More than a year after he competed in Oscar De La Hoya’s one-and-done MMA promotional outing, former UFC light heavyweight “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will return to mixed martial arts in 2020, signing a deal with the Professional Fighters League where he’ll compete to win $1 million.
Announcing the news in an interview with Ariel Helwani Wednesday, the 36-year-old said he views the opportunity as a golden lottery ticket. Lawlor is currently signed to a deal with MLW and also works indies around the country which is expected to continue.
The former World Series of Fighting relaunched as the PFL and held their inaugural season under their new format in 2018. Fighters in six different weight classes compete in two fights earlier in the year to make their version of the playoffs in the fall. That consists of eight person, single elimination tournaments where fighters compete twice in a night in order to advance to the finals. If they win the finals scheduled for New Year’s Eve, they take home $1 million.
Lawlor, the co-host of the weekly Filthy Four Daily podcast on this website, doesn’t have a date or opponent for his first yet, but the PFL season runs from May through August. They have not announced their schedule as of yet.
Lawlor was suspended by USADA in November 2016 for two years for testing positive for ostarine. While he claimed his innocence throughout, his requests to be released were denied until the UFC randomly released him two months before that suspension was up. As more fighters tested positive for ostarine that earned significantly shorter sentences, USADA released a statement to MMA Fighting in April 2019 saying that Lawlor could have challenged the claim with an independent arbitrator and been eligible for a shorter suspension had the case happened in 2019.
Lawlor (10-7-0-1) last fought in the UFC in March 2016, losing a close decision to Corey Anderson. In the aforementioned De La Hoya event, he lost to current UFC middleweight Deron Winn.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. in an MLW match of the year contender and then told the world he only has a few short weeks left on his MLW contract.
Marshall Von Erich beat Ikuro Kwon by disqualification and then accepted Josef Samael’s offer to face Jacob Fatu on Thanksgiving night.
The Dynasty combination of Alexander Hammerstone and Richard Holliday lost via countout to Dominic Garrini and Douglas James.
** Full Review **
We opened backstage with Lawlor and the Von Erich brothers, Marshall and Ross. Lawlor said he might only be here for a few more weeks but he has big business with Davey Boy Smith Jr. tonight. Marshall and Lawlor both asked Ross if he has their back tonight in their matches. with Ross replying “Of course. We are all brothers.”
Rich Bocchini and AJ Kirsch then welcomed us to Orlando and hyped up tonight’s main event.
Marshall Von Erich (w/Ross Von Erich) defeated Ikuro Kwon of CONTRA Unit (with Josef Samael) by disqualification (03:53)
This was a good quick match that built up the eventual announcement of Marshall vs. Jacob Fatu on MLW’s free YouTuber show on Thanksgiving night. They played up the revenge story as it was Ikuro Kwon who “blinded” Marshall by spitting mist into his eyes earlier this summer, causing him to miss seeing the birth of his son.
Kwon jumped Marshall with a suicide senton as he was making his way around the ring high fiving fans. After Samael had instructed Kwon to attack, the newest CONTRA Unit member hit a flurry of strikes to Marshall’s chest and abdomen before hitting a nice spin kick to the back of the head. Kwon’s kicks continued but Marshall caught him with a discus lariat to stop him in his tracks. A spinebuster followed soon after, but before he could fully lock in the Iron Claw, Josef Samael jumped in the ring and attacked for the disqualification.
Ross quickly came in to even the odds and the new MLW tag team champions quickly cleaned house of CONTRA Unit.
— Lifestyles of the Rich and Dynastic saw Richard Holliday FaceTiming with MJF about Maxwell’s botched Botox injections. Holliday jumped in horror as MJF revealed his barely noticeable abnormalities. Alexander Hammerstone then came in with a gift train for them both. MJF wished for another Burberry scarf, Holliday wanted really big Air Pods, but while Hammerstone couldn’t reveal their gifts yet, he said it was the biggest gift MLW has ever seen.
— Bocchini and Kirsch hyped up the upcoming Opera Cup with two of the four opening round matches announced: Brian Pillman Jr. vs TJP and the Dynasty will explode when MJF takes on Alexander Hammerstone.
