"Filthy" Tom Lawlor may have been done dirty by the UFC.
Following a decade and almost a dozen fights in the UFC, the crossover pro wrestler was cut by the company this year. Having won two of his last three fights and serving a two year USADA suspension for what he claims was unknowing use of ostarine, which commonly appears in several cases of tainted supplements.
When speaking to Fightful.com ahead of recent Major League Wrestling tapings, Lawlor opened up about his release, and the marketing direction of the UFC.
"I get my release papers, and it says 'in part due to your last loss.' Well, what's the other part? Is it the fact that I signed a Project Spearhead card? Is it that I didn't the release form for my likeness for two years while you all suspended me? Why don't you tell me exactly why you released me? If it's because I lost to Corey Anderson, a close split decision to one of the top. Dana White's going around saying Logan Paul is never getting in the UFC, and it'd be a joke. Are you kidding me? He's more qualified than CM Punk. You pulled the wool over your own eyes. He'd probably bring in more viewers than CM Punk. Don't pick and choose what you're going to do when you're trying to promote this as a sport," said Lawlor.
UFC aren't the only ones the longtime veteran is disappointed in, especially in relation to CM Punk. Lawlor says that regulatory bodies should take responsibility as well.
"Forget UFC, they're a promotion. What the f--- are commissions doing?," Lawlor asked. "They won't let Paul Felder fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov on short notice, but they'll let CM Punk in there? An untrained guy who picked the sport up in his 30s. That's going to be safer than Paul Felder fighting Khabib?!"
During his time away from the UFC, Tom Lawlor has emerged as a player on the independent wrestling scene, and is now a regular for Major League Wrestling. You can catch Lawlor on Major League Wrestling's "Fusion" program on beIN Sports weekly.