Issue 115
June 2014
The fairytale didn’t quite play out as planned for MMA’s ‘Cinderella Man’ Robbie Lawler against Johny Hendricks – but you can’t keep a good man down.
BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
“I don’t have one in particular. There’s not one that stands out in my head. It’s my opinion that you learn from everything. Negatives become positives, especially in this sport, so you learn from every moment.”
BEST THING A FAN EVER SAID, OR MADE FOR YOU?
“Nothing sticks out immediately. The fans haven’t really made me much, but that could change. I appreciate the fans’ support, though, especially before and after my last fight. It means a lot to hear some fans thought I deserved to win the title.”
BEST TRAIT OR CHARACTERISTIC?
“Determination or a will to win. I think they sum me up. My attitude has also changed an awful lot in recent years. I’m much more focused and determined to achieve all that I can in this sport.”
BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE A YOUNGER YOU?
“Train hard and learn as much as possible as you go along.”
BEST INSPIRATION FOR FIGHTING?
“There’s really been no inspiration for me. The reality is I really enjoy getting in there, competing and fighting. It’s just something I enjoy doing. People have asked why I was smiling against Hendricks throughout the fight. But that’s obvious: I was fighting for the world title. What’s not to smile about?”
BEST THING ABOUT MMA COMPARED TO OTHER SPORTS?
“You don’t have to rely on someone else when you are competing. It’s one on one so it’s all on you, no one else. That’s the best thing about it. If you fail there is only yourself to blame.”
WHAT’S BEST, A KNOCKOUT OR SUBMISSION VICTORY?
“It would have to be a knockout, after all, I’m best known for them. You can feel it when you land a good shot. Their reaction can often tell you if you have ended the fight with a knockout, so yes, a knockout feels better.”
BEST OPPONENT SO FAR IN YOUR CAREER?
“Everyone is different. I’ve faced a lot of quality opponents over the years in many organizations, but the biggest opponent for me throughout my time in the sport has probably been myself.”
BEST THING ABOUT YOUR LAST FIGHT?
“Well, it was for the word title, but I never did enough in the eyes of the judges to get the decision, so in large it was disappointing. I thought I fought a good fight, defended some takedowns. It was a hell of a fight. He brought it, he was in shape and he got the victory.”
BEST THING ABOUT THE NEW TRT BAN?
“It’s a step in the right direction for the sport, but I’m not too worried about that, I don’t concentrate on stuff like that. But I think it’s good for the sport and a step in the right direction, for sure. People shouldn’t be allowed to take any kind of advantage into the Octagon.”
BEST THING ABOUT STARTING OUT WITH PAT MILETICH?
“Pat was one of the first guys who could do it all, grapple, wrestle and strike. I just tried to take after him and work on all aspects. More than anything, he put us in situations where we made each other better. He made it a grind. It wasn’t easy. If you stuck around for more than a month, that was definitely saying something. Just the mental toughness you get from training in a gym like that was huge.”
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