By Joshua Molina

In his 1980s heyday, “Iron” Mike Tyson coined the phrase “Bad Intentions” to describe his vicious attitude when he stepped inside of the ropes.

In and out of the ring, Tyson was pure power and intimidation.

The same could be said for STRIKEFORCE middleweight star Robbie Lawler, who grew up idolizing Tyson, and shares his ferocity during combat.

With heavy hands and an ultra-intense attitude, Lawler brings a warrior’s heart and his own version of bad intentions into each of his thrilling fights.

On June 16 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Lawler will challenge Renato “Babalu” Sobral, in a live SHOWTIME® televised STRIKEFORCE main event.

“It’s going to be a good fight,” Lawler said. “He is coming to fight and I am coming to fight. It will be a good opportunity to show what I have.”

Typically Lawler, (17-5, 1 NC) trains in Illinois but, for the fight with Sobral, he has moved his workouts to Arizona to train with several Division I wrestlers, he said.

Lawler, who has scored 14 of his victories by sensational knockout, is trying to expand his repertoire of fight skills, focusing on wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.

“It’s just better guys to train with, hard-working guys who fight at a high level,” Lawler told STRIKEFORCE.COM

Against Sobral, as is typical with most of Lawler’s fights, Lawler said he’s only concerned with his abilities. If he fights his fight, he said, he will be victorious.

“I am not really focused too much on him,” Lawler said. “I am focused on getting in shape and working on my skills as usual.”

For the past couple of years, Lawler has been one of the sport’s most promising middleweights.  With his one-punch knockout power, Lawler has a flair for the dramatic.

In his last fight against MMA powerhouse Melvin Manhoef, the Dutch native brutalized Lawler with a series of kicks for the greater part of round one.  The left-handed Lawler was visibly wincing in pain from Manhoef’s barrage of hard kicks.

But then it all changed. Lawler, at 1:31 of the first round, crushed Manhoef with a powerful right hand to the chin, crumbling Manhoef to the canvas and ending the fight.

Lawler knows his power is his MMA ticket.

“I lift weights a lot,” Lawler said. “I have lifted weights since I was in third grade. I played a lot of sports. I have worked hard on becoming stronger throughout my life.”

At 5′ 11″ and 185 pounds, the man known as “Ruthless,” said he’s developed superior strength because he has always competed against men bigger than him.

“I trained with professional fighters when I was a junior and a senior in high school so I’m used to it,” said Lawler, a native of San Diego, California.

The Lawler-Sobral fight features a classic clash in styles. Lawler is more comfortable swinging for the knockout, while Sobral, who holds a career record of 35-8, has won 18 of his 35 victories by submission and another 12 by decision.

Lawler will try to fight standing up, while Sobral will likely attempt to take him to the mat, where their may be some vulnerability.  Lawler lost to STRIKEFORCE’s Jake Shields by guillotine choke a year ago.

That loss is behind him, he said.

“It hasn’t changed me too much,” Lawler said. “It was just a simple mistake that I made and he took advantage of it.”

Lawler said he won’t mistakes in the fight against Sobral.

“I am real relaxed and I am ready to go.” Lawler said.  “I feel like competing.”