Tom Lawlor Teases Retirement from MMA in Case of Loss at PFL 5

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC, PFL and “The Ultimate Fighter” live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

“Filthy” feels the time might be right to retire from mixed martial arts.

The next fight is the last chance for Tom Lawlor (10-8 1NC, 0-1 PFL) to make it to the Professional Fighters League 2021 playoffs. The 38-year old made his promotional debut against fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship alum Antonio Carlos Jr. (11-5, 1-0 PFL) at PFL 2, in a clash won by “Cara De Sapato” via first-round guillotine choke. Lawlor is now forced to make a go-for-broke effort in his upcoming fight against Jordan Young at PFL 2021 5 on June 17. And according to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 vet, it might be the last time fans will see him competing inside the cage if things don’t go according to his plans.

“This is like the last fight on my contract with the PFL,” he said while talking with Sherdog. “This is my opportunity to make it to the playoffs. If that doesn’t happen, this may be the end of it for me. I’m 38-years old, I’ve been fighting since I was 20. I just want to say thanks to everybody out there. I mean, if this is the end of it for me, thanks to anybody who supported me, anybody who watched my fights and thought I was cool, or thought my entrances were funny. Thank you!”

Tudor Leonte started writing about mixed martial arts in 2013 for Italian media outlets. His journey with Sherdog begun in 2018 and now he covers One Championship and countless European shows. You can follow him on Twitter @MrTudorLeonte.