'The Law' Enters Lawler Bout with 'No Excuses'

The last time fans saw Matt Lindland in the Strikeforce cage, he was grinding out a third-round stoppage against the overmatched Kevin Casey. In less than two weeks, “The Law” will receive a considerable bump in competition.

On Dec. 4, the Oregon native will meet “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler on the main card of “Henderson vs. Babalu,” which takes place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

“Robbie is a well-rounded fighter. A lot of people categorize him as a big striker and a brawler, but he knows how to fight on ground,” said Lindland during Tuesday's Strikeforce conference call. “I’ve never seen Robbie in a fight that wasn't exciting. I’m looking forward not just to performing, but also to kicking the s--t out of Robbie.”

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker asserted that the match holds serious implications for the middleweight title picture.

“This fight is very important for the 185-pound weight class. Matt already fought [Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza], so we could revisit that,” said Coker. “I'll definitely be keeping an eye out to see how this fight goes. It's a fight [where the winner could be] up for title contention.”

Despite the possible championship overtones, Lindland claims the matchup carries no added stress.

“I think all fights have the same amount of pressure. You're fighting top guys every time out, so all fights are important. It's also not necessarily who wins and who loses. It's also about exciting performances,” said Lindland. “I think this fight will come down to whoever can impose his will. If I had my way, I’d put Robbie on his back and pound a hole in his head, and I’m sure he'd like to keep it on the feet and put me to sleep.”

Prior to defeating Casey, the 40-year-old had dropped back-to-back bouts. First, he was brutally knocked out in just 37 seconds by current UFC middleweight title contender Vitor Belfort. Then in his December 2009 Strikeforce debut, Lindland succumbed to a Souza arm-triangle. Though both fights ended in definitive losses, Lindland is quick to mention the quality of competition he faced.

“I think I’m still one of the top contenders. I lost to ‘Jacare,’ who is the champion, and I think this is a great path back to title contention. A win against Robbie solidifies me in the top 10,” he said. “My loss to Vitor -- lots of guys get caught trading with Vitor. My two losses are to two of the best. There were guys turning down fights with them. I’ve always stepped up and taken on top guys, and now I’m getting a chance to fight another top-level guy.”

Following the two losses, Lindland was approached by Coker about headlining a Strikeforce Challengers card in his hometown of Portland, Ore. Because of the show's lack of size and exposure, many viewed Lindland's bout against Casey as a type of demotion. Not so, says Lindland, who claims the bout made sense on multiple fronts.

“I didn't look at it as disrespectful at all. Scott Coker approached me to fight on that Portland card to strengthen it for Portland. Both my kids were able to go to the fight. It was a great opportunity. A lot of people in the general public don't understand the sport, and they're just looking to tear other people down. It wasn't about that. It was about headlining a televised show in my hometown against an up-and-coming fighter.”

Once one of the most active fighters in the middleweight division, Lindland’s pace has slowed in recent years. Though he fought eight times from 2005-2006, the Olympic silver medalist has competed only thrice in the last two years.

“[The inactivity] has been a little disappointing. I haven't fought as frequently as in the past. Part of it has been changing companies. There are a lot of fighters on the Strikeforce roster, and I haven't gotten as many opportunities I’d like,” he said. “That's also part of why I took [the Challengers fight]. There wasn't a fight in the immediate future, and I wanted to compete.”

Heading into his fight with the H.I.T. Squad product, Lindland -- who is 12 years the elder of Lawler -- believes the key to victory lies with his experience.

“Robbie is explosive. He's got speed and he's got power. I’ll have to use superior positioning and conditioning and my knowledge of the sport to put him in uncomfortable positions,” said Lindland. “I’m healthier than I’ve ever been. I’ve had zero injuries, and I have no excuses. I’m looking forward to it.”