Robbie Lawler
From FightWiki
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Name | Robbie Lawler |
| Nickname | Ruthless | |
| Association | H.I.T. Squad | |
| Weight Class | Middleweight (185 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 11" (181 cm) | |
| Style | Freestyle | |
| Birth Date | March 20, 1982 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Granite City, Illinois | |
| Country | USA | |
| Robbie Lawler Pictures | Official Website |
Robert Glen Lawler, known as "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a Middleweight. Lawler is the last EliteXC Middleweight champion. He is a member of Team Hughes fighting out of H.I.T. Squad, a Granite City, Illinois gym, which he co-owns with teammate and former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. With EliteXC going under, Strikeforce acquired their assets, including Lawler's contract, so currently he competes under the Strikeforce banner.
Lawler has previously fought in the UFC, KOTC, Icon Sport (where he is a two-time Middleweight Champion), and PRIDE, competing against opponents such as Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz, Evan Tanner, Jason Miller, Joey Villasenor, Frank Trigg, Murilo Rua, Scott Smith, & Jake Shields.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 17 - 6 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) (1 NC) |
| Wins | 14 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Losses | 1 (T)KOs 4 Submissions 1 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Renato Sobral | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Los Angeles | 6/16/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Catchweight bout (195 lbs.) |
| Win | Melvin Manhoef | KO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Miami | 1/30/2010 | 1 | 3:33 | |
| Loss | Jake Shields | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields | 6/06/2009 | 1 | 2:02 | Strikeforce debut; Catchweight bout (182 lbs.) |
| Win | Scott Smith | TKO (Kicks and Punches) | EliteXC: Unfinished Business | 7/26/2008 | 2 | 2:35 | Defended EliteXC Middleweight Championship |
| NC | Scott Smith | No Contest (Thumb in the eye) | EliteXC: Primetime | 5/31/2008 | 3 | 3:26 | Defended EliteXC Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Murilo Rua | TKO (Punches) | EliteXC: Uprising | 9/15/2007 | 3 | 2:04 | Won EliteXC Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Frank Trigg | KO (Punches) | Icon Sport: Epic | 3/31/2007 | 4 | 1:40 | Won ICON Sport Middleweight Championship (Stripped of title on February 9, 2008 for failing to defend it) |
| Win | Eduardo Pamplona | TKO (Punches) | IFL: Atlanta | 2/23/2007 | 3 | 1:36 | IFL Super-fight; unaffiliated with IFL team system |
| Win | Joey Villasenor | KO (Flying Knee) | PRIDE 32: The Real Deal | 10/21/2006 | 1 | 0:22 | |
| Loss | Jason Miller | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | Icon Sport: Mayhem vs. Lawler | 9/02/2006 | 3 | 2:50 | Lost ICON Sport Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Falaniko Vitale | KO (Punches) | Icon Sport: Lawler vs. Niko 2 | 2/25/2006 | 1 | 3:38 | Won ICON Sport Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Jeremy Brown | Submission (Armbar) | KOTC: Xtreme Edge | 9/17/2005 | 1 | 2:48 | |
| Win | Falaniko Vitale | KO (Punches) | Superbrawl: Icon | 7/23/2005 | 2 | 4:36 | Won SuperBrawl Middleweight Championship |
| Loss | Evan Tanner | Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC 50: The War of '04 | 10/22/2004 | 1 | 2:22 | Middleweight debut; After loss, left the UFC |
| Loss | Nick Diaz | KO (Punches) | UFC 47: It's On | 4/02/2004 | 2 | 1:31 | |
| Win | Chris Lytle | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 45: Revolution | 11/21/2003 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Pete Spratt | Submission (Injury) | UFC 42: Sudden Impact | 4/25/2003 | 2 | 2:28 | |
| Win | Tiki Ghosn | TKO (Punches) | UFC 40: Vendetta | 11/22/2002 | 1 | 1:29 | |
| Win | Steve Berger | TKO (Punches) | UFC 37.5: As Real As It Gets | 6/22/2002 | 2 | 0:27 | First MMA fight to be aired on US cable television |
| Win | Aaron Riley | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 37: High Impact | 5/10/2002 | 3 | 5:00 | UFC debut |
| Win | Saburo Kawakatsu | TKO (Punches) | Shogun 1 | 12/15/2001 | 1 | 4:49 | |
| Win | Marco Macera | TKO (Punches) | EC 41: Extreme Challenge 41 | 7/13/2001 | 1 | 1:19 | |
| Win | Landon Showalter | KO | IFC WC 13: Warriors Challenge 13 | 6/15/2001 | 1 | 0:14 | |
| Win | John Reed | TKO | EC 39: Extreme Challenge 39 | 4/07/2001 | 1 | 2:14 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Robbie Lawler won four straight wins in smaller promotions before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2002.
