come right back and be ready for more.”
As for how he got his nickname, he says he was dubbed “the Phenom” at age 15: “My first kickboxing match when I was 15 years old, I got a TKO finish against a 23-year-old well-known regional guy. The local MMA reporters started referring to me as ‘15-year-old phenom Evan Elder…’ Many years later when I went to make some fight shirts, I finally fully adopted the nickname by using it for the first time on my merchandise.”
Not only does the Phenom train at Kill Cliff FC in Deerfield Beach, Florida, he is a fan of the beverages. “I love the Tasty Blood Orange Kill Cliff right after training,” he says, referencing the “energize x recover” flavor. “I like them after training because they are so refreshing. They taste so good that it seems like a treat and after a hard session I feel like I have earned it.”