After more than two decades of an illustrious career in professional fighting, former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler is set to retire following his clash with Niko Price at UFC 290. Lawler's retirement bout, taking place on the featured prelim, will mark the end of his competitive journey. At 41 years old, Lawler believes it's the right time to step away. While he may exit active competition, Lawler remains committed to the MMA world, taking on a coaching role at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida.
After over two decades of professional fighting, Robbie Lawler is ready to bid farewell to active competition at UFC 290. The former UFC welterweight champion, with a career spanning more than 22 years, will hang up his gloves following his matchup with Niko Price. The highly-anticipated bout will take place as the featured prelim on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ from the iconic T-Mobile Arena, preceding the pay-per-view main card.
Making his MMA debut back in April 2001, Lawler (29-16 MMA, 14-10 UFC) has left an indelible mark on the sport. Now, at 41 years old, he knew the time had come to make the tough decision to retire.
"It's just a feeling I got over time," Lawler shared with MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday's UFC 290 media day. "I've been doing this a long time. Accomplished a lot. Just felt it was time."
Although Lawler will be stepping away from active competition, he has no plans to detach himself completely from the world of MMA. In recent years, Lawler has taken on the role of coach and mentor at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida, guiding and inspiring the next generation of fighters. He intends to continue sharing the immense knowledge he's gained throughout his eventful career, supporting young talents as they strive to make their mark in the sport.
"I'm definitely going to be around the sport," Lawler affirmed. "This sport has given so much to me. The reason I am where I am today and have been able to last this long is because of all the people helping me. So I'm going to give back all these little tidbits over time. We have a really good gym at Kill Cliff FC, and I'll be there to help guys get stronger, make money, and compete at a high level. For me, martial arts is about giving back and sharing techniques."
While Lawler will still spend significant time in the gym, he also plans to prioritize spending quality time with his family. However, he acknowledges that transitioning to life after fighting can be intimidating, and he understands that it's a process he will have to navigate as he goes along.
"I would say there was fear because it's freaking unknown," Lawler admitted. "I've been training and competing my whole life. Even when I was supposed to be in high school and middle school, I was training on how to get better at wrestling or football or fighting when I should be doing my homework. That's where I've always been."
As Robbie Lawler prepares to step into the Octagon for his retirement fight at UFC 290, he embraces the uncertainty that lies ahead. Join us in celebrating the incredible career of 'Ruthless' Lawler and learn more about his journey and future plans by clicking here for the full article.