UFC Career
Lawler made his UFC career at UFC 37: High Impact against Aaron Riley, winning by unanimous decision. He would go on to win two more fights against Steve Berger and Tiki Ghosn before succumbing to his first career loss to Pete Spratt at UFC 42: Sudden Impact.
Lawler would bounce back, defeating Chris Lytle via unanimous decision, only to lose two straight fights in a row to Nick Diaz and Evan Tanner, subsequently ending his contract with the UFC.
Icon Sport and EliteXC Career
On March 31, 2007, Robbie Lawler fought Frank Trigg for the ICON Sport middleweight championship and won by KO in the fourth round. On September 15, 2007, he fought PRIDE Fighting Championships veteran Murilo "Ninja" Rua for the EliteXC middleweight championship and won by TKO in the third round.
Robbie Lawler was scheduled to fight Hawaii's Kala Hose for the ICON Sport Middleweight Championship on December 15, 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii, he however pulled out of the fight due to an injury. Icon Sport has stripped him of the middleweight title on February 9, 2008 for failing to defend the title.
Lawler defended his EliteXC Middleweight Championship against Scott Smith at EliteXC: Primetime on May 31, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, which ended in a no contest after Smith caught an accidental finger in the eye from Lawler.
On July 26, 2008, Lawler and Scott Smith had their rematch at EliteXC: Unfinished Business. Lawler defeated Smith by TKO in the 2nd round.
Lawler's employer at the time, EliteXC announced that they would be shutting down and filing for bankruptcy. On February 5, 2009, the Strikeforce MMA promotion announced that it had acquired select EliteXC contracts including Lawler's.
Lawler made his debut against the former EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields in a catchweight bout at 182 lbs. Sheilds defeated Lawler via Guillotine Choke in the first round. The win for Shields catapulted him into contention for the then-vacant Strikeforce Middleweight title, where he ended up going on to win the title by defeating Jason Miller.
It was learned in November 2009 that Lawler would return on December 19, 2009 at Strikeforce: Evolution against an unknown opponent. Benji Radach was a possible opponent under consideration, but he was injured during training, making Lawler's opponent still unknown. It wasn't until early December that an opponent had been chosen for Lawler, and it would be American Kickboxing Academy product, former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and current Shark Fight Light Heavyweight Champion Trevor Prangley. Unfortunately, by mid-December 2009, Prangley was forced off the card due to an injury sustained during training, and with little time to find a replacement, the bout was scrapped.
Lawler was then placed on the Strikeforce: Miami card on January 30, 2010, where he was faced off against MMA and K-1 veteran Melvin Manhoef. With both fighters known for their knockout ability, the bout was expected to be a slugfest. Instead of attacking a breakneck speeds, as was expected, Manhoef implemented an impressive game-plan throughout the majority of the first round, delivering powerful kicks to the legs that had Lawler limping and a bit wobbly. As Manhoef gained comfort in the cage – and as the finish appeared certain – he began to drop his hands. Lawler made him pay, uncorking a powerful right hand that dropped Manhoef. Another left hand and Lawler had his opponent unconscious on the mat, earning himself the win by KO (Punches) in the first round.
Lawler was expected to face Jason Miller on June 16, 2010 at Strikeforce: Los Angeles but Lawler will instead face former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and UFC veteran Renato Sobral in a 195 lbs. Catchweight bout. Lawler had two unsuccessful attempts to meet the 195 lbs mark at the Strikeforce: Los Angeles Weigh Ins, but was finally booked for the fight weighting 195.5 pounds, after stepping on the scale for the third time. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made it clear in pre-fight interviews that the bout had major title implications for both fighters respective weight classes. If Lawler were to win, he would get a shot at then-current Middleweight Champion Jake Shields, unless Shields negotiations with the UFC, in which case, Lawler would face off against Ronaldo Souza for the vacant title. If Sobral were to win, he would get a title shot at current Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal. In the end, the talk of titles was null and void, as Sobral went on to win the fight by Decision (Unanimous), as he out-boxed Lawler for three rounds, using constant low kicks, straight punches and shots to the body to slow down his opponent, and earn points.
Championships and Accomplishments
- Fight against Steve Berger at UFC 37.5: As Good as it Gets was the first mixed martial arts fight to be aired on US cable television
- SuperBrawl Middleweight Champion
- Defeated Falaniko Vitale
- 2X ICON Sport Middleweight Champion
- Defeated Falaniko Vitale for the title for the first time
- Lost title to Jason Miller
- Defeated Frank Trigg for the title for the second time
- Last EliteXC Middleweight Champion
- Defeated Murilo Rua for title
- Successfully defended title twice; both time's against Scott Smith (first bout was ruled a NC)
