Morning Report: Robbie Lawler thinks Conor McGregor shouldn't be mentioned with him, says he is 'a little different' than everybody else

Robbie Lawler might be the one guy in the UFC who doesn't want a "red panty night."

At the Go Big press conference ahead of Conor McGregor's scheduled fight with Jose Aldo last year, he famously declared that he was "the money fight at all weight divisions" in MMA and that signing to fight him was a "celebration" worth calling your wife to break out the "red panties." McGregor went on to knockout Aldo and since then, the sheer number of people wanting a chance to fight him or co-opting his style has proven his claims true.

After that, McGregor was scheduled to challenge the then lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196. As that fight neared rumors began to circulate that should McGregor win the lightweight title he would jump up to 170 and challenge Robbie Lawler for his welterweight championship. Obviously, the injury to dos Anjos and subsequent late-replacement-Nate-Diaz-choking-McGregor-out put the kibosh on that but the idea of Lawler-McGregor lingered on.

Then in early June, when Lawler and Tyron Woodley did an interview in Atlanta to promote their upcoming fight at UFC 201, reporter Zach Klein asked Lawler is he was disappointed in losing out on the McGregor fight, prompting Lawler to respond, "It wouldn't have been good for him...Because if I hurt him I wasn't taking his neck. [I was taking] his soul." That soundbite rapidly circulated around the MMA community, showing Lawler being every bit as "Ruthless" as his fight moniker says he is.

Well on UFC Tonight on Wednesday, Daniel Cormier asked Lawler about the quote, why he responded that way, and if he was trying to be terrifying.

"Nah I was just - he asked me a question and I was like, 'why are you bringing this guy's name up?' It kind of irritated me so I just told him what I thought about the situation and his last fight and I don't think he should be mentioned with me because I'm not like everybody else. I'm a little different."

In today's UFC, which is becoming increasingly more about chasing the biggest money fight available, not caring about a fight with Conor McGregor is proof enough of that.

Robbie Lawler defends his UFC welterweight championship against Tyron Woodley tomorrow night at UFC 201 in Atlanta, Georgia.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Hypocrisy. Mark Hunt calls Brock Lesnar a "fucking hypocrite" for criticizing Jon Jones' failed drug test.

Tainted cream. Chad Mendes blames his failed drug test on a psoriasis cream.

Mohican. Matt Brown says he feels like "the last of a dying breed."

Pole position. Karolina Kowalkiewicz wants to fight Joanna Jedrzejczyk at Madison Square Garden.

It's about sending a message. Tyron Woodley sends a message to "Wonder Woman" and the rest of the "welter-whiners."

EXTRA CREDIT READING

Hunto. Jordan Breen of Sherdog opines on Mark Hunt has his recent attacks on the UFC and the business sense they make.

MEDIA STEW

Chael on Brock

Nate gonna get a ton of play here for a month.

Conor gets drug tested.

Behind the UFC scenes with Dennis Bermudez

Kickboxer Vengeance trailer featuring Gina Carano, Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum, and GSP.

LISTEN UP

Invicta interviews galore.

TWEETS

Dwight Howard got them Superman muscles though.

.@ufc is taking over our practice court this afternoon. We'd rather not fight with them.#UFC201pic.twitter.com/QQdJhl6b4K

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 28, 2016

When I interviewed him he suggested that he had outgrown 125. It appears that is the case.

Bantamweight

— Justin (@ScogginsFlow) July 29, 2016

And Ian wasn't too happy about it.

@ScogginsFlow @Unclecreepymma pic.twitter.com/9GjweowOuS

— Jah Kraig (@jah_kraig) July 28, 2016

DL trying to throw hands.

i need a fight @ufc #UFC201

— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) July 28, 2016

Trying real hard.

I'll fight anyone don't matter who are when @ufc

— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) July 28, 2016

Gotta be the Khabib fight, right?

Big Fight News Coming Soon Arrrrrrriiiiiba!!!• Stay Tuned Crew #TeamElCucuy • #TonyFergusoMMA #Road2Gold#PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/djxUj2unq7

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) July 29, 2016

Joanna bout to get that Anderson Silva money.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Boss, one of The Greatest @danawhite #birthday #birthdayboypic.twitter.com/uUmEmzdd5K

— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) July 28, 2016

Just finished a evening 4 mile run. Thank u @courtney__grant for the push! @torque1_net #torque @mtnops #howiconquer

A photo posted by Chadmendes (@chadmendes) on Jul 25, 2016 at 10:32pm PDT

Uncle Creepy still cutting weight.

Well at least @ciscoriveraufc and myself are still going to make weight.

A photo posted by Ian Mccall (@unclecreepymma) on Jul 28, 2016 at 7:00pm PDT

Fight!

Let's throw it way back Jan 24th 2013 Think it's time we dance @spiderandersonsilva #tbt

A photo posted by Luke Rockhold (@lukerockhold) on Jul 28, 2016 at 5:47pm PDT

The more you know.

Do not go to Phuket Zoo people. I went there this morning hoping to see some animals, well looked after in what would be close to their natural habitat. What I found was a zoo that was literally falling apart. Animals being kept in disgusting conditions, and being treated with no respect whatsoever. It's so sad to see these beautiful animals being so poorly treated and stripped of their dignity.

A video posted by Mikebisping (@mikebisping) on Jul 28, 2016 at 2:29am PDT

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Maryna Moroz (7-1-0) vs. Danelle Taylor (7-1-0);  UFC Fight Night 92, August 6.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It's fight weekend y'all and I thought I'd share one brief anecdote with you from yesterday's fighter interviews. While I was waiting to ask Ian McCall some questions, a very nice lady came up to him as part of a promotional thing and asked him to take a Snapchat of himself and then pick one of the filters to apply. She said that all of the other fighters had done it but if Ian didn't want to he could just take a video like Robbie, who was the only person to refuse the filter thing which I found perfect and beautiful and a brilliant encapsulation of Robert Glenn Lawler, our welterweight champion. Of course old Bob Law wouldn't do that. What an absolute treasure.

Anyway, lots of fights ahead of us this weekend. Don't forget about Invicta on Fight Pass tonight. Have a good weekend y'all.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.