Lawler KOs Price 38 seconds into UFC 290 retirement bout
Robbie Lawler gave his fans one last moment to cheer about in his retirement fight.
The former UFC welterweight champion walked to the Octagon for the final time Saturday night and scored a thrilling upset finish of Niko Price, knocking him out at the 0:38 mark of the first round at UFC 290 in Las Vegas.
ROBBIE LAWLER KNOCKS OUT NIKO PRICE IN ROUND ONE TO END HIS CAREER #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/vdNEkFSXbI
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 9, 2023
Lawler clipped Price with several left hands and then put him down for good with a heavy left hook.
After the fight, Lawler was visibly emotional as the UFC aired a surprise video package featuring his career highlights.
"It's amazing," Lawler said in his postfight interview. "I've had a long career."
One last time on the mic for 'Ruthless' Robbie Lawler 🥲 #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/XwjpPFlBdF
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
The 41-year-old will go down as one most beloved and entertaining fighters in UFC history. He enjoyed a somewhat unexpected run as UFC welterweight champ from 2014-16. Lawler beat Johny Hendricks to win the title and successfully defended it twice against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit. His wins over MacDonald and Condit are considered two of the greatest bouts in MMA history.
The July 2015 rematch between Lawler and MacDonald - which Lawler won by fifth-round knockout - was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame earlier this week.
The win over Price was Lawler's first since beating Nick Diaz in September 2021 and just his second in the last five years. The former champ was coming off a TKO loss to Bryan Barberena last summer.
Lawler, who began his pro MMA career in 2001, retires from the sport with a 30-16 (1 NC) career record.