I managed to catch up with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney after Bellator 69 at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Friday night. Bjorn touched on issues such as fighters who stuck out on the undercard, why the Asplund vs. Sparks fight didn’t happen, MMA in New York and much more. Come inside after the jump for the full interview, as well as fight videos from the fighters that Bjorn Rebney mentions.
I managed to catch up with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney after Bellator 69 at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Friday night. Bjorn touched on issues such as fighters who stuck out on the undercard, why the Asplund vs. Sparks fight didn’t happen, MMA in New York and much more. Come inside after the jump for the full interview, as well as fight videos from the fighters that Bjorn Rebney mentions.
Unfortunately, all the videos currently online of the Josh Quayhagen fight are actually of the Richard Hale vs. Josh Burns fight. But we do have Russian prospect Andrey Koreshkov’s brilliant performance against Derrick Krantz. By the way, Koreshkov and co. all had matching airbrushed shirts, which I totally dug.
Lawal was fired from Strikeforce after testing positive for a banned steroid and is currently serving out a nine-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Because of that suspension, Lawal will have to wait to be able to compete under the Bellator banner — but since he’s also signed with TNA, he can conceivably begin making some money much sooner since professional wrestling is not regulated as a competitive sport by athletic commissions. Lawal signing with both organizations fuels rumors that Bellator and TNA — both of which air on Viacom-owned television channels and, starting in 2013, will appear on Spike TV — will somehow collaborate or cross-promote.
Lawal was fired from Strikeforce after testing positive for a banned steroid and is currently serving out a nine-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Because of that suspension, Lawal will have to wait to be able to compete under the Bellator banner — but since he’s also signed with TNA, he can conceivably begin making some money much sooner since professional wrestling is not regulated as a competitive sport by athletic commissions. Lawal signing with both organizations fuels rumors that Bellator and TNA — both of which air on Viacom-owned television channels and, starting in 2013, will appear on Spike TV — will somehow collaborate or cross-promote.
If you’ve watched MMA for any length of time, you’ve probably met at least one idiotic person who claims that the sport is “fake” like pro wrestling, meaning that the results are pre-determined. While we can’t begrudge King Mo for paying his bills in any honest way that he can, if Bellator and TNA do start mixing narratives and roster members, it could confuse viewers and set back the credibility of MMA as a sport.
Many American fighters have delved into professional wrestling for extended periods of time, including Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Mark Coleman, and Bob Sapp. But Lawal’s experiment might end up being the biggest balancing act of the two that any fighter has yet attempted in the U.S.
For now, that’s all speculation. We’ll bring you more as the story develops. As it stands, we just know that King Mo is back on his feet with a j-o-b.
What up, Potato Nation, it’s your boy ReX13 here at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, ready to watch some ladies fight. I realize some of you have dirty-ass opinions about women’s MMA, and to you assholes I say this: I think there’s an NBA game on or something. Is the NFL draft still on? How’d my Carolina Panthers do? Actually, don’t answer that, just exit stage left. For the rest of you, let’s party: we got a badass card to watch.
Since the whole thing is streaming for free right here, I’m going to forego an actual play-by-play and just drop observations as the night goes on. I’m also ready to grab snapshots and video of the things you can’t see, so expect butt shots of Natasha Wicks. I’m all for girl power, but I also know what my Nation likes.
One more note: they are trying to disable the media with a light show and deafening dubstep. Pray for me.
Come on in, the show starts at 8pm ET. Until then, feel free to tweet your best #BadPickUpLinesAtInvictaFC at me, because I’m immature.
No way I’m not using this picture again.
What up, Potato Nation, it’s your boy ReX13 here at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, ready to watch some ladies fight. I realize some of you have dirty-ass opinions about women’s MMA, and to you assholes I say this: I think there’s an NBA game on or something. Is the NFL draft still on? How’d my Carolina Panthers do? Actually, don’t answer that, just exit stage left. For the rest of you, let’s party: we got a badass card to watch.
Since the whole thing is streaming for free right here, I’m going to forego an actual play-by-play and just drop observations as the night goes on. I’m also ready to grab snapshots and video of the things you can’t see, so expect butt shots of Natasha Wicks. I’m all for girl power, but I also know what my Nation likes.
