Tom Lawlor was less than two months away from serving a USADA related suspension and return to UFC action, but then the promotion unceremoniously cut the fighter last week.
The Major League Wrestling Heavyweight Title #1 contender believes he was just a casualty of a roster purging from the UFC.
“I think it was a combination of [the UFC] getting rid of guys and my age and having not fought in years. It’s unfortunate that the UFC has become such a large company that they don’t look at things on an individual basis, but that’s part of the game I guess, and part of the entertainment business. I just kind of have to take it and roll with it as it goes,” Lawlor said on The MMA Hour. “I was kind of shocked as I had asked previously for my release when I was given my USADA suspension, and believe me when I tell you that I did not intend to ingest any sort of ostarine or any performance-enhancing drug. I’m all-natural and I’ve been tested many times since then and passed all of them.”
Lawlor has found a lot of success outside of the MMA world and in pro wrestling, where he is one of the top competitors in the MLW promotion.
If Lawlor believes there was one benefit to the UFC release, it would be that he is out of the cross hairs of USADA.
“I am, however, happy to be out of the USADA testing pool. I don’t have to let them know where I am at all times and wonder about that. Those of you who [are aware of] Josh Barnett’s situation or kept abreast of that can kind of understand that not everything is fair when it comes to USADA and the UFC,” says Lawlor.
Now that Lawlor is a free agent, it would leave him open to sign with any MMA organization that pursues the MMA fighter/pro wrestler.
