Robbie Lawler is not intimidated by Khamzat Chimaev's grappling prowess.
Former UFC champions Lawler and Chimaev will wrestle at RAF 14 on Oct. 23 at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. The event streams on Fox Nation.
Lawler makes his RAF debut. Chimaev is 3-0 under the RAF banner. Few have had an answer to Chimaev's wrestling in the cage, but Lawler says don't sleep on his grappling – even though he doesn't have the credentials.
"Obviously, I've always used my wrestling just to defend takedowns, stay on my feet, to knock people out – but I can wrestle," Lawler told MMA Junkie Radio. "I feel like you can't fight at a high level if you don't wrestle. I spent a few years wrestling at the Hawk Club before I got back in the UFC. I've been training with young
guys all the time, so I can wrestle. I'm not too worried about these positions, and I'm in shape. I love competing, and I'm strong. I don't think a lot of people realize what I'm capable of, but that's all right."
Chimaev is an intense competitor who likes to get in his opponent's faces during faceoffs. Although Lawler has always been mild mannered throughout his career, matching intensity has never been an issue for him.
"I respect everybody, and there's going to be intensity there anyways because we're competing," Lawler said. "We're competing at a high level. He wants to win, I want to win, so right there, there's intensity. When people at high levels are competing and want to do well, there's just going to be intensity. I don't need to be freaking angry at my opponent, dislike my opponent, but they're going to know I'm in there to freaking go to battle."
Lawler hasn't seen competition since knocking out Niko Price in his retirement fight at UFC 290 in 2023, but will his future be in RAF?
"I just have one (match), but we're in talks to do more," Lawler said. "Let's get this one done and see what happens. This happened real fast, so it was just, 'All right, let's get in there and get this done.'"
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Robbie Lawler doesn't feel like underdog vs. Khamzat Chimaev at RAF 14
