This Month’s MMA Birthdays: Robbie Lawler Turns 33

Robbie Lawler turns 33 on March 20. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder Robbie Lawler will celebrate his 33rd birthday on March 20.

A Pat Miletich protégé who now operates out of American Top Team, Lawler captured the 170-pound crown with a split decision over Johny Hendricks in their UFC 181 rematch in August at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The “Ruthless” one has delivered 19 of his 25 career victories by knockout or technical knockout, carving out his place with brutally heavy hands. His list of victims includes Jake Ellenberger, Josh Koscheck, Adlan Amagov, Matt Lindland, Melvin Manhoef, Murilo Rua, Frank Trigg and Scott Smith.

Lawler will defend his welterweight championship against Tristar Gym export Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 on July 11 in Las Vegas. He already owns a win over MacDonald, having bested the Canadian by split decision in November 2013.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday during the month of March:

MARCH 1
Taisuke Okuno (38)
Danielle West (38)
Anthony Njokuani (35)
Dominique Robinson (33)
John Howard (32)

MARCH 2
Heath Herring (37)

Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Johnson, 31, on March 6.

MARCH 3
Rob Broughton (32)
Renato Velame (32)
Richard White (28)
Rodrigo Goiana de Lima (24)

MARCH 4
Abe Wagner (35)

MARCH 5
Tim Sylvia (39)
Chris Cope (32)

MARCH 6
Tsuyoshi Kosaka (45)
Anthony Johnson (31)

MARCH 7
Eun-Su Lee (33)
Xavier Foupa-Pokam (33)

MARCH 8
Marlon Sandro (38)

MARCH 9
Jun Nakamura (31)
Koji Ando (30)

MARCH 10
Sean Pierson (39)
Wilson Gouveia (37)
Jesse Lennox (33)
Lipeng Zhang (25)

Photo: Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com

Yamamoto, 38, on March 15.

MARCH 11
Renzo Gracie (48)
Rodrigo Gracie (40)
Sako Chivitchyan (31)

MARCH 12
Alexis Vila (44)
Ricky Musgrave (31)
Rad Martinez (28)

MARCH 13
Kazuo Takahashi (46)
Justin Salas (33)
Nam Phan (32)

MARCH 14
Kiyotaka Shimizu (31)
“Judo” Jim Wallhead (31)

MARCH 15
Norifumi Yamamoto (38)
Travis Wiuff (37)

Photo: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com

Jung, 28, on March 17.

MARCH 16
Brad Imes (38)
Josh Pulsifer (32)

MARCH 17
Antoine Hayes (39)
Fabio Maldonado (35)
Bae Yong Kwon (34)
Chan Sung Jung (28)

MARCH 18
Nate Quarry (43)
Kyle Noke (35)
Brendan Schaub (32)

MARCH 19
Ryuichi Miki (32)
Baga Agaev (30)

MARCH 20
Daniel Cormier (36)
Rogent Lloret (36)
Robbie Lawler (33)
Goran Reljic (31)

Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Cormier, 36, on March 20.

MARCH 21
John Salter (30)

MARCH 22
Andre Pederneiras (48)
Jamal Patterson (41)
Kyle Kingsbury (33)
Joe Soto (28)

MARCH 23
Mark Hunt (41)
Mukai Maromo (32)

MARCH 24
Josh Neer (32)

MARCH 25
Rory Markham (33)
Besam Yousef (30)

MARCH 26
Bor Bratovz (33)

MARCH 27
Nuri Shakir (36)
Indalecio Tat Romero (35)
Matt Jaggers (30)

Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Cerrone, 32, on March 29.