Robbie Lawler could strike fear into anyone, even Conor McGregor.
‘Ruthless’ was at the peak of his powers in 2016. Fresh off defending his welterweight title against Carlos Condit at UFC 195, Lawler was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor had established his reputation as an icon of the UFC. ‘The Notorious’ had finished 2015 by winning the featherweight title with a stunning first-round KO against Jose Aldo. This triumph only elevated McGregor’s status in the sporting world, his every move scrutinized and met with excitement.
Moving into 2016, McGregor took on Nate Diaz in Lawler’s welterweight division. Diaz stepped in as a replacement for the Irishman’s original opponent, lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos.
Unfortunately for McGregor, the move up in weight category at short notice proved too much as he lost via submission to Diaz.
Despite this, his willingness to move to the 170-pound division sent rumours swirling of a potential match-up between Conor McGregor and Robbie Lawler. Sadly, the fight never came to fruition.
That didn’t stop Lawler from firing a warning shot to the Irishman.
Robbie Lawler’s terrifying threat
In an interview promoting his title fight with Tyron Woodley, Lawler rebuffed suggestions of a bout with McGregor.
“I wasn’t too worried about it,” explained the American. “Obviously, that’s a big fight, and he’s a big draw, but it wouldn’t have been good for him. If I hurt him, I wasn’t taking his neck.”
When asked what he would take instead, Lawler delivered a simple, bone-chilling warning: “His soul.”
The deadpan expression on the American’s face tells you just how serious he was about his threat.
Is a fight still possible?
Fast-forwarding to 2022, both fighters are in the later stages of their careers, both past the peak of their powers.
McGregor’s last two fights have ended in defeat to Dustin Poirier, including a gruesome doctor’s stoppage due to a broken leg.
Similarly, Lawler has lost four of his last five fights, although he beat Nick Diaz in a nostalgic match-up at UFC 266.
Overall, the potential for a fight between the two seems unlikely. First of all, they are fighting in different weight categories. Lawler is currently a welterweight, although his last fight was in the 185-pound class.
McGregor, meanwhile, is in the lightweight division; therefore, a first stumbling block would be agreeing on which division to fight in, with both ultimately having to compromise.
The second element would depend on the appetite for the fight from UFC fans. It would be a great nostalgia trip to see two former champions go head-to-head, but, given where they are in their careers, does it carry the same level of hype?
McGregor will always be a draw for the UFC, as will Lawler. But a fight between the pair seems like wishful thinking.
