Robbie Lawler isn’t known as ‘Ruthless’ just for fun! He has lived up to that moniker every time he has gone to war inside the Octagon. Take his UFC 189 bout with Rory MacDonald, for example. That fight was a blood-soaked classic. If you’re squeamish, it’s best to avoid the photos of Lawler’s split upper lip—half of it was hanging off as he stood his ground and successfully defended his welterweight title. It was the kind of moment that cemented his reputation: Lawler doesn’t care about damage—his own or his opponent’s!
So, what fuels that kind of ferocity? According to Lawler, one of his biggest inspirations is none other than boxing legend Mike Tyson. But don’t get him wrong. Outside the cage, Lawler is quiet and composed. Inside it, though, he draws from the same kind of intensity Tyson was known for, aggression born from hardship. ‘Iron’ was exposed to the harsh reality of crime and filth while growing up in the alleys of Brooklyn, New York.
In an interview with Steve Bunce, Tyson admitted: “I didn’t want to be like Muhammad Ali because where I came from, Muhammad Ali didn’t come from the world I came from. I came from filth, s–m, and sewage, so I wanted to be mean like Sonny Liston and Jack Dempsey. I wanted to be ferocious, I wanted to k–l you with my stare.” Tyson’s toughness and trauma were later shaped to greatness by his eventual coach, Cus D’Amato, which made him the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. For Lawler, it was more about sibling rivalry than street violence.
However, Lawler has never been the kind of fighter from whom you would expect to receive a comprehensive trash-talk lesson. This is what Kamaru Usman mentioned when ‘Ruthless’ joined on his Pound 4 Pound podcast. “There is this thing you have, especially more in your earlier fights to where there’s this mean streak that you have when you fight. When you bite that bottom lip and you going to get him, it’s just like you going to hit me and I’m coming to hit you. You were almost kinda pissed off in those fights. And meeting you, anyone talking to you, that’s two different worlds apart. That person right there. I mean, where did that come from?”
This is when Lawler admitted to having a polarising demeanor and what was necessary inside the cage or in any other sphere of competitive life, “I had an older brother who roughed me up, but it was as if I was playing football like the guy who was trying to freaking smash me. If like I’m wrestling, I’m like trying to pick you up and slam you, run up to the score, just be like ferocious.”
The former welterweight champion added, “It’s kind of how I try to do everything in life. Growing up, I always liked Mike Tyson, so it was just like when I hit the bag growing up, I was hitting the bag a certain way. I wasn’t just touching it. I was trying to freak crushed the freaking bag because I just when I’m lifting weights, why am I lifting weights?”
MMA: UFC 266 Weigh-Ins, Sep 24, 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Robbie Lawler reacts during weigh-ins for UFC 266 at Park Theater. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports, 24.09.2021 16:26:50, 16817449, NPStrans, Robbie Lawler, MMA, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 16817449
He’s always carried that intensity into the cage, as seen in his unforgettable wars with Rory MacDonald—a fight so iconic it was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing in 2023. But is he coming back with those same brutal ways? Could he really choose to step inside the cage again and fight? At 43 years old and retired since 2023, the odds may be against it, but with Robbie Lawler, you can never truly count it out.
Robbie Lawler clarifies rumors of UFC return
‘Ruthless’ has always made a violent statement when facing the top dogs—and he did just that in his final appearance, knocking out Nico Price cold at UFC 290. It was the perfect farewell for the veteran, who presented his retirement fight to a cheering crowd and walked away into the sunset with a heroic ending. Back in 2023, Lawler chose to end his career on a high note, rather than sticking around too long.
But apparently, he’s still part of the UFC’s testing pool. This is something that typically doesn’t happen with retired fighters. So when Lawler joined Usman and Henry Cejudo, the duo couldn’t help but ask if he was planning a return.
“All that was like they tested me at a time when there was a whole bunch of people at the gym. So, then yeah, like it went out there and somebody’s like ‘Oh, it looks like Robbie got tested.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I got tested months ago too,’ months before that… I’m still there, getting tested. But I’m retired, I’m freaking [retired],” he said.
So what’s the plan for the June 2025 Hall of Famer now? According to the same podcast, Lawler is focused on coaching and has also been training Michael Chandler at Kill Cliff gym. He seemed fully satisfied with his current lifestyle—far from the fight spotlight, but still close to the game.
His mindset now appears to be inspired by the legendary Mike Tyson—someone who also found peace and purpose after stepping away from competition. Lawler seems to be following a similar path, channeling his experience into guiding others rather than chasing more Octagon glory. What do you think of Lawler’s post-retirement mindset? Share your thoughts below!
The post Inspired as a Kid by Mike Tyson, Robbie Lawler Confesses on Polarising Persona Inside & Outside the Cage appeared first on EssentiallySports.