Robbie Lawler has warned Georges St-Pierre he'll get knocked out if he ever returns to the UFC.
Since beating Johny Hendricks in a controversial split decision at UFC 167, GSP has been taking some time away from the sport. Many rate the Canadian as the greatest welterweight of all time, but the division’s current king, Lawler, had some stern words for him if he is indeed pondering a possible return.
"Yeah, I'd knock GSP out if he comes back," Lawler said on a Periscope session, per Anton Tabuena of Bloody Elbow.
Here’s Lawler’s answers to a variety of different questions in full:
After winning the UFC welterweight title in 2008, beating Matt Serra at UFC 83, GSP went on to defend the strap nine times, culminating in the aforementioned triumph against Hendricks. Given just how dominant he was in the division, the 34-year-old would surely be targeting the champion if he was to make a return.
As MMA Junkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu noted earlier this year, UFC President Dana White has previously admitted he likes the idea of a Lawler-St-Pierre showdown too:
Dana White on Lawler vs GSP 'That would be awesome'
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 12, 2015
The California-born fighter was also asked about the unlikely prospect of fighting featherweight title-holder McGregor. “Yeah, I’ll fight anyone” was his response when asked by a fan “would you fight McGregor if the UFC offered?”
The Irishman is set to make the move up to lightweight following his stunning win over Jose Aldo at UFC 194, which would put him just one division below the welterweight limit. However, with Lawler having previously fought at the heavier middleweight limit, it doesn’t seem as though a bout between the pair is doable.
Anyway, before the welterweight champion ponders challenges in the future, he has a very difficult opponent to better this weekend. Lawler will defend his crown against Carlos Condit at UFC 195 in what many are expecting to be an early contender for the 2016 Fight of the Year.
Condit, like Lawler, is a front-foot fighter, a brilliant striker and a competitor who can take big shots. Therefore most are expecting five pulsating rounds of action.
Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter, like the overwhelming majority of MMA fans, is extremely excited to see just how this one turns out:
Just thought about Lawler vs. Condit being this Saturday and almost vomited from excitement
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) December 29, 2015
However, Lawler stated he’s hopeful of getting this one over and done with quickly, unlike his previous defence, which was a five-round thriller against Rory MacDonald. “I’m very confident for this fight,” he said. “I hope it’s not going to be a battle like the last one, it was a hard one. But I’ll be ready for it. … The plan is to knock out Carlos, not sure what round.”
When asked whether he’d fight MacDonald once more, Lawler stated he was “not sure” on a rematch, but "we'll see what happens."
If this weekend's main event is anything like Lawler’s tussle with MacDonald and many of Condit’s previous fights, UFC fanatics will certainly be in for a treat.
The champion comes across as relaxed and ready in these clips; after all, if he can come through five rounds as brutal as the ones he endured at UFC 189, Lawler will feel invincible as he steps foot in the cage.
A bout with GSP further down the line would certainly be intriguing and if Lawler does triumph over Condit, that is a potential fight that'll be on the minds of fans around the world. However, with fighters like Hendricks, MacDonald, Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia on the scene, whoever emerges as champion from UFC 195 will not be short of challengers.
