The Book of Robbie Lawler: Meet the Kill Cliff FIGHT CLUB Fighter
Like a fine wine, only getting better with time, the 39-year-old American MMA fighter has been competing since 2001. 2001! He’s a former UFC Welterweight Champion, EliteXC Middleweight Champion, and known for his aggressive fighting style. He’s also the only fighter to win three consecutive “Fight of the Year” awards. We’ve collected a few things you might not know about the proud Kill Cliff FIGHT CLUBBER. Starting with…
Where Is Robbie Lawler’s Hometown?
Lawler was born in San Diego but moved to Bettendorf, Iowa, when he was 10 to live with his Marine Corps father. His parents divorced when he was in fourth grade. His heritage includes English, Samoan, African, and Filipino descent.
What Was Robbie Lawler’s Childhood Like?
There was no doubt Lawler was going to be an athlete. He played basketball, baseball, and football against his older brother and friends when he was a kid and learned “not to be intimidated and not to back down,” he says. At the age of 8 he began training in taekwondo. He picked up karate two years later. In high school, he received All-State honors in wrestling and football.
Right Place, Right Time, Right Coach
When Lawler was 16 he was taken under the wing of Pat Miletich, a former MMA powerhouse and UFC Hall of Famer. Miletich was the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 Welterweight Tournament Winner and would bring some of his fighters to Lawler’s high school wrestling practices. He also developed a camp called Miletich Fighting Systems, which Lawler attended in his hometown of Bettendorf after graduating high school. The camp is considered one of the most successful in MMA history and has produced several world champions.
How Did Robbie Lawler’s Debut Fights Go?
With a bang! Bang! Bang! And another bang! In his professional debuts, Lawler won his first four career fights all by TKO/KO.
How Did Robbie Lawler Do in the UFC?
In a word, dominance. Lawler made his UFC debut at UFC 37 against veteran Aaron Riley. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Next, he fought Steve Berger at UFC 37.5 and won via TKO. Then he faced veteran Tiki Ghosn at UFC 40 and won in another knockout. At UFC 42, Lawler fought Peter Spratt and lost after he submitted due to a hip injury. But Lawler wasn’t done, he came back to get a win over fellow boxing and wrestling specialist Chris Lytle at UFC 45.
How Did Robbie Lawler Get His Nickname?
UFC President nicknamed Lawler “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler early in his MMA career and the nickname has stuck ever since. He’s known for his knockouts and has some of the most powerful punches in the game.
When Is Robbie Lawler’s Next Fight?
Ruthless Robbie lines up against Nick Diaz (26-9-0) on September 25, 2021.
We Hear Robbie Lawler Is a Nice Guy.
“Robbie’s just a nice guy. There’s not much bad to say about him,” UFC opponent Ben Askren says. “When you trash-talk, you’ve got to be genuine, you can’t be someone you aren’t. You can’t say things you don’t really believe. People see right through it. I’ve got nothing bad to say about the guy. What am I going to say?”
He’s on Insta…
Feel free to connect: @ruthless_rl
FAQ:
Favorite video game is Madden, of course.
How tall is he? 5’ 11”
Weight: 171
Stance: Southpaw
Reach: 74”
He currently fights in UFC’s welterweight division and trains out of Coconut Creek, Florida.
What are some of Lawler’s greatest MMA victories? Rory MacDonald, Josh Koscheck, Melvin Manhoef, and Murilo Rua.
Lawler and former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes used to own Hughes Intensive Training Squad, one of the premier mixed-martial-arts gyms in the country, located in Granite City, IL.
Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion, and has formerly competed in Strikeforce, PRIDE, and the IFL.
What’s Robbie Lawler’s Goal in Life?
"I'm always trying to knock somebody out so if I don't knock them out, then I didn't do everything that I wanted to do"
