The hardest thing in combat sports is knowing when to hang it up. You could either go the Khabib Nurmagomedov way, and retire prematurely, and when you’re at the top; or you could go the Anderson Silva–Tony Ferguson way, where even you stick around so long that even your own fans beg you to retire. Usually, fighter retirements fall somewhere on this continuum. But not Robbie Lawler, whose retirement was the stuff fairytales are made of.

In his last UFC fight, ‘Ruthless’ lived up to his nickname and slept b with some savage blows in the clinch at UFC 290 two years ago. Almost no one goes out like that. But this is Robbie Lawler we’re talking about, whose MMA career spanned nearly two decades and he is known for having some of the most exciting and bloody battles in the sport’s history.

For instance, his memorable 2015 rematch with Rory MacDonald may be the greatest fight in MMA history. For all his contributions to the sport, ‘Ruthless’ was rightfully inducted to the UFC’s Hall of Fame earlier this month. Now that is how you retire. It doesn’t get better than this. Unless, Lawler ruins it, and fans fear that is exactly what he is about to do.

Many fans are concerned to learn that the American has re-joined the UFC’s drug testing pool. Which fans feel clearly means that Lawler is preparing to join the UFC roster again. Every fighter is required to be in the pool for at least six months before they are officially eligible to fight in the Las Vegas-based promotion.

And Lawler seems to have decided he wants to be back in the Octagon under the bright lights of combat sport’s biggest stage. Why else would he re-join the testing pool otherwise? And fans are not very happy with it.

Fans react to Robbie Lawler re-entering UFC testing pool

One fan perfectly echoed the opinion of most other fans, and pointed out that Lawler shouldn’t risk his fairytale retirement with a return to the UFC aged 42. “Nooo that Nico Price fight was the perfect night to retire. And he’s the great coach rn”

Another fan seconded this sentiment vociferously, and felt that ‘Ruthless’ was just not good enough to compete with the younger and hungrier welterweight stars: “God I hope not. Love Robbie but the sport has passed him by.”

But not everyone was against the idea of Lawler’s comeback. One fan, in fact, was already playing matchmaker, and felt that Nate Diaz should get the opportunity to avenge his older brother, Nick‘s UFC 266 loss to Lawler. Perhaps this fan is forgetting that Nick is no longer in the UFC, but still, a Nate Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler matchup is certainly an intriguing one: “Let Nate avenge Nick”

Another was convinced that despite the Iowa native’s age and all the problems that come with it, the welterweight division, which doesn’t have many stars at the moment, could use the excitement and promise of violence Lawler brings: “He could still add more firepower to that WW division 🔥🔥❤️”

One fan, however, had an alternative explanation for Lawler joining the UFC’s testing pool. Speculating that perhaps Lawler wasn’t coming back to the UFC per se, but just wanted to compete on its BJJ invitational tournament: “Could be for the UFCs grappling competition”.

Speaking of alternate explanations, one fan joked that perhaps Lawler needed to be drug-free to go into the UFC Hall of Fame (it isn’t, almost all fighters who are inducted into te HoF are not in the testing pool): “Maybe you need to be confirmed clean to go into the hall of fame? 🤣”

Another fan was more concerned about Lawler’s well-being and long-term health and wasn’t really worried about ‘Ruthless’ ruining his picture perfect retirement: “He already slurs man. Sad to see him comeback even tho I loved watching him”.

What do you think about Robbie Lawler possibly returning to the UFC?