Dominic Garrini & Douglas James defeated National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone and Richard Holliday by countout (7:02)
Garrini and James continued their string of impressive performances in MLW in this one. They both looked really good and Garrini’s snap armbreaker submissions popped the crowd each time and looks like it is quickly catching on.
Before the bell, Holliday told the crowd they were breathing verified air before his lawyer/father phoned him and he took the call via his AirPods. He called Garrini and James’ Krav Maga “Krav Ma-garbage” before calling himself the “AirPod God” and Hammer’ “Meatcastle of the Dynasty”.
Holliday piefaced Garrini but also offered a handshake because of “sportsmanship”. Garrini snapped on an armbreaker attempt but Holliday was more worried about his AirPod falling out. Hammerstone came in and had a test of strength with Garrini but again Garrini snapped on another armbreaker attempt. Hammerstone powered out and Garrini tagged in James.
James initially used speed against Hammerstone, but the MLW National Openweight champion plucked him out the air and slammed him down before tagging in Holliday who continued the beatdown on James. Hammer shouted James was “just too small” before eating a dropkick which led to the Garrini hot tag.
Garrini suplexed Holliday and got in another armbreaker attempt but Hammer had to break the hold with a stomp to the chest. The action was nonstop as James came off the top and caught Hammerstone with a Meteora for a close two count. The action spilled to the outside where James hit a tornado DDT on Hammerstone as Holliday and Garrini brawled on the other side. James barely rolled into the ring before the 20 count to pick up the countout win, but Hammerstone was seconds behind him. The Dynasty were furious in the ring at their loss.
— New MLW Middleweight champion Myron Reed had a message for everyone. He said for years to come, everyone will be celebrating the name “Hot Fire” Myron Reed. He gave a nice shoutout to Matt Travis after his tragic passing last week and finished by saying “Free ACH”.
— Lawlor and the Von Erichs were backstage talking about Marshall’s win. Ross received a delivery: a phone with a video message. Samael was in the video and he said his offer was that one of them can face Jacob Fatu on Thanksgiving night. The brothers decided between them that it would be Marshall and he signed the contract on Ross’ back. However, Ross cannot be sure what name Marshall put on the contract as he folded it and handed it back to Ross who put it straight back into the package.
— The MLW women’s division had a nice hype video before Kaci Lennox interviewed Zeda Zhang about her match next week against The Spider Lady. She threatened to squish her like a bug and demask her to show the world who is under the mask.
— Jimmy Havoc had a message for Mance Warner. He accepted his challenge to a falls count anywhere match and threatened to take him back to his own house in Florida and hit him with his own frying pan. Of course, Havoc then threatened to bust him open and drink his blood.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. (15:47)
This was an excellent match that should be added to any MLW watchlist: a complete clinic in professional wrestling and storytelling. “King” Mo Lawal was ringside for this MLW dream match as a handshake started us off.
They displayed great chain wrestling and good storytelling psychology as they reversed, escaped, and applied different submissions while on the mat with neither getting any attempt fully locked in as they were both fresh and evenly matched with it being so early in the encounter.
Smith teased participating in a forearm exchange before dropping down and taking Lawlor down with an ankle trip. The match soon got filthy with Smith not giving a clean break and tossing the former world champ to the outside. Smith continued with stiff forearms to the face on the outside, but Lawlor soon retaliated with chops and forearms so powerful that a lady in the front row had to recoil and shut her eyes from the action.
Smith locked in a rear naked choke back inside the ring, but Lawlor was just in reach of the bottom rope. Smith’s forearms were staggering Lawlor with each blow but the match was visibly taking its toll on both men by the 10 minute mark.
Lawlor fought back with a belly-to-back suplex for the first pinfall attempt of the match. He then unsuccessfully tried some Yes Kicks as Smith powered up and dropped Lawlor on his head with a high angle back suplex. Smith then added a great little detail as he grapevined Lawlor’s legs for his first cover attempt of the match.
Lawlor fought back and tried to lock in a rear naked choke of his own, but Smith fought him off. They had a reverse knife edge and open hand chop battle that Smith won with one single mighty blow to the face that caused visible sweat to fly from Lawlor’s body.
