Age: 27 (Born May 15, 1982)
Nickname: The Filthy Mauler
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Weight: 185 lbs (Middleweight)
Primary Fighting Style: Wrestling
Secondary Fighting Style: Boxing
Fighting Out Of: Orlando, FL
Affiliation: The Jungle MMA
Weight Class: 185 lbs (Middleweight), although has fought at 205 lbs (Light Heavyweight) previously
Organizations Fought In: UFC, FFP, WFC
Fight Odds: Lawlor +200 (Underdog) – subject to change
Fight Odds Movement: No changes since line opening
Overall Record: 6-1
Types of Wins: 3 submissions, 2 KOs/TKOs, 1 decision
Types of Losses: 1 disqualification
Record in Last 5 fights: 4-1
Record in Major Organizations of MMA: 2-0
Longest Winning Streak: 3 wins (current)
Longest Losing Streak: 1 loss
Length of Time Since Last Fight: Approx. 6 months
Last Fight: def. CB Dollaway (-225) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) – Round 1, 0:55 – UFC 100, July 11, 2009
Notable Wins: CB Dollaway
Notable Losses: Shane Primm (DQ’ed)
Significant Injuries: N/A
Interesting Trivia: Appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 8: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir where he was eliminated by Ryan Bader in the Quarterfinals. While in the TUF house, gained infamy for urinating on his own food and watching several unwitting opposing team members eat it and for also knocking out Dave Kaplan after a night of drinking. Appeared as the “Just Bleed Guy” at the UFC 100 weigh-ins.
MMA Accomplishments: Essentially undefeated as a professional – sole loss was a result of an illegal knee 24 seconds into his fight against Shane Primm at 2008’s WFC 6.
Non-MMA Accomplishments: Three-time NCWA National Champion wrestler, four-time NCWA All-American (University of Central Florida)
Strengths: Strong wrestler, wrestler’s cardio, sneaky chokes
Keys to Victory: Although essentially undefeated, the fan favorite Lawlor comes into the fight as a decent sized underdog against Aaron Simpson. Lawlor’s primary strength also happens to be one of Simpson’s strengths – wrestling. Both were champion wrestlers in high school and college and this will likely nullify that advantage for either, so don’t look for the fight to go to the ground too much. Because of this, the fight will likely be contested standing with Lawlor trying to avoid Simpson’s powerful strikes, yet looking for an opportunity to catch an overly aggressive Simpson with one of his signature straight lefts to the body or well-placed choke to notch the potential upset.
* Versus *
Age: 35 (Born July 20, 1974)
Nickname: The A-Train
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Weight: 185 lbs
Primary Fighting Style: Boxing
Secondary Fighting Style: Wrestling
Fighting Out Of: Phoenix, AZ
Affiliation: Arizona Combat Sports
Weight Class: 185 lbs (Middleweight)
Organizations Fought In: UFC, WEC, Tuff-N-Nuff, etc.
Fight Odds: Simpson -260 (Favorite) – subject to change
Fight Odds Movement: No changes since line opening
Overall Record: 6-0
Types of Wins: 6 KOs/TKOs
Types of Losses: N/A
Record in Last 5 fights: 5-0
Record in Major Organizations of MMA: 3-0
Longest Winning Streak: 6 wins (current)
Longest Losing Streak: N/A
Length of Time Since Last Fight: Approx 4.5 months
Last Fight: def. Ed Herman (-150) via TKO (Injury) – Round 2, 0:17 – UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira, August 29, 2009
Notable Wins: Ed Herman (via injury)
Notable Losses: N/A
Significant Injuries: N/A
Interesting Trivia: Along with his wife, competes on as an official gladiator on NBC’s television show “American Gladiators”. Trains with CB Dollaway – Lawlor’s opponent at UFC 100 who he beat.
MMA Accomplishments: Undefeated as a professional fighter (6-0)
Non-MMA Accomplishments: Two-time all-American wrestler at Arizona State University, 142-1 record as a high school wrestler, all-state high school football player, high school state champion in triple jump
Strengths: Strong wrestler, wrestler’s cardio, knockout power in both hands
Keys to Victory: As stated previously, Simpson and Lawlor share wrestling as one of their strengths, so the fight will likely be contested on the feet. That fits perfectly into Simpson’s plans – he has KO power in both hands as evidenced by a large majority of Simpson’s wins being because of strikes. If he can keep the fight standing and avoid any lapses in concentration that would allow Lawlor to gain dominant position or sink in a choke, Simpson should dominate the fight standing and eventually catch his opponent for the KO or TKO win.
