Robbie Lawler will be officially inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. This announcement was made during the UFC 313 broadcast from Las Vegas. Lawler, aged 42, is being honored as the newest member of the Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing. Notably, this is his second Hall of Fame induction; he was previously recognized in 2023 for his legendary title fight against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189.
Lawler’s solo induction was widely anticipated due to his accomplished career as a former UFC champion and his immense popularity with fans. Known as “Ruthless,” he initially gained recognition in the early 2000s as an exciting, action-packed fighter in the UFC. He later competed in other promotions like Strikeforce and EliteXC before returning to the UFC in 2013, where he embarked on an unexpected championship journey.
Victories over notable fighters such as Josh Koscheck, Bobby Voelker, and Rory MacDonald propelled Lawler to his first UFC title shot. He faced Johny Hendricks for the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171. Despite losing a decision in their first encounter, Lawler secured a rematch against Hendricks, winning at UFC 181. He went on to defend his title twice, including the memorable rematch with MacDonald at UFC 189 and a hard-fought battle with Carlos Condit at UFC 195, a fight considered worthy of future Hall of Fame recognition.
Throughout his UFC career, which spanned 15 wins and 10 losses, Lawler earned five Fight of the Night bonuses. He retired in July 2023 with a professional record of 30-16 (1 No Contest). In his final fight at UFC 290, Lawler delivered a memorable 38-second knockout victory against Niko Price.
The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for June 28 at T-Mobile Arena, as part of International Fight Week. Other inductees announced for the 2025 class include producer Craig Piligian (Contributor Wing) and the UFC 236 title fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum (Fight Wing).
Lawler joins a distinguished group of Modern Wing Hall of Famers, including 2024 inductee Frankie Edgar, MMA legends Jose Aldo, Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Georges St-Pierre, as well as women’s MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey.