Once again, Lawlor fought back and barely got Smith over with a suplex. A side Russian leg sweep followed but once they hit the mat, Smith rolled through and got up to his feet. With their legs still intertwined, he locked in the Sharpshooter. Smith smoothly transitioned into the crossface but Lawlor scratched and clawed his way to the ropes just in time.
They both got their feet for another forearm battle that transitioned to open hand chops. In what looked like a deliberate attempt, Lawlor poked Smith in the eye, temporarily blinding him. Lawlor then hit a spinning heel kick while Smith was in the corner recovering. Lawlor locked in his own rear naked choke but Smith broke free and got Lawlor into the running powerslam position, but Lawlor slipped out the back and dropped him shoulder blades first onto his knee which was enough to pick up the pin and the victory.
After the match, Smith already had a black eye from what must have been a legitimate eye poke. Lawlor was interviewed by Kaci Lennox on the stage and said he holds his destiny in his hands and in a few short weeks, his contract in MLW is up. He questioned what to do, maybe he will return to the cage, maybe he will get a little “raw” or maybe he will lay a little smack? He called himself the hottest commodity in MLW and hottest thing in wrestling today.
**Next week **
– Zeda Zhang vs. The Spider Lady
– Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc in a falls count anywhere match
With this being the final build towards War Chamber, we learned the final participant to join Tom Lawlor and the Von Erichs in their battle against CONTRA Unit is Low Ki.
With help from Josef Samael, Jacob Fatu defeated Tom Lawlor and retained the MLW World Heavyweight Title.
An amazing six-man tag led off which is must-see for fans of non-stop, fast-paced action.
** Show Recap **
CONTRA Unit’s propaganda video opened up this week’s episode of MLW Fusion. They warned Jacob Fatu’s opponent for tonight, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, that they will bloody him up, bust his head open down to the white meat and told him that his time was over.
Injustice (Kotto Brazil, Myron Reed, and Jordan Oliver) defeated Gringo Loco, Air Wolf and Zenshi (10:04)
This was a fantastic flip-filled, action-packed (some would say spotfest) six man tag. This was worth watching if this is your type of match. All six put in a lot of effort and the match did not disappoint. Injustice continued their tirade across MLW with their cheating ways coming to fruition in the end. Zenshi, Loco, and Wolf were all great opponents which should hopefully set up multiple singles and tag combinations in the future.
Loco’s team took control early on. Zenshi hit a step up enzugiri on Oliver, Loco hit a senton on Brazil, and Zenshi hit a TKO on Reed, but all three put on the brakes on a trifecta of dives to the floor as Injustice moved at the last minute.
The action was fast-paced with Brazil, Loco, and Zenshi all hitting dives outside in quick succession, and Air Wolf finished off the aerial assault with an Asai moonsault onto all competitors on the floor. The airborne attacks continued inside the ring as Zenshi slingshot himself off the top rope onto Oliver, then Loco squashed him with a split-legged moonsault.
Injustice slowed the pace down as they beat down Air Wolf, but Zenshi soon got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit a handspring flip double kick to the two opponents on the apron, a double cutter to Reed and Brazil, and then another handspring flip kick to Oliver.
Brazil scarily broke up an Air Wolf bridging German suplex near fall with a splash off the top rope. That looked like it could have broken Wolf’s neck if it was millimeters off target.
Zenshi put on the brakes on a suicide dive to Oliver on the outside, twisted in mid-air, and connected with a 619 instead. But Reed was right behind him and ran, jumped over the rope, grabbed Zenshi on the apron and landed a cutter to the floor in a great spot.
Referee Doug Markham got knocked down when Loco accidental knocked Reed into him. With the referee down, Reed took out brass knuckles but Loco reversed and used them on him instead.
The finish came when Air Wolf got caught with a Jordan Oliver springboard stunner from the apron and a Kotto Brazil Shiranui (non-rope walk sliced bread #2) in quick succession. Markham got beat up after the bell for his trouble.
– MLW and The Crash Lucha Libre will co-promote a show in Tijuana, Mexico, this October.
