Robbie Lawler, the former welterweight champion, has officially retired from UFC competition at UFC 290. Despite claims from Conor McGregor, Lawler is unwavering in his decision.
In the past, there were talks of a potential fight between Lawler and McGregor when both were reigning champions. McGregor, who was moving up in weight, expressed interest in facing Lawler at 170lb, leading to some memorable exchanges of trash talk.
Robbie Lawler Stands Firm Against Conor McGregor’s Doubts
Fast forward to today, Lawler concluded his remarkable career with a first-round knockout victory over Niko Price. Surprisingly, Lawler, known for his stoicism, came close to shedding tears when the UFC surprised him with a farewell video package in the Octagon.
However, McGregor’s recent tweet suggesting that Lawler will return before the year ends has sparked doubts about his retirement. When asked about McGregor’s comments during the post-fight press conference, Lawler dismissed them, stating that he is solely focused on retirement and not interested in facing McGregor or any other opponent at the moment.
“Does Conor want to fight?” Lawler responded with a chuckle. “It would be a big fight, but I’m not thinking about those things. I felt good today. If I felt good for a solid seven weeks and the fight duration was limited, you never know. But right now, I’m content with what I’ve accomplished, and this is a fitting way to exit the sport.”
While Lawler isn’t closing the door completely, it is evident that he chose the perfect time to retire, leaving behind a legacy that will be sorely missed.
Also read: Analysis of UFC 290: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair RodrÃguez
