The city of Memphis has declared today, May 17, as a day to recognize Quinton “Rampage” Jackson leading up to his Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final bout against Muhammed Lawal.
Bellator’s official Twitter page posted the official pr…
The city of Memphis has declared today, May 17, as a day to recognize Quinton “Rampage” Jackson leading up to his Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final bout against MuhammedLawal.
Bellator‘s official Twitter page posted the official proclamation written by the Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, A C Wharton, this afternoon.
Jackson is obviously getting a lot of support from his hometown as he returns to the cage for the second time this year after injuries only allowed him three fights between 2012 and 2013.
“Now, therefore, I AC Wharton, Jr., Mayor of the city of Memphis, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim May 17, 2014 as a day to recognize Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and I encourage all citizens to welcome Quinton “Rampage” Jackson back to the city of Memphis and offer our support to one of our very own,” the proclamation says.
After losing three consecutive UFC fights between September 2011 and January 2013, the former Pride and UFC champ has rebounded with back-to-back knockouts over Joey Beltran and Christian M’pumbu in the Bellator cage.
Meanwhile, Lawal, a former Strikeforce titleholder, has gone 4-2 under the Bellator banner, with both losses coming at the hands of interim Bellator light heavyweight champ Emanuel Newton.
Most recently, “King Mo” won a decision over Mikhail Zayats in the tournament semifinals back in February.
At the weigh-ins, Rampage and Lawal exchanged words, culminating in Jackson shoving his upcoming opponent, though many pundits believed the interaction appeared at least partially staged, per MMA Fighting.
Bellator 120, the promotion’s first pay-per-view event, takes place at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, this evening and is headlined by Rampage vs. Lawal.
Also featured on the main card is Bellator middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko bumping up to 205 pounds to square off with UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz, while the Bellator interim lightweight title will be decided when Michael Chandler faces Will Brooks.
JohnHeinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com
After years of bad blood, it was inevitable. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal were destined to cross paths in a cage for some mixed martial arts promotion.
Bellator is the brand that will present the fight to the public. Saturday,…
After years of bad blood, it was inevitable. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal were destined to cross paths in a cage for some mixed martial arts promotion.
Bellator is the brand that will present the fight to the public. Saturday, May 17, is the day, and the Landers Center in Memphis, Tennessee, is the place.
The Rampage-King Mo clash is the main event for the Bellator 120 pay-per-view card. Though it’s not a matchup of two of the best fighters in the world, the bout could be explosive.
Rampage isn’t the only past-his-prime, former UFC great on the card. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz will take on Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko.
Cheick Kongo will also put his all-or-nothing skills to the test against Eric Smith.
Here’s a look at the card, viewing information and predictions. Just below the table is a closer look at the three biggest bouts on the card.
Bellator 120 Viewing Information, Card and Predictions
When you consider how great Ortiz was in his prime (longest reigning light heayyweight champion in UFC history), it’s sad to see and hear how much of a joke he has become to many in the MMA community.
MMA Roasted’s tweet below was just one of the many pokes taken at Ortiz in social media this week:
A laundry list of injuries has led to countless cancellations and nearly two years away from competition. With a few of the distractions and injuries seemingly behind him, Ortiz appears to be in the best shape he’s been in for years.
He tweeted this message and image on Thursday.
Even though he’ll likely be in good shape, Ortiz’s outlook against Shlemenko isn’t great.
Ortiz’s only chance to win this fight is to catch Shlemenko with something big early. The fight is taking place at light heavyweight, and that could give Ortiz an advantage over Shlemenko, who is the reigning middleweight champion in Bellator.
That advantage figures to only last so long. Stamina and overall skill favor Shlemenko. His varied striking attacks can wear down opponents—especially the ones who are 39 years old and coming off massive layoffs.
Look for Shlemenko to pick Ortiz apart and hand him a humbling defeat via TKO.
Chandler vs. Brooks
This could easily be the best fight on the card. Both Chandler and Brooks are good, young talents who figure to be in the title picture at lightweight for the foreseeable future. Chandler just lost his title by a controversial split decision to Eddie Alvarez in his last bout.
He’s eager to get back in the cage with Alvarez for what would be a rubber match. Before that can happen, Chandler has to tangle with Brooks.
Chandler’s chin, will and takedowns are his best attributes. He’s relentless in his pursuit, and he transitions from strikes to grappling very well.
Brooks will have to be on guard for the takedown attempts throughout the fight. He has the length and speed advantage, but Chandler is adept at countering strikes with parries and hard takedowns.
While Chandler was able to do this consistently against Alvarez, he won’t have as much success against Brooks.
The latter possesses the quickness and length at 5’11” to keep Chandler at bay. By the end of the second round, Chandler’s face will begin to break up from Brooks’ power shots.
That will lead to the stoppage and win for “Ill Will.”
Jackson vs. Lawal
These two are perhaps the most colorful and polarizing figures in MMA this side of ChaelSonnen.
Both men understand that personality is as much a part of becoming a star in the sport as technique and ability. While Rampage is past his prime, and King Mo has also arguably seen his best days come and go, the two men’s names still draw a crowd on a card.
Match them together, and it becomes the closest thing to a must-see fight Bellator has ever had. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.
Lawal could make this a very boring fight. If he chooses to take Rampage to the mat, he could probably dominate him with top position.
To appease fans and Bellator matchmakers, King Mo will probably keep it standing. That decision will be to his detriment. Even though Rampage is not the same destructive force he once was, he’s still a more dangerous and durable striker than King Mo.
On Saturday night, Bellator will have its first-ever pay-per-view, featuring an interim lightweight title fight between Michael Chandler and Will Brooks and a main event pitting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson against Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.
These two…
On Saturday night, Bellator will have its first-ever pay-per-view, featuring an interim lