“King Mo” Lawal Hopes Robbie Lawler Will Take Time to “Recharge” After Woodley Loss

In late July, in the main event of UFC 201, Robbie Lawler’s unlikely reign as UFC welterweight champion came to a skittering halt as he was put down by a first-round Tyron Woodley punch. It was one of the most emphatic losses of the veteran’s almost 40-fight career.

Given Lawler’s status as one of the games most entertaining fighters, we were all very excited when news broke that he’d be getting back on the proverbial horse opposite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 205. The former champ was already ready to put his crushing loss to Woodley behind him, and begin his march up back up the welterweight ranks.

Unfortunately, Lawler then withdrew from this bout just days after it was announced, forcing a frown onto the face of pretty much every fight fan out there.

Yet according to Bellator light heavyweight Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, who has been a training partner of Lawler’s for several years, Lawler made the right move in withdrawing from the fight, as it will give him time to recharge after his wild reign as UFC champion.

“It’s like this, personally, me, I think that Robbie shouldn’t fight until December or January,” Lawal said on a recent episode of The MMA Hour. “Take time off, because these past two years, man, at the gym, Robbie’s been going to the max. Take some time to recharge, because Cerrone is a good fighter, it’s a great fight for the fans – why rush it? Cerrone ain’t going nowhere. Cerrone is always in shape, always ready. So once Robbie recharges, if Cerrone wants to fight Robbie, then they can fight.”

“Robbie, he’s always in shape,” Lawal continued. “It’s just that, why rush it. The past two years, man, his schedule and his fights – man, take some time for your family, take some time for yourself. Recharge. After his last three fights, the following Monday he’s back in the gym, lifting weights or doing something. He really hasn’t stepped away from the gym. He has to be forced out by coach Kami [Barzini], like, ‘hey, go home. Go do something. Go fish, go mow your lawn, go do something. Go swimming.’ They have to push him out of there because he always wants to be in there.”

Are you upset that Lawler withdrew from his bout with Cowboy, or do you think the former champ made the right call? Sound off, PENN nation!