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As he readies to return from the longest non-injury-related break of his career, Lawler is once again embracing the approach that guided him in the early days inside the cage, which is a big part of why he stepped up to replace Geoff Neal this weekend.
“I’m not really looking at career positioning,” he began. “I think there was a point in time where I did that, but now I’m focused on what I didn’t have to focus on for a while and that’s going out there and having fun; going out there and being a kid again and enjoying myself.
“It’s been a while (since I’ve approached things this way). Maybe I didn’t concentrate on it enough, but I feel good now and I can’t wait to go out there and showcase what I’m capable of doing.
“Short notice, two weeks — whatever,” added Lawler, whose last victory came against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 214 a little over three years ago. “I’m in decent shape and I know what I’m capable of, plus I can’t keep picking and choosing, obviously, because that stuff’s not working out. So why not go out there and do what I do best?”
On the eve of his return to the Octagon, Lawler isn’t thinking about snapping his three-fight slide or where a victory over Magny, who sits one spot behind him in the rankings and enters on a two-fight winning streak, will put him in the welterweight title chase.
He’s simply looking forward to walking to the Octagon with Johnny Cash blasting through the speakers, crossing the threshold into the cage, and getting into a fistfight on Saturday night.
“I’m just excited to go out there and fight and compete,” he said. “The hand-raising is going to happen and it’s going to be exciting, but it’s going to be ‘All right; that’s what I came here to do.’ I just want to go out there, showcase my skills, showcase what I’m capable of and put on a good show for everyone sitting at home.”