It’s almost unimaginable to be a blended martial arts (MMA) fan and never admire “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler.
The previous Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Welterweight champion just lately put a bow on his thrilling 47-fight profession, capturing win No. 30 in solely 38 seconds with a classic knockout of Niko Value at UFC 290 (watch highlights). Whereas Lawler departs the MMA world as a competitor, a previous opponent, Lorenz Larkin, gears up for an enormous rematch in Tokyo, Japan.
Larkin faces former Bellator Welterweight champion, Andrey Koreshkov, at Tremendous RIZIN 2 this weekend (Sat., July 29, 2023). Earlier than that, “The Monsoon” took a second to replicate on his legendary one-time adversary’s profession and recalled a humorous run-in forward of their July 2012 conflict.
“I’ll inform you a narrative I’ve by no means even instructed anyone earlier than,” Larkin instructed MMA Mania on BROADENED HORIZIN. “After I fought him, we had been in Portland, Oregon. We fought there and on the lodge, he had all these f—king guys with him and so they had been in like f—king speedos. Not banana hammocks (laughs) however that they had compression underwear on, trainers on, and no f—king shirts on, they’re all yoked up. I used to be within the foyer and so they’re all strolling by me. I used to be like, ‘Oh, what the f—ok?’ It’s only a huge group of those guys and so they’re all sweaty about to go run.
“Quick ahead to weigh-ins, I’m chopping weight within the sauna and it’s getting f—king depressing as a result of there’s lots of people,” he continued. “It wasn’t that huge of a sauna, however there have been lots of fighters within the sauna. I used to be b—ching and complaining as a result of I used to be simply over it at the moment chopping the burden. I’m actually taking a look at my coach ready for him to be like, ‘Alright, it’s time to get out.’ He already is aware of I’d been f—king complaining and s—t. In walks in Lawler. He sits down after which a minute goes by — we do it in increments — he opens the door and he’s like, ‘Alright.’ I’m taking a look at him, ‘Nah, I’m good.’ I’m simply chilling, I begin shadowboxing. However I’m f—king hurting. I’m over it, f—ok this. However you recognize, that’s simply the mentality. He walked in. I had no selection however to be like, ‘Nah, f—ok that.’ I ended up staying in there like f—ok, dude. I don’t know, I believe an additional 10 minutes, man (laughs). Don’t be a b—ch when your opponent walks within the sauna.”
An undefeated 12-0 on the time, Larkin added a thirteenth profession win to his resume by way of unanimous determination towards Lawler earlier than every was added to UFC’s roster via the acquisition of Strikeforce. The battle marked Lawler’s final as a Middleweight.
Driving an ideal stretch of momentum in 2023, Larkin, 36, has no plans of his personal to name it a profession any time quickly as he pursues gold, hoping to increase his unbeaten streak with a second win over Koreshkov. Larkin’s final victory — a knockout of the yr contender towards Mukhamed Berkamov (watch highlights) — saved him with out a loss in his final eight appearances. The title is clearly the aim for the Riverside, California native, however on the very least, he stays impressed to be an entertaining fighter for so long as he has left within the sport.
“I used to be genuinely joyful for him that he was in a position to exit like that,” Larkin mentioned of Lawler. “Not going out and — the p—sy approach about it, you recognize? Individuals who actually watch combating, they know when someone has received a gimme battle. Niko Value isn’t a slouch in anyway. So for him to take that battle and understand it was his final battle and go in there and try this and stroll out of there with that kind of battle being the ending of his profession was like … I’ve nothing however respect for that. It simply sucks whenever you see guys that ought to have stopped a very long time in the past that preserve making an attempt to go and get these wins and so they’re simply racking up loss after loss after loss then they lastly name it quits however it’s similar to in MMA, it’s not like boxing. In MMA, you lose 3 times and everyone’s like, ‘He’s accomplished. He’s a horrible fighter.’ They don’t actually have a look at the previous. They’re simply taking a look at that little finish of your rap sheet.
“So, for him to exit like that, it was nice to see. He’s at all times a man who simply brings it. He involves battle. He’s not making an attempt to f—king out level you and all this different s—t. He involves battle. If the battle doesn’t go his approach, it doesn’t go his approach. However he’s coming to battle not squeak by factors off you and type of try this. He was at all times a stand-up dude.”
Watch the complete episode within the video embedded above or hear on Spotify.
