As an amateur wrestler in the United States, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal was a former NCAA Champion, a former NCAA All-American, and a one-time Olympic hopeful. However, to die-hard mixed martial arts fans, Lawal has become known as a future MMA mega-star thanks to his 4-0 pro MMA record that has been compiled in Japan. But on Friday, Aug. 28 in Kansas City at the historic Memorial Hall and live on HDNet, Lawal will fight for the first time on U.S. soil against former NCAA Champion Mark Kerr at “HDNET FIGHTS PRESENTS M-1 GLOBAL BREAKTHROUGH.”
After being upset in his bid to represent the U.S. during the 2008 Beijing Games, Lawal turned is focus to MMA and made a stunning debut under the Sengoku banner. Facing the vastly bigger and more experienced Travis Wiuff, Lawal needed just two minutes and 11 seconds to TKO the former YAMMA heavyweight champion.
Since the Wiuff fight, it’s been all uphill for Lawal with the exception of a minor speed bump. With expectations growing, some pundits expressed disappointment that Lawal was unable to finish Ryo Kawamura in his last fight this past March and instead was only able to win via decision.
Soon after the fight it was revealed that Lawal competed on a torn ACL and that the injury would require surgery. While the procedure that Lawal underwent would normally sideline a fighter for up to a year, Lawal is attempting to come back in just six months.
Lawal’s comeback from surgery and U.S. homecoming have been chronicled in a brand new viral documentary-style video directed by E. Casey Leydon of AllElbows.com. In the video, concerns about Lawal’s knee and the size advantage of Kerr will have at “Breakthrough” are both addressed.
-Press Release