– The War Chamber match, taking place live from Dallas next Saturday, will air on the September 14th edition of Fusion.
– The Von Erich Brothers, along with Kevin Von Erich, cut a recorded message for CONTRA Unit. They said Dallas is a different place with the Von Erichs there and War Chamber will be a great night for them. Marshall called out CONTRA for trying to blind him on two different occasions. They will fight for the defenseless and defeat the undefeated.
– A promo video for “The Bone Collector” Dominic Garrini aired, hyping up his debut with MLW this fall.
– We then saw highlights from Alexander Hammerstone in Pro Wrestling NOAH before a training promo aired. Georgia Smith was in the gym with him and they had a lovers tiff over the amount of weight Hammer was lifting. Not wanting to be outdone, he added more and strained on the lift as the camera cut away.
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu defeated “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (15:14)
Josef Samael took the mic before the ring entrances and riled up the crowd before Jacob Fatu made his way out. Fatu continued getting the crowd to a fever pitch just in time for the arrival of his opponent.
Lawlor came out like a house of fire and took Fatu off his feet with a cross body off the top. He blocked a superkick and knocked him down again with a clothesline. An enzugiri and an overhead back suplex followed for an early near fall for the challenger.
Lawlor’s early flourish was soon halted when he went back up to the top but the champion caught him out of mid-air and crushed him with a big Samoan drop. Fatu focussed his beat down on Lawlor’s ribs with diving headbutts, thrust kicks, and Irish whips.
Fatu hit his handspring moonsault which was pivotal in him winning the title in their last encounter. He went for the Rikishi hip attack in the corner but Lawlor moved. The challenger then tried to choke the champion over the top rope and slowly began to mount a comeback.
The comeback was short-lived as. As Lawlor was distracted by Josef Samael on the outside, Fatu launched his 300+lb frame through the ropes with a suicide dive. Lawlor tried to fire up and bulldog Fatu on the floor but the Samoan used Lawlor’s momentum and dropped him ribs first on the guardrail.
Back inside Lawlor locked in a rear naked choke that only got the champion to a knee. Fatu was weary and missed a pair of avalanches in the corner. Lawlor rallied and hit some knees in the corner and then an airplane spin into a death valley driver.
Lawlor hit a running knee and a driven knee to the face for a close near fall as the momentum was shifting in favor of the challenger. Lawlor then followed up with a huge overhead German suplex and an exploder suplex into the corner, the champion was in trouble.
Samael got involved and cost Lawlor the match and the title. Behind the official’s back, he struck Lawlor in the back on the head with his railroad spike. Lawlor fell to the ground which gave Fatu the opening to hit his amazing Triple Jump Moonsault to the already injured ribs and pick up the 1-2-3.
Simon Gotch joined his CONTRA counterparts after the bell to lay a beatdown on Lawlor. The Von Erichs ran in to make the momentary save but the numbers game played to CONTRA’s advantage when Ikuro Kwon joined in.
It was not until Low Ki ran in and saved Lawlor and the Von Erichs that the numbers game evened out. The four-on-four War Chamber match was made as Low Ki is the final participant joining Tom Lawlor and the Von Erich brothers to take on CONTRA Unit next week.
Kotto Brazil made his return, but Ricky Reyes is not done with him. Barrington Hughes and Ace Romero were supposed to face off against each other, but ended up being a new tag team. Teddy Hart booped his cat’s nose. The build to the Low Ki and Tom Lawlor MLW title match continued as Low Ki cut a great promo on Lawlor. LA Park and Sami Callihan had a wild brawl that was a ton of fun.
The Recap—
The show opened with a memoriam for Rex Bacchus. A recap aired about all the events leading to LA Park vs. Sami Callihan, as Callihan failed to take out Tom Lawlor.
Kotto Brazil defeated Vandal Ortagun
Brazil made his return from injury, but was sent to the floor quickly by Ortagun. Brazil was wearing a patch over his eye, but has not slowed down as he managed to drag Ortagun to the outside and hit two suicide dives and then a tope con hilo. Brazil went for a Destino, but Ortagun managed to avoid it. Ortagun pulled the eyepatch way out and snapped it back into Kotto’s eye which had to suck.
