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UFC Cuts Ties with Veteran Fighters Gleison Tibau, Tom Lawlor



The Ultimate Fighting Championship has parted ways with a pair of long-tenured veterans.

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Multiple outlets have confirmed that both Gleison Tibau and Tom Lawlor are no longer with the Las Vegas-based promotion, although the fighters parted ways with the UFC under slightly different circumstances.

Tibau, a 28-time Octagon competitor, is a free agent after the UFC elected not to renew his contract. The 35-year-old Brazilian has lost his last four in the promotion, including a unanimous decision defeat to Desmond Green in his most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 131 on June 1. He also served a two-year suspension from 2016 to 2018 after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in both in- and out-of-competition drug screenings.

“There are many offers coming, but nothing is set yet,” Tibau told MMAFighting.com. “Rizin offered me a fight with Takanori Gomi on two weeks’ notice, but I was in Brazil, I was taking care of my cookie business and wasn’t even training, so I couldn’t take it. ACB also sent me an offer, but then they cancelled some cards, so I turned it down.

“Bellator asked me to wait a little bit, but they are interested. There’s also a promotion from Abu Dhabi, another one in Russia as well. I will sign one-fight deals only so I remain free.”

Lawlor, meanwhile, was released by the promotion just two months prior to the end of his USADA-mandated suspension. Lawlor received a two-year suspension for the banned substance ostarine and would have been eligible to return to action on Oct. 10. Lawlor, who currently competes with Major League Wrestling, last appeared at UFC 196, where he lost a unanimous decision to Corey Anderson to fall to 6-5 in his promotional tenure.

“All things come to an end and it was inevitable that so would my time in UFC,” said Lawlor in a statement. “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 (pro wrestling). 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.”

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