While Robbie Lawler is confident another UFC title fight will come his way before the end of his career, the 32-year-old insists he won’t be upset if some time passes prior to it coming to fruition.

Following his narrow loss to Johny Hendricks for the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171 in March, Lawler (22-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is taking little time off from competition. He already has a bout scheduled against Jake Ellenberger (29-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) at May’s UFC 173 event in Las Vegas.

Some fighters would take an extended layoff after such a monumental loss, but for Lawler, he only knows one way to get over a defeat, and that’s to get right back on the horse.

“I’m not dwelling on the loss at all,” Lawler told MMAjunkie. “It comes down to getting better, working on my skills and pushing myself to get better. That’s about it.

“The opportunity arose where I could get a fight. I’m making the most of it. I’m back in the gym and working out, getting my body ready.”

After participating in a five-round bout with Hendricks that set a new UFC title fight record for most significant strikes landed, there is some concern that Lawler could be putting his body through too much, too quickly.

“Ruthless” denies that notion, though, and says he has been ready to get back to work since the Monday following his bout with Hendricks.

“I worked out that Monday after the fight, just to get some blood flowing in my muscles (and) work out any sore muscles, and then I rested for the next week,” Lawler said. “After a week I started lifting, pushing myself harder than I normally do a week out from a fight. Now I’m just right back in it and pushing myself to get better.”

Ellenberger is one of the most powerful strikers in the division and has solid wrestling credentials to back it up. With that in mind, Lawler knows he’ll need to be at his best if he hopes to get past “The Juggernaut.”

“He’s a quality opponent,” Lawler said. “He’s one of the top fighters in the UFC right now at 170. He brings power, he brings wrestling, he brings a lot of skills to the table and I need to be sharp to beat a guy like him.”

While notching a victory over Ellenberger would be a colossal step toward receiving another UFC title shot, Lawler says he is pushing the idea of a rematch with Hendricks – or whoever holds the belt at the time – to the back of his mind and is focused solely on the task at hand.

“I’m not even looking at the title picture right now,” Lawler said. “I’m looking at Jake as a huge test and I need to get ready for him. I’m not looking past him or where this puts me on the list of all the fighters in the division. I know I just need to push myself, get better and everything else will take care of itself.”

UFC 173 takes place May 24 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

For more on UFC 173, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.