In the Mount Rushmore for greatest UFC battles, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t include Robbie Lawler’s final two victories as welterweight champions.
Approaching the seven-year anniversary of two of the most memorable championship fights in the hallowed octagon’s history, Lawler successfully defended his welterweight title against Rory MacDonald in the co-main event of UFC 189 in July 2015 in an incredible war of attrition won by “Ruthless” in the fifth and final round.
Six months later, Lawler defended his title against Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 194 in January 2016. The fight stood out right from the beginning bell. However, the 5th and Final Round was a highlight of the event. In the end, Lawler again emerged as the victor, this time via split decision.
Later, Lawler will face Bryan Barberena at UFC 276 Las Vegas on Saturday. When asked to think back on these two legendary fights, Lawler replied that he would only be able to watch one.
“Probably the Rory fight,” Lawler told MMA Fighting. The Condit fight was an excellent fight. However, I felt that the [UFC 189] atmosphere was fantastic. The Irish fans were there in full force and the electricity in the arena was awesome. We just came to fight.”
The 40-year-old is certainly honored to be mentioned in the best fights of all-time conversations. But at the same time, he is the type of guy who is able to quickly turn the page. He isn’t one to ponder over his past work or think too much about it.
Lawler lived them for 50 grueling minutes, and that’s enough for him.
“I mean, obviously it’s a big thing to be even mentioned [in those types of discussions], but on to the next,” he said. “It’s like, OK, but now, it’s on to helping out other guys.
“I have a lot of training partners who need help, so those are the kind of things that I focus on. What can I do to be more successful today than yesterday? [I focus on] these types of things .”
Lawler most recently competed this past September when he stopped Nick Diaz in the third round at UFC 266. Heading into his 46th professional fight, he still has the same mentality about the fight game — what’s done is done — but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have a whole lot of fun in those classic battles with MacDonald and Condit.
“Those things are done,” Lawler continued. “They’re exciting fights. It was a great opportunity for me to show who I really am. There is so much fighting spirit out there. I’m glad I was able to get put in a situation where those things came out, and had those types of performances, and it had to do with who I was fighting. It has to do with who I am inside of me.
“But I’m just glad that those victories were possible because of my preparation partners and my coaches. These were a lot of work and I am just happy to have those wins .”
