"I don't know if he turned it down, or I guess his management – maybe he didn't have enough time to train for me on short notice, but I was willing to step in and fight him at DREAM," Lawal said.
My critics are my opponents as well," Lawal said. "Because everybody has something to say. Who's that dude, Mike Straka? I don't know who he is, but I guess he's trying to tell people that I'm overrated and this and that. This is coming from somebody who knows [expletive] about MMA, who's just a fan with his own TV show. If he thinks I'm overrated, he can come and train with me. Come train with me – I'll show you overrated. I've only been in this sport for a year and a half. Now who else in a year-and-a-half has been beating people with winning records like I have?"

And truth be told, Lawal said would feel out of place if it were any other way. If everyone was giving me compliments, like 'you the man, you the man,' then what's the point?" Lawal asked. "I like being an underdog. I like people doubting me."

"Anybody can make a [prediction] right now, but I'm just going to keep my knowledge to myself until the fight comes – because then everybody will see what I'm talking about, why I wanted this fight."
I'll feel better when it's confirmed, you know what I'm saying? Once it's confirmed, game over."