One more note: they are trying to disable the media with a light show and deafening dubstep. Pray for me.
Come on in, the show starts at 8pm ET. Until then, feel free to tweet your best #BadPickUpLinesAtInvictaFC at me, because I’m immature.
“Sassy” Cassie Rodish vs Meghan “The Babe” Wright
Getting started with some undercard action at 105 pounds, a class we call “atomweight”. I think atomweight sounds pretty damn cool.
No glove touch, they mean business. A few hooks thrown but Rodish wades in for a front headlock and ragdolls Wright to the ground, up against the cage. It takes all of thirty-sex seconds for Cassie Rodish to secure a guillotine and get the tap.
Ashley “Smashley” Cummins vs Sofia Bagherdai
Bagherdai was unable to make weight yesterday, and she’s visibly larger and stronger today. Smashley ain’t care; she’s got my favorite mean mug since ever and she’s got the tenacity of a pit bull. Bagherdai has reach and strength, but Cummins just doesn’t stop, uh, comin’. Bagherdai’s accuracy leaves something to be desired, and I have a feeling no one really hits her hard in the gym. Cummins stays in her face through three, working for takedowns and returning fire with four and five-punch combos. I’ve got Smashley for all three rounds, but I’m still partially blind and deaf from the light show and club music. The judges mostly agree with me though: Cummins takes a unanimous decision.
Randi Miller vs “Miss” Mollie Estes
Pay attention, Nation: this is an Olympic athlete making her debut. Miller has postponed her first match a few times, but she’s here to frate train some local talent. If she does well, we’ll try to figure out a nickname.
Ok, maybe I sold Estes short — the fight doesn’t end as soon as the fighters clinch. Estes does a fantastic job of staying on her feet, working short elbows and a series of knees in the clinch. Meanwhile, Miller tries to finish a takedown, and she looks like she should just roll over her like a tank. She manages to get the fight to the canvas in the second, but she’s unable to finish Estes, who manages to neutralize much of Miller’s offense until the last thirty seconds of the round. Miller finishes to round in full mount on Estes, but can’t finish. Round three starts with two exhausted fighters going on heart. Estes has turned bright red, and Miller eventually manages to secure the takedown, and rains down some hammerfists. Estes is wiped out, and the ref has seen enough. Randi Miller wins her debut at 3:24 of the third via TKO (referee’s stoppage due to strikes).
Sarah “The KO Kid” Maloy vs Michele “Diablita” Gutierrez
These women want to throw leather — from Missouri. (It’s across the river.) Lot of fighting at looooooong range through the first two rounds, while my laptop says “fuckitall” and starts looking up computer porn or something. I have a 10-10 first and a Maloy second. Third round is fought a little closer, but mostly they seem hesitant to engage. They wait for the ten-second warning, then start scrapping. For reals? Probably Maloy by a hair, but I think they shouldn’t keep fighting until one of these ladies gets hit. Judges see it unanimously for Sarah “The KO Kid” Maloy, and I hate the DJ SO HARD. Music just got stupid loud for no apparent reason, and I’m going to dropkick the speaker array next to press row.
Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc vs Amy “Little Dynamite” Davis
These two took that cute “just a couple of BFFs” weigh-in picture, but they waste no time getting to business. Davis threatens with a triangle early, but can’t finish. She’s got some good boxing, but nothing big happens outside of messing up Rivera-Calanoc’s hair. They continue the grappling contest in the second, and the end starts with Rivera-Calanoc hitting a takedown against the cage. Davis manages to snare her opponent in a crucifix and throw some punches, loses it, and notices an arm just hanging out there. With Rivera-Calanoc’s elbows so far from her body, it’s easy work for Davis to get wrist control and torque out for a kimura, getting the tap. Amy Davis defeats Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via submission (which the announcer calls a kimura choke — awesome?) at 3:47 of round 2.
“Slick” Sally Krumdiack vs Sarah “The White Tiger” Schneider
Schneider comes out to a song she wrote and performed herself, so keep your comments to yourself, ALF. Wow. Schneider was motivated to fight in her hometwon, and she never gave Krumdiack a chance. Schneider popped her right off the bat, and pulled guard after a bit of clinchwork in the Krumdiack corner. Schneider throws a beautiful triangle-armbar combo, and Krumdiack has no choice but to tap. That is a Tiger not to fuck with. Sarah “The White Tiger” Schneider defeats “Slick” Sally Krumdiack via submission (armbar) at 3:01 of the first round.
Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio vs Vanessa Mariscal
Fuck yes Vanessa Mariscal is coming out to “The Shortest Straw”, and while I’m supposed to be neutral, I hope she rips off D’Alelio’s head off and shits down her neck. Then I change my mind because TOOL YOU GUYS HOLY FUCK THESE CHICKS ARE BADASS. Insiders think this one will be bananas. First round is a lot of D’Alelio on Mariscal’s back. Mariscal, a short-notice injury replacement, stays cool and plays defense, and lasts out the round. Round two starts with some stand and wang, but D’Alelio gets Mariscal’s back again, looking for a way to put the fight away. She looks for an RNC, but decides just ground and pound will do. The ref agrees, apparently, stopping the fight — perhaps a bit early, but Mariscal doesn’t seem too upset with the stoppage. Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio defeats Vanessa Mariscal via TKO (referee’s stoppage due to strikes) at 3:19 of round 2.
Kaitlin Young vs Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith
It’s two rounds of kickboxing so far, and these women are throwing ten-piece combos like they’re KFC. Yes, i’m getting lazy. Whatever, I wasn’t supposed to be doing a play by play anyway. (five minutes later…) That was three rounds of throwdown, ladies and gentlemen, now somebody tell me how chicks are boring again. Amazing showing by both fighters. Wish they could both win, but Kaitlin Young vs Leslie “Peacemaker” Smith is declared a SPLIT DRAW. I had Smith winning, but I guess I can watch it again to decide later. What say you, Nation?
Liz “The Girl-Rilla” Carmouche vs Ashleigh Curry
Bell rings, and it looks like Carmouche sticks Curry with a long straight punch before cramming her against the cage and taking her down. It doesn’t take long for Carmouche to work to mount, and lays down the ground and pound. Curry is completely lost on the ground, and the ref cuts the fight shortly after. Liz “The Girl-Rilla” Carmouche defeats Ashleigh Curry via TKO (referee’s stoppage due to strike) at 1:58 of the first round.
Side note: Ran into Cris Cyborg during the intermission. He’s really nice when he’s not roiding his tits off.
Jessica Penne vs Lisa Ellis
This is a fight that should have happened in Bellator, but Zoila Frausto fucked it all up. Should be good. Winner here makes a good argument for a top spot at 105. Penne has skills, but she seems lacking in killer instinct. She is the only person I’ve seen secure a crucifix from the bottom like that, though. My god, this back and forth. As they start the third, it’s an even fight until Ellis catches a knee on the nose coming out of a clinch, and blood starts pouring like a faucet. Ellis does her best to fight, but the blood is affecting her vision, plus I bet that hurts like a bitch. Once Penne gets a superior position, it’s pretty much over. Jessica Penne defeats Lisa Ellis via TKO (referee’s stoppage due to strikes) at 2:48 of the third round.
Now being announced:Shayna Baszler vs Sarah McMann at the next Invicta card. That’s some good matchmaking, kids.
Side note: I’m ready to burn down this DJ’s house, with her and her cats in it.
Time for the main event!
Marloes “Rumina” Coenen vs Romy Ruyssen
Coenen is hyped and ready to fight coming into the cage. These two appear to dislike one another a bit. They start with a little rangefinding, and clinch against the fence for some knees. Referee stops the action to dock Ruyssen a point for grabbing the cage (?). Ruyssen seems angry and willing to scrap, but I’m not seeing her as the high-level competition that Coenen deserves. I say that, but after three rounds Coenen has been unable to put her opponent away, so what the fuck do I know? Certainly, Ruyssen’s standup leaves much to be desired. We’ll go top the judges for a decision: Marloes “Rumina” Coenen defeats Romy Ruyssen via unanimous decision. Who’s next for the default 145 champ?
Ok, Nation, I’m off to get some interviews (hopefully) and whatever kind of post-fight presser I can find. Thanks for coming up, ya’ll, I’ll holler.
