Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler’s return to the octagon at UFC Vegas 8 this weekend comes as a bit of a surprise, if only because it didn’t really seem to be on the radar. At the event’s media day this week, Lawler (28-14, 1NC) revealed that while he’s been looking to get a fight for some time, the promotion couldn’t seem to make it happen.
“I’d been looking to get back in for a while, but just couldn’t get anything together,” he told Cageside Press in a virtual media session. “Then they offered this one on a few week’s notice, so I’m like ‘alright, guess we’re going to fight.’ It is what it is. Let’s just go fight.”
It’s been a year since the last time we saw Lawler, when he took on Colby Covington at UFC Newark in August 2019. When asked if the layoff was the result of not finding the right opponent, or the timing being wrong, Lawler replied “all of the above. Me and them [the UFC], whatever. It just never worked out. It doesn’t really matter. I’m fighting this week which is nice, haven’t fought for a while, and it’s nice to get back in there and get to work.”
Lawler enters his fight with Neil Magny on the first three-fight losing streak of a career that began back in 2001. He’s known for bringing the violence, and you can expect a similar approach against Magny. “I always fight a certain way, and that’s usually to try and get in a guy’s face and create a fight and get into a fight. That’s what this sport is about I believe. Guys are technical and obviously there’s technique involved, but push comes to shove we’re out there fighting and trying to inflict a little damage on each other.”
After nearly twenty years, Lawler doesn’t have a secret for his longevity at such a high level, other than to say “I just enjoy what I do. Obviously I take care of myself, and I have good coaches around me to help prepare, good training partners.”
As for his motivation, and goals, at this point in a storied career, Lawler said “right now I’m just competing one step up at a time.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 8 virtual media day press scrum with Robbie Lawler above.
