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According to UFC President Dana White, Robbie Lawler could make his final walk to the octagon during International Fight Week later this year. White unveiled the full lineup for UFC 290 on July 8 on Wednesday, including a matchup between Lawler and Niko Price.
During the announcement, White stated that Lawler’s extensive career as an MMA fighter will come to a conclusion when he has that welterweight bout in Las Vegas, Nevada this summer.
Dana White: Robbie Lawler set for HOF induction, retirement fight in the same week
White revealed that Lawler’s bout against Price will be the featured prelim for UFC 290, airing on ABC and ESPN before the broadcast switches over to pay-per-view.
“I found Robbie Lawler when he was 19 years old,” said White in a video published Wednesday. “And UFC 290 will be the final fight of his amazing 22-year career.”
Lawler’s bout against Price will come just two days after he gets inducted into the “Fight Wing” of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is part of the 2023 Hall of Fame class for his 2015 fight against Rory MacDonald, which many consider one of the greatest MMA fights of all time.
In 2020, Bloody Elbow readers voted that the UFC 189 meeting between Lawler and MacDonald was the “Greatest MMA Fight to Watch of All Time.” Their bout’s induction into the UFC Hall of Fame was announced during the broadcast of UFC 287 in April.
Both Lawler, Price look to bounce back at UFC 290
Lawler will be returning for the first time in just over a year when he faces Prices this July. His last bout was at UFC 276 when Bryan Barberena finished him late in the second round with strikes. The fight continued a lengthy stretch of unsuccessful appearances for Lawler, prevailing in just one of his last six appearances.
His win over that span was against Nick Diaz at 2021’s UFC 266. His losses over that time were to Neil Magny, Colby Covington, Ben Askren and Rafael dos Anjos.
Price will also be looking to get back into the win column. His last fight came in December when Philip Rowe picked up a third-round finish against him. Prior to that he defeated Alex Oliveira.
The Oliveira win was Price’s first victory after a run of two defeats (to Michel Perreira and Vicente Luque) and a no contest opposite Donald Cerrone.
A true veteran of the sport
Lawler, 41, has fought as a pro since 2001. His career spans numerous decades with many notable rivalries, fights and championship opportunities.
“Ruthless” joined the UFC quite early in his career, debuting at UFC 37 with just four wins to his name at that time. He departed the promotion in 2005, fighting in places like the IFL, EliteXC and Strikeforce before landing back in the UFC in 2013.
Between appearances in Strikeforce, EliteXC, and the UFC, Lawler competed in a total of seven title fights during his career.
Lawler most notably had a title reign from 2014 to 2016, earning the title off Johny Hendricks and defending the belt twice before dropping it to Tyron Woodley.
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