We wrote NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer to ask him if he felt Commissioner Pat Lundvall’s line of questioning was offensive, racially or otherwise, or if her questions represented standard procedure in Nevada’s ongoing quest to emphasize fighters taking personal responsibility. Kizer was direct and concise in his response:
We wrote NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer to ask him if he felt that Commissioner Pat Lundvall’s line of questioning was offensive, racially or otherwise, or if her questions represented standard procedure in Nevada’s ongoing quest to emphasize fighters taking personal responsibility. Kizer was direct and concise in his response:
“The questioning was foundational in nature, very common and quite appropriate,” Kizer wrote us back.
During Lawal’s hearing on Tuesday, the accuracy of his pre-fight questionnaire — which asks, among other things, about medications that a fighter may be taking as well as recent and ongoing injuries that he or she may have — was called into question. Discrepancies seemed to arise between what was put down on those forms (and who even filled the forms out) and Lawal’s subsequent claims. During questioning, Lundvall asked Lawal if he understood English, could read English, and a few other condescending questions.
Lawal has since said that he felt insulted for being asked that, considering that he had been speaking to the commission in English for some time at that point and attended college in these United States. The Southern-born wrestler said Lundvall’s line of questioning reminded him of discrimination from his past.
Listen to some audio of Lawal’s hearing below (you can fast forward to around the 6:50 mark to hear Lundvall ask Lawal about understanding English, owning a PC, having an email address and other deadpan gold). There isn’t any particular reason to believe that Commissioner Lundvall’s questioning of Lawal was racially motivated, but it was certainly a dressing-down.
What do you think, nation? Racism, race-baiting or simple misunderstanding among friends?
Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal — avid Twitterer, occasional forum poster and all around social media force, has been noticeably absent from the ever-probing eye of the MMA world. Recently, it came to light that Lawal had some life threatening health concerns, and had been in the hospital for an extended period of time. A call to action has been issued on his behalf via concerned fans on various forums and Twitter. Prayer groups, emergency PayPal funding and several other good intentions have been proposed as possibilities for fans to render their own brand of help and good will. In an exclusive interview yesterday that will put your worried minds at ease, Mo gave us the 411 on his injuries, current health and financial status, and even an update of what shows he’s currently watching.
Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal — avid Twitterer, occasional forum poster and all around social media force, has been noticeably absent from the ever-probing eye of the MMA world. Recently, it came to light that Lawal had some life threatening health concerns, and had been in the hospital for an extended period of time. A call to action has been issued on his behalf via concerned fans on various forums and Twitter. Prayer groups, emergency PayPal funding and several other good intentions have been proposed as possibilities for fans to render their own brand of help and good will. In an exclusive interview yesterday that will put your worried minds at ease, Mo gave us the 411 on his injuries, current health and financial status, and even an update of what shows he’s currently watching.
The Secret
“My health is good, but here’s the thing: All this stuff that came out [on Twitter], happened like three weeks ago. I had an ACL replacement again, but that wasn’t a big deal. I think what got me was the micro-fracture surgery. The micro-fractures got infected with staph, and I ended up in the hospital for about 12 days. I didn’t want people to know I was in the hospital, so if people texted me, I didn’t tell them. I was in pain and damned near dying. They gave me morphine. It was crazy. I was trying to keep it normal, and get back to the people that were texting me, telling them that I was ok, so that it wouldn’t get out that I was in the hospital.”
Discovery
“I was in the hospital for 12 days and I had five procedures to remove the staph infection from my knee. I didn’t even know there was anything wrong until I came back from Brazil, and my knee was swollen. I couldn’t flex my leg or bend it. That’s when I started doing this rehab stuff after taking the S-Mass Lean Gainer, because that was like my rehab supplement. It’s supposed to be like NO-explode. So I was taking that for a week, and I was like ‘Man, it’s not working.’ My knee was still swollen, and I couldn’t flex my leg. I went to the [orthopedic surgeon] and got my knee drained and got the ‘rooster cartilage’ [orthovisc] injected in. I went for an MRI and [the doctor] told me that my cartilage looked very unstable and that I had torn my ACL. The funny thing is, he said I could have torn it a long time ago, because when he drained my knee, there was no blood there. He told me my ACL was torn and I was gonna need a new one. After the fight, I had the surgery. A week passed, I was doing rehab a little ahead of schedule, and all the sudden my leg started feeling hot and I had these two golf ball-sized welts on my knee.”
