- Muhammed Lawal
-
For the Nigerian governor of Ogun and then Kwara states, see Mohammed Lawal.
Muhammed Lawal Born January 11, 1981
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.Other names King Mo Nationality American Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight 204 lb (92.5 kg; 14.6 st) Division Light Heavyweight (205 lb)
Heavyweight (265 lb)Reach 78 in (198 cm) Style Freestyle Wrestling, Boxing Fighting out of San Jose, California Team American Kickboxing Academy Rank NCAA Division I Wrestling Years active 2008–present Mixed martial arts record Total 9 Wins 8 By knockout 6 By decision 2 Losses 1 By knockout 1 Other information University Oklahoma State University
University of Central OklahomaNotable school(s) Plano East Senior High School Website http://www.kingmo.us/ Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog last updated on: April 18, 2011 Medal record Competitor for 
United StatesMen's freestyle wrestling Pan American Championships Gold 2007 San Salvador 96 kg World Cup Silver 2007 Krasnoyarsk 96 kg Muhammed Lawal (born January 11, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to a multi-fight deal with the Strikeforce organization where he is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. Nicknamed King Mo, he is a former three-time U.S. Senior National Wrestling Champion. He wrestled at the University of Central Oklahoma for three years ('00, '01, '02) winning one NCAA division II national championship in 2002. His overall record at UCO was 184–96.
Contents
Mixed martial arts
Strikeforce
On October 13, 2009, it was announced that Lawal had signed a multi-fight contract with U.S. based promotion Strikeforce. The contract allowed him to continue fighting in the Japanese circuit where he has gained his notoriety.
On December 19 at Strikeforce: Evolution Lawal fought Mike Whitehead beating him three minutes and eight seconds into round one. Lawal came in showing relaxed hands and strong counter punching and caught Whitehead with a strong right which dropped him. Lawal followed up with three punches causing the referee to stop the fight at 3:08, awarding Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal the win by KO (Punches).
On April 17, 2010, Lawal defeated Gegard Mousasi by unanimous decision to win the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship belt.
Lawal lost the Strikeforce lightheavyweight championship in Houston Texas, on August 21, against Rafael Cavalcante by TKO (elbows) of 1:14 of round 3.
Lawal was out of action until mid 2011 after undergoing surgery to repair a knee injury.[1]
Lawal was scheduled to fight Roger Gracie at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson on July 30, 2011. Gracie, however, withdrew from the bout in late June due to an injury.[2] The fight was rescheduled for Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov on Sept. 10, 2011, and Lawal won via KO in the first round.
Personal life
Lawal's mother is an immigrant from Nigeria.[3]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed Martial Arts
- Strikeforce
- Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Professional wrestling
Amateur wrestling
- International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
- 2007 Hargobind International Tournament Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2007 Alexander Medved International Senior Freestyle Silver Medalist
- 2007 Pan American Championships Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2007 World Cup Senior Freestyle Silver Medalist
- 2007 Takhti Cup Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2006 Golden Grand Prix Senior Freestyle Bronze Medalist
- 2006 Uzbekistan Independence Cup Golden Grand Prix Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2006 Yasar Dogu International Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2006 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2005 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Freestyle Silver Medalist
- 2004 Clan International Championships Senior Freestyle Silver Medalist
- 2004 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Freestyle Bronze Medalist
- 2004 FILA Manitoba Open Senior Freestyle Silver Medalist
- 2003 Sunkist Kids International Open Senior Freestyle Bronze Medalist
- USA Wrestling
- USA Senior Freestyle National Championship (2005, 2006, 2008)
- USA Senior Freestyle National Championship Runner-up (2007)
- USA University Freestyle National Championship (2003)
- 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials Senior Freestyle Runner-up
- 2007 FILA World Team Trials Senior Freestyle Runner-up
- 2006 NYAC Christmas Championships Senior Freestyle Gold Medalist
- 2005 FILA World Team Trials Senior Freestyle Winner
- 2004 NYAC Christmas Championships Senior Freestyle Silver Medalist
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- NCAA Division I Collegiate Championship 3rd Place (2003)
- NCAA Division I All-American (2003)
- Big 12 Conference Championship (2003)
- NCAA Division II Collegiate Championship (2002)
- NCAA Division II Collegiate Championship Runner-up (2001)
- NCAA Division II All-American (2001, 2002)
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown 9 matches 8 wins 1 loss By knockout 6 1 By submission 0 0 By decision 2 0 Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes Win 8–1 Roger Gracie KO (punch) Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov September 10, 2011 1 4:37 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Light Heavyweight bout Loss 7–1 Rafael Cavalcante TKO (punches and elbows) Strikeforce: Houston August 21, 2010 3 1:14 Houston, Texas, United States Lost Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship Win 7–0 Gegard Mousasi Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Nashville April 17, 2010 5 5:00 Nashville, Tennessee, United States Won Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship Win 6–0 Mike Whitehead KO (punches) Strikeforce: Evolution December 19, 2009 1 3:08 San Jose, California, United States Heavyweight bout Win 5–0 Mark Kerr TKO (punches) M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough August 28, 2009 1 0:25 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Heavyweight bout Win 4–0 Ryo Kawamura Decision (unanimous) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 7 March 20, 2009 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Light Heavyweight bout Win 3–0 Yukiya Naito TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku no Ran 2009 January 4, 2009 1 3:54 Saitama, Japan Light Heavyweight bout Win 2–0 Fabio Silva TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6 November 1, 2008 3 0:41 Saitama, Japan Heavyweight bout Win 1–0 Travis Wiuff TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 5 September 28, 2008 1 2:11 Tokyo, Japan Heavyweight bout See also
References
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Manager: Lawal Out 9 Months for Knee Surgery". Sherdog.com. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Manager-Lawal-Out-9-Months-for-Knee-Surgery-26509. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ "Roger Gracie withdraws from Strikeforce bout with Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal KNOCKED ROGER THE EFF OUT DOE". mmajunkie.com. 2011-06-25. http://mmajunkie.com/news/24142/roger-gracie-withdraws-from-strikeforce-bout-with-muhammed-king-mo-lawal.mma.
- ^ http://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/mma-article.asp?aid=513&issid=36
External links
- Professional MMA record for Muhammed Lawal from Sherdog
- MiddleEasy.com Interview
- Mo Lawal on Myspace
- Muhammed Lawal profile at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Preceded by
Gegard Mousasi4th Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion
April 17, 2010 – August 21, 2010Succeeded by
Rafael CavalcanteCategories:- 1981 births
- Living people
- People from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- American mixed martial artists
- Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Heavyweight mixed martial artists
- African-American mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists from Tennessee
- Mixed martial artists from Texas
- Strikeforce champions
- American sport wrestlers
- African American Muslims
- American people of Nigerian descent
- Strikeforce
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
