Lawlor released by UFC two months before two year suspension ends

In 2016, Tom Lawlor, longtime UFC middleweight and light heavyweight, and huge favorite of The UnderGround, had an anti-doping test flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the UFC’s independent drug testing agency. Lawlor has credibly maintained his innocence, but received a full two-year suspension for the test for Ostarine.

UFC welterweight Tim Means received just a six-month suspension for Ostarine, after identifying the source of the flagged test – a contaminated supplement. Lawlor was, unfortunately, unable to do the same. The two-year period of ineligibility began on October 10, 2016, the date his positive sample was collected.

Lawlor had requested to be released from his contract with the UFC but was denied. He has been professional wrestling in the interim, and planned a return to the Octagon. Lawlor was a ten-year UFC vet, and 2-1 his last three when he was suspended, with the sole loss being a decision to Corey Anderson, who is currently #6 in the league. Fight before that, he knocked out Gian Villante winning a performance bonus, his fourth in the last ten fights.

However, Lawlor, now 35, was just granted a release, and has offered a statement on F4WOnline, where he has a weekly show, the ‘Filthy Four Daily’ with Bryan Alvarez.

“All things come to an end and it was inevitable that so would my time in UFC,” said Lawlor. “Today I was informed that I will be released by the UFC despite my USADA suspension being nearly over and my previous requests for a release being denied. While the timing is unexpected, hopefully this opens the doors for me to continue with my mixed martial arts career as well as in the squared circle*. Combat sports is one of my life’s great loves and I look forward to showing and sharing that with the fans as soon as possible.”

*Squared circle is an old term for pro wrestling.