Vandal nailed a big chop and then sent Brazil to the corner. Vandal got the heat for the next few minutes with some classic heel offense, including rope chokes. After a chop, Brazil fired back with a few, but Vandal went for the eyes and cut him off. Brazil hit an Eat Da Feet and then a few German suplexes, and ended with one with a bridge after a few counters. Brazil used a springboard to hit a headbutt, and then nailed a series of strikes.
Vandal went for a powerbomb, but Brazil countered into a hurricanrana and then hit a Code Red, but Vandal kicked out. Brazil hit a cutter and then a Destino and got the pinfall. This probably went a little too long, but it was a good match. Ricky Martinez attacked Brazil after the match and took his eyepatch.
— A recap aired of Tommy Dreamer vs. Brian Pillman Jr. Dreamer was on the phone, cutting a promo about how Pillman was crazy to let Dreamer choose the match when it was going to be in the 2300 Arena.
Barrington Hughes and Ace Romero went to a no contest
Romero started with some forearms and big strikes. Hughes hit a Vader-like attack, and then Romero did a running dropkick. As both men were getting ready to keep going, Col. Rob Parker came out and cut a promo on both guys about their size. The Dirty Blondes ran out and attacked, and the referee decided it was time for a tag team match.
Barrington Hughes and Ace Romero defeated The Dirty Blondes
Romero and Hughes immediately responded to the Blondes by squashing them, literally and figuratively, when they hit stereo powerslams. It seems there is a new tag team in MLW.
— A video aired hyping Mance Warner coming to MLW.
— H2tv interrupted Tony Schiavone. Pillman Jr. and Teddy Hart cut a promo on Pentagon and Fenix where they called them cowardly for hiding behind their masks. Hart forced Pillman to drink a protein drink and run down the hallway. The segment ended with Hart booping his cat on the nose.
— Matt Striker ran down the rest of the MLW Superfight card, a significant downgrade from Schiavone.
— Sami Callihan cut a promo about how LA Park was going to leave in a body bag.
— Low Ki cut a promo against ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor, applauding him in a very sarcastic manner for overcoming all of Low Ki’s associates. This was a really good promo.
LA Park (w/ Salina de la Renta) defeated Sami Callihan in a falls count anywhere match
LA Park lives up to his name of being the chairman as he brought a chair into the ring. Both men started exchanging chops and Park pointed at Callihan’s protective vest and asked him to remove it. Callihan did and begged Park to chop him. Park chopped him so hard it brought tears to Callihan’s eyes. Park then hit a clothesline and they went to ringside. Park nailed Callihan with a trash can lid after setting him on a chair. Park then hit a suicide dive, knocking Sami off the chair.
Park removed his belt and started beating Callihan with it. Park went for another suicide dive, but Callihan destroyed him with a garbage can and then hit him a second time once on the outside. Callihan hit Park with a pylon, and then with Park’s own belt. Callihan chopped Park, grabbed a beer, and smashed it into Park’s head. Callihan ran at Park, but Park dumped him into the front row and then nailed Callihan with a garbage can. Park took apart a guardrail and set the garbage can on it. Park suplexed him on the garbage can and the guardrail.
Park grabbed several chairs from the front row and threw them into the ring. Park nailed Callihan with a chair and a cookie sheet, but Callihan kicked out of a pin attempt. Park and Callihan brawled out into the lobby, and outside of the building onto the street. After brawling on the outside, they made their way back in a different door and the entire ringside area was torn apart.
Callihan was rolled back into the ring by Park, but Callihan accidentally took out the ref’s leg while rolling in. Park tried to pin Callihan, but Callihan kicked out. After Park hit a powerslam, the ref couldn’t complete the count. Park hit the ref with a cookie sheet. Callihan hit a low blow, and the ref went to make the pin, but Park kicked out. Callihan went to powerbomb Park on a series of chairs, but Park countered and ran to the corner. Callihan charged, but Park dodged and then speared Callihan into all the setup chairs and he pinned Callihan.