Five Procedures and a PICC Line
“It was the day of the Evans/Davis fight. I called the doctor and told him my leg was hot and I had these golf ball lumps on my knee, so he says ‘Come to the office and we’ll check it out.’ He drained my knee, and the blood was like Ghostbusters ectoplasm. It was thick and gooey. He took the blood to the lab, and I went home to watch the fights. Right after Sonnen-Bisping, I got a phone call. ‘Mo, meet me at the hospital now.’ He said ‘We have to take you under right now to clean out the infection in your knee.’ So they took me to surgery and cleaned it out. I wake up, and I have a PICC line in my arm that’s attached to my heart. I didn’t think it was that bad and that I was gonna leave Sunday. The doctor said he was keeping me until Monday. Monday comes, and my temperature shot up to 103 or 104, and my knee was still swollen. They took me back into surgery and cleaned it out again. He did the same procedures every other day, depending on how it looked and how my temperature was.”
Reaction
“I felt like, because I’m a fighter, I should be tough. I’ve been through a lot, but when I look back, this is the worst I’ve ever been through. I wouldn’t wish this on nobody. This infection definitely was worse than the one on my face or the one on my elbow. My doctor said that he wanted to take cultures of my skin because I carry more staph than the average person. He said that people that engage in combat sports tend to carry more staph on their skin. It just remains dormant. The bad thing is, once you get a staph infection, it stays in your blood and remains dormant until it finds a weak spot and it jumps in there. It’s an opportunistic infection. It was scary but I didn’t want to tell nobody, because I wasn’t trying to get sympathy. I didn’t want people worrying about me.”
Financial Status
“ZUFFA has no responsibility on this, but it’s all taken care of. The hundreds of thousands of dollars that I’m supposedly in debt are all bogus. People assume that I didn’t have a plan when it comes to injuries, and that I’d be in debt. All that is bogus. I’m not in debt. The UFC, their insurance is good, especially if you get hurt during training camp, but this injury occurred before the 18 month period was up. They had no responsibility to handle this. It was all on me, but it’s already taken care of. I’m not under any financial hardship. I can still pay rent, still go eat at McDonald’s, still go buy Pepsi, still chill and relax, watch ‘The Walking Dead.’ I got cable still. The moment I get rid of my cable is when I’m in trouble, and I’m not ever getting rid of cable.”
When asked what shows he’s currently watching , Mo listed The Walking Dead, Eastbound & Down, and American Dad as the three he’s currently consumed with. He indicates that he plans on making his return to Twitter sometime this week, so all of you who have been missing his music video tweets and fight chat, have something to look forward to.
(“Don’t look yet, but tell me if she’s looking at me.”)
It looks like Muhammed Lawal’s positive steroid test may have netted him a much bigger punishment than the fine and one-year timeout levied on him by the Nevada State Athletic Commission; he may also have missed out on a chance at redemption against the only fighter to beat him as well as a chance to regain the Strikeforce light heavyweight title.
(“Don’t look yet, but tell me if she’s looking at me.”)
It looks like Muhammed Lawal’s positive steroid test may have netted him a much bigger punishment than the fine and one-year timeout levied on him by the Nevada State Athletic Commission; he may also have missed out on a chance at redemption against the only fighter to beat him as well as a chance to regain the Strikeforce light heavyweight title.
According to a report by Tatame, Rafael Cavalcante was in discussions with Strikeforce to again face Lawal before “King Mo” was caught pissing dirty following his win over Lorenz Larkin earlier this month at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine in Las Vegas. “Feijao” says the bout would have been for the light heavyweight title he lost to Dan Henderson, since Hendo relinquished the belt when he signed with Strikeforce’s sister company, the Ultimate Fighting Championship late last year. So what he’s saying is that basically the belt signifies who is in second place in the Strikeforce 205-pound division.
It’s unlikely that Mo will still be in contention when he returns from his suspension next January — that is if the Zuffa decides to keep him around if Strikeforce hasn’t dissolved by then, so this may have been the 31-year-old’s only shot at the belt.
