Robbie Lawler Quotes

My parents were divorced and my dad was in the Marines. I lived in California until I was 10 then we moved to Bettendorf, Iowa when I was in the fourth grade. I had an older brother so it made it a little easier to adjust to things.

I did a lot of smoker fights and fought pretty much every week since Pat wouldn't let me fight until he was sure I was ready. I was also boxing and so I had 30 unofficial fights or more of those.

What I've learned from those losses ... Priceless.

I did takwondo from the time I was pretty young and also played I did taekwondo for martial arts and then also played football, baseball, and basketball against older kids because of my brother being older. I learned pretty quickly to not be intimidated and to not back down.

I've been through a lot of ups and downs. Just willing to get back up and grind every day to try and get better.

It's all about getting better and controlling the things that you can control, which is getting better day to day.

I'm looking forward, that's all, I'm not looking backwards.

I did start wrestling after I moved to Iowa, I think in the seventh grade. It's really a part of the Iowa culture so it's hard not to do it if you like sports.

The sport in 2000 wasn't as big as it is now [in 2008].

I had never thought about being a professional fighter but meeting Pat [ Militich ] and the guys just pushed me in that direction.

I got a little bit of the Marine mentality from my dad, I guess. You can't but help absorb the culture you're around.

It's about being able to go through the grind, willing to get back up when you're knocked down. And when life's not going well, not getting down on yourself and just getting back up and getting back to work, and striving to be the best you can be.

I also watched boxing all the time and Tuesday Night Fights on USA and just kept hitting my heavy back in the garage.