Lindland On Lawler’s Mind – Middleweight Clash
Posted On Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 By admin
In a middleweight clash that could propel the winner into title contention, Robbie Lawler will take on 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland. On Saturday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, the pair will meet in a featured matchup at Strikeforce “Henderson vs. Babalu”.
Lawler, a former Icon Sport and EliteXC middleweight titleholder claims the idea fighting for the belt is of little concern.
During a Nov. 23 conference call, Lawler said, “I am not too worried about what is happening after this fight. I am worried about training for Matt and [stepping] in there and doing my best.”
The H.I.T. Squad product has changed his training regimen. To drill his wrestling with some of the sport’s best he travelled to Power MMA and Fitness in Gilbert, Ariz. Lawler says he still had a successful camp, although he was unable to train with UFC talents Aaron Simpson, Ryan Bader and C.B. Dollaway.
He said, “I didn’t go down to Arizona this time because the gym wasn’t open, but I’ve been working on my wrestling as much as I’ve been working on all my other skills. I’ve trained hard for this fight, and I look forward to it.”
Lawler’s approach remains fairly straightforward, regarding the fight. Inside the cage, the former Pat Miletich-trained competitor will look for Lindland’s chin.
Lawler said, “I expect Matt to come out and be in my face and [for] me to have a chance to hit him. I think he is a smart fighter, so I don’t think he is just going to go in there and wrestle from the start. He’s been working on all his skills, so I am ready for a little bit of stand-up before he closes the distance.”
The type of knockout power that Lawler holds in his fists, only few middleweights possess such quality. Of his 19 career victories by KO, the 28-year-old sports an impressive 16. Melvin Manhoef, Frank Trigg and Scott Smith are included as the victims on that knockout list. According to Lawler, relieving an opponent of his consciousness brings with it quite a rush.
He said, “It feels good. When you hurt someone, you just have to go in there and look for the finish and get it done. I don’t know how he thinks it is going to be, but I have been working on my skills and my wrestling, and I have been working on everything,” said Lawler. “I think you have to ask Matt how easy he thinks it will be. I think he thinks it will be tough. And it will be.”