Robbie Lawler dismisses Arman Tsarukyan and Dillon Danis brawl as nonsense

The former UFC welterweight champion, who faces Khamzat Chimaev in the RAF 14 co-main event, said combat athletes should act more professionally because children are watching.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Fri 23 Oct, 03:53 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Robbie Lawler has distanced himself from the brawl that broke out at Thursday's RAF 14 press conference in Las Vegas, saying he wants no part of it.

Lawler watched the melee from the front row and stayed largely impassive while it unfolded. He faces Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of the wrestling card at Fontainebleau on Friday, and Chimaev was among those drawn into the scuffle.

The trouble started after Lawler and Chimaev had finished their section of the press conference. Arman Tsarukyan and Dillon Danis traded words when it was their turn, and Danis revealed a shirt bearing a beardless photo of Chimaev and the words “Khamzat is my bitch.” The shirt referred to the post-match brawl between Danis and Chimaev at RAF 10 in June. Tsarukyan then went after Danis and the stage descended into chaos.

Lawler, one of the most exciting fighters in MMA history, said shortly afterwards: “It’s just, I’m here to wrestle and compete. I’m just keeping my life simple and I’m not trying to get involved in any of that nonsense.” Pressed further, the former UFC welterweight champion said he hoped fighters, and combat sports athletes more broadly, would behave more professionally at such events. He argued that the sport's growth should matter more than the spectacle, and said: “It’s just, you want to put your best foot forward and a lot of kids are watching this, guys who are excited about wrestling”

In this story

Arman Tsarukyan Khamzat Chimaev