Undefeated STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight Champion “King Mo’’ Lawal (7-0) will make the first defense of his crown against highly touted Brazilian Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2) at STRIKEFORCE Houston on Saturday night. King Mo took part in an open media workout on Tuesday at the Metro Fight Club. Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce

HOUSTON, Texas — Two of the key televised fighters for STRIKEFORCE Houston at Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, Aug. 21, LIVE on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) took part in an open workout on Tuesday at the Metro Fight Club.

In the main event of a World Championship Doubleheader, undefeated STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight Champion “King Mo’’ Lawal (7-0) will make the first defense of his crown against highly touted Brazilian Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2).  Lawal, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American and Big 12 wrestling champion for Oklahoma State University, won the title with a one-sided, unanimous five-round decision over defending belt-holder Gegard Mousasi last April 17 on the CBS Television Network.

King Mo said after the light workout there isn’t much left to do but wait for the weigh in and fights. “I’m feeling real good,” said King Mo, who did some light shadow boxing with his boxing coach Danny Perez. “I need to cut about eight pounds but that should be no problem. The weight is good and now it’s just about waiting for Saturday night. All the work has been done.”

King Mo said he never tires of speaking to members of the press. “As long as they ask good questions,” he said. “It gets kind of old when you hear, ‘Do you think you’ll win?’ or ‘How are you feeling?’ Those are like one-word answers. I don’t like the obvious questions. I mean, if I didn’t think I could win the fight I wouldn’t have taken it.”

In another televised fight on SHOWTIME, ex-world champ KJ Noons (9-2) will face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in a lightweight (155 pounds) match.  Noons, who is also a professional boxer, has won five consecutive fights and is the last fighter to defeat current STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion Nick Diaz – a bloody first-round knockout in 2007.

Noons was also on hand on Tuesday to speak with media members. “Did a little jump rope, a little stretch, a little pad work today,” Noons said. “It’s part of the job. I’m feeling great right now. My weight is on point and I just got my last workout in.” He continued: “I’ll execute my game plan against Jorge. I’ll know a lot of people in the crowd so it should make it that much more fun.”

In the co-feature, former Green Beret and American military hero Tim Kennedy (12-2) and world-class submission specialist Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (12-2-1) will battle for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Middleweight (185 pounds) title.  Kennedy, a sniper for the Special Forces who served six tours of duties in the Middle East, is one of MMA’s fastest rising stars.

Unbeaten and rising heavyweight star Bobby Lashley will take on MMA veteran and Tucson, Ariz., firefighter Chad Griggs in a featured bout.  Lashley (5-0) is a former collegiate wrestling star for Missouri Valley College and member of The United States Army. The former WWE and TNA wrestling star made his MMA debut in December of 2008. This will be his second start for STRIKEFORCE.

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE: Houston are on sale at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX, at select Houston area Randalls locations, and at www.strikeforce.com and at the Toyota Center box office.

Doors at Toyota Center will open at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday.  The first preliminary bout will begin at 6:30 p.m.

King Mo did some light shadow boxing with boxing coach Danny Perez and then took time out to answer questions from members of the Houston media. Saturday night’s event will air LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce
KJ Noons (9-2), who played high school football in Houston, will be the crowd favorite on Saturday night. Noons will face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in a lightweight (155 pounds) match. Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce
Noons, who is also a professional boxer, has won five consecutive fights and is the last fighter to defeat current STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion Nick Diaz – a bloody first-round knockout in 2007. Tickets for STRIKEFORCE: Houston are on sale at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX, at select Houston area Randalls locations, and at www.strikeforce.com and at the Toyota Center box office. Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce
Chad “Robo” Robichaux (8-0) of The Woodlands, Texas, faces Humberto DeLeon (5-3) of Houston in one of the many exciting undercard fights set for Saturday. Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce
Artenas Young (2-1) of Houston will take on Chad Cook (8-8) of Pasadena, Texas, in a three-round, 205-pound non-televised matchup. Doors at Toyota Center will open at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday. The first preliminary bout will begin at 6:30 p.m. Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce

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