That was fantastic. A five star classic? Definitely not, but it was a great, fun brawl.
Due to unfortunate circumstances, I have decided not to fight on November 7th against Fabio Maldonado in Sao Paulo, Brasil, as part of a UFC Fight Night event. During a training session Saturday, I suffered a small cut over my left eye after a head-to-head clash after a takedown. The cut suffered was deep, though not deep enough to jeopardize my ability to fight in November. I returned home to spend time with my newborn son and watch some of my teammates compete in a World Series of Fighting event later that night.
While watching the fights and a Boston College football game, it became increasingly harder to focus on what was in front of me. I have very good eyesight. However, it was taking longer for the blurs and lights to go away as I watched on TV. As time passed, I became more mindful of the vision problems I was experiencing and I began to think about the fortunes of a fighter I share the same initials with: TJ (Thomas Joseph) Grant. Once a former top lightweight contender, TJ now works in potash mines in Saskatchewan, Canada. While working a “real” job is a fine way to make a living, I long ago decided that I have no desire to go back to that world.
I grew up as a fervent professional wrestling fan, and my UFC introduction was as a 10-year-old watching UFC 2 on a VHS tape at a friend’s house. As I grew older, I was more than an avid fan. I was in high school and my spare time was filled with activities that no teenage male likes to admit in public: playing wrestling video games and competing in E-feds. But it wasn’t just the easily accessible WWE, WCW, and ECW stuff I was watching. At the time, UFC was hardly a household name. Not easily found on PPV and relegated to tape trading, the UFC had a future that was uncertain at best.
But in Japan, the stakes were just raising and I was ordering events like RINGS Kings of Kings ’99 and Pride 8 through Internet websites. As if that wasn’t enough, I would even go to such great lengths as staying up until 4 AM to read people type results in ICQ chat rooms as they watched the events live!
I’ve had what some would say is a successful career in the UFC. As of today, I hold a UFC record of 6-4. Two of those losses are somewhat controversial split decisions, I lost to a grizzled veteran in his home country, and I was soundly defeated by the current 185-pound champion in minutes. But to me, I am both a success and a failure. The young boy that I once was, the onne that still resides in me, is happy and ecstatic for me every time I get to drive to the gym to twist, wrench, and wreck my body for the next two hours.
But the adult who has just watched the birth of his first child can’t help but feel as if there isn’t enough money for the future.
Fortunately (and I truly do thank them for this), the UFC has been generous to me with performance bonus money which has allowed me to continue living this dream for the past seven years. Like most dream sequences that seem too good to be true, now is not the time that I want to wake up and live in the “real” world. Unfortunately for now, there is a constant headache that has woken me up long enough to be advised not to compete due to a concussion suffered from the previously-mentioned head crash.
There is no doubt in my mind that three weeks ago, whoever votes in the UFC rankings finally had it right, and I was listed amongst the top fighters in the world. I also realize that by fighting in this state, I risk my future ability to continue climbing those ranks, which would finally serve both masters (my young and adult selves) adequately. With more wins comes greater compensation, and the birth of my son has finally given my adult self the motivation that was needed to turn that sense of failure into one of success.
I just traveled a long two years off to come back, score a win over a top 15 fighter, and earn a Performance of the Night award on July 25th in Chicago, IL. But that was never the goal; the goal was always to keep living that young boy’s dream. To raise my hands, hear the roar of the crowd, and become intoxicated in the moment. It is a moment that it is unforgettable, surpassed only by the unexplainable joy that seeing your son or daughter for the first time can provide. It seems as if now my life revolves around the dreams about this sport that I had as a young boy and the dreams that I possess for one’s future. And that is absolutely okay with me.
Next year will mark another return for me on the way to a longer and more productive career because of this decision. My motivation for fighting will continue to grow, as will my skillset and understanding of life. It has to. I’d hate for my son to grow up and dare to live a dream because I set an example that resulted in having to stop living mine.
So in 2016, look for me to be back in the Top 15, beating Top 10 opponents, and proving to every young boy who has to watch the UFC behind his parent’s back and every adult that worries about their family that dreams can and do come true.
