Between The Ropes
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
ESPN Florida AM 1080 and AM 1060
Simulcast online at BetweenTheRopes.com

On Tuesday night, September 16, contestant on season 8 of the Ultimate Fighter Tom Lawlor joined hosts Brian Fritz, Dickerman, and Vito DeNucci live on Between The Ropes on ESPN Florida AM 1080 and AM 1060 to discuss how he was cast on the show, what fighting in the qualifying round is like, and much more.

Tom started out talking about how he originally got picked for the show and jokingly said "You send in a tape and I thought I was trying out for a porno, but then it turned out to be a fighting thing.  I guess they liked what they saw."

Next Tom talked about how much of his past the Zuffa representatives knew about, specifically the work he had done in pro wrestling.  He said that it did come up a couple times in the casting and at the round of 32.  While Tom speculated they might have wanted him to get caught in a knee bar so they could make an example of a former pro wrestler he didn't think it hurt him in the long run since Zuffa and Spike place such an emphasis on casting people with some personality. 

Staying on the topic of Spike's desire to cast people who will be good for television Tom said they're looking for a mix of good fighters and personalities and that he's "sure there are people who go into the interview and just blow it because they have no personality or are a two on the attractiveness scale." 

Coming on the heels of last year's big twist where the fighters had to fight in to get into the house Tom said that he came into the show ready to fight and "if you didn't come in knowing you were fighting then you're pretty brain dead."  Tom also joked that he's finding it much easier to make weight since he recently quit his job, as he's found that without money he can't eat. 

Lastly Tom talked about what fighting in the qualifying round was like since it's not an official professional fight, but it still carries so much importance for a fighter's career.  "It's really surreal…it's not like it's a fight, but it's not like it's training.  It's really really weird.  There are other people there, but everyone is so concerned with making it into the house that you don't really have anyone backing you."  Tom also said that unlike other fighters he was fighting to impress Arianny Celeste instead of Dana White or the coaches, but unfortunately she wasn't there.

To listen to the entire Tom Lawlor interview as well as the entire September 16th edition of Between The Ropes in streaming audio, visit the show online at http://www.BetweenTheRopes.com. In addition to listening to this week's show you can become a site member and access hundreds of previous Between The Ropes shows and interviews. Join us for Between The Ropes for two hours every Tuesday night at 6:00pm ET on ESPN Florida AM 1080 and AM 1060 and worldwide on BetweenTheRopes.com.

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