Sherdog’s Top 10: Late Bloomers

Robbie Lawler looks like a new man since returning to 170 pounds. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

4. Robbie Lawler

For what seemed like forever, the 31-year-old Lawler was the epitome of a can’t-miss prospect who never fully spread his wings. Debuting for the world’s premier MMA promotion in the opening bout of UFC 37 at only 20 years old, “Ruthless” was universally touted as a future welterweight champion. Everything seemed right on track from the get go, as Lawler breezed through four of his first five contests.

By 2004, however, Lawler was already on his way out of the UFC after losses to Pete Spratt, Nick Diaz and Evan Tanner. Over the next four years, Lawler fought for seven different promotions and experienced mixed results. He even competed at 185 pounds for a few years to avoid the weight cut the welterweight division requires. After a ho-hum stint in the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion, Lawler finally got his ticket back to the UFC. There has been no looking back. Since linking arms with Florida’s American Top Team, he has won five out of six fights, with the only defeat coming against the man who currently rules the welterweight roost: Johny Hendricks.

Some may argue Lawler’s lone loss was not a setback at all, but a wakeup call, proving he has what it takes to finally climb atop the mountain and grab a UFC championship.

Number 3 » Mark Hunt