Fighting Through the Challenges Fans don’t See.

Lawrence Lui is one of the most exciting fighters our country has to offer, with eight professional wins (four via knockout) and only one loss to his name. But his journey has not been a straight path, rather a windy, bumpy road which has fuelled him to be the best version of himself.

When he and his family moved to New Zealand from Hong Kong in 1999, Lui was only two years old. “I was raised in Auckland, that's all I really knew.”

It all began after his brother started training in high school, Lui decided he had to be better than him. From there he dabbled in Brazilian jiu-jitsu before switching to mixed martial arts.

While studying civil engineering at the University of Auckland, Lui took a few years off from training. Near the end of his degree, he walked through the doors of City Kickboxing, and ten years later, he’s fighting in the UFC.

“It was five days before my final exam, I did this thing where I could jump straight into second year, which caused a lot of stress, it made me want to do something like mixed martial arts.”

From there, Lui’s coaches at City Kickboxing have never failed to be in his corner. It is now a world-renowned gym with multiple UFC champions, challengers and high-ranking fighters among it’s clientele. But before Eugene, Doug and others grew into household names in the world of MMA, Lui walked through the doors. “At the time, in 2016, they didn’t have any huge UFC fighters training there, so all I had to do was check the website and ask the guy at the door if I could sign up.”

After deciding to take training more seriously, Lui transitioned into part time studying, debuting as an amateur fighter in 2019.

As many would imagine, supportive through both hardship and triumphs, his mother watches her son’s fights. His father had not always been the same. “[My mother] was always in the mindset of, if I’m happy, she’s happy. My dad not always, it’s a long story. We didn’t really talk much about anything for a few years, I don’t think he really knew I was a fighter.”

Lui believes a lot of fighters have some sort of fallout with their parents. He sees it as a chip on his shoulder, and is aware it’s still there, but fighting is his way of working through it.

“My brother always comes to my fights. Dad in the past did not, he does now. My mum cannot watch my fights unless my brother is there, she just cannot do it.”

Family is not the only thing that motivates Lui to improve his game. Like most skilled fighters, losing can help just as much as winning, forcing him to come back even harder. “In my early days, 2019, I got knocked the fuck out. It made me realise I’m not invincible, so from there I started to train that way. Whether you believe you're better or worse, anyone can get you on any night, that’s something I had to understand.”

Nick Thornton was the fighter who put Lui to sleep in his early days. Seven years later, the two are training partners.

The initial loss put Lui in a dark, and difficult place. With support from his friends, coaches and family, Lawrence was able to drag himself out of that place. He now looks back positively on the fight. “It was embarrassing, I felt real shit. But everyone who supports you, everyone who loves you, they will stay with you, and it felt really reassuring.”

“I think about it pretty often. I wouldn’t be here without that loss. It taught me a lot of things.”

In the end, most athletes agree losing is never the outcome they seek. Lui, of course, is one of these people. “The way I train is that I have the potential to lose, but I am going to do everything I can and everything in my power to make sure that does not happen.”

Lui also had to learn the mental skills needed to cope with the pressure from spectators, the noise a crowd makes and just being in the octagon with his opponent across from him. “The crowd noises never really bothered me, I’ve always been super good at tuning out, I just don’t hear it anymore to be honest.”

Even with over 18,000 onlookers in his UFC debut earlier this year, Lui was able to block out the noise and lock in both a victory and a contract with the UFC. Having established himself as one of the bantamweight division’s most talented top prospects, Lui has begun to reflect on himself and his culture.

Lok Yin is Lui’s professional fighting nickname; it is also his Cantonese name. He decided on his professional name while fighting in China, deciding he ought to embrace his roots. “It’s a part of who I am, it’s something I came to, did it for myself. If I know my roots, then the support I can stand on is a lot stronger.”

While he does not have any fights lined up at the moment, Lui is searching for someone to meet in the octagon. He shared his goal of eventually becoming champion of his division and knows there may be a while to go yet. He is confident in knowing he will not be leaving any time soon.