Former MLW World Heavyweight Champion ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor is returning to the octagon under the Professional Fighters League banner. The news of Lawlor’s return to MMA was broken on Ariel Helwani’s MMA show which Lawlor guest appeared on. Lawlor stated that he has been given a “golden lottery ticket” to compete in the upcoming PFL season and will be joining their Light Heavyweight division.
“I have been given the golden lottery ticket to compete in this year’s PFL in the light heavyweight division for $1 million. I am here to tell you it is my absolute goal, it is my destiny, to take home that money, and it’s gonna happen at the end of 2020.”
Lawlor is still working with Major League Wrestling and this past November on the ‘Filthy Four Daily’ podcast, he explained why he re-signed with MLW and credited his re-signing to the flexibility of his contract. He’s able to work dates with MLW while working for other promotions across the globe and that was a key reason why Lawlor decided to stay.
Lawlor’s last fight in the octagon took place on November 24th, 2018 and he fell in defeat to Deron Winn. Prior to that, he lost via unanimous decision to Corey Anderson at UFC 196. It is noted in the ESPN article that Lawlor’s PFL debut is expected to be announced soon and the new season of PFL kicks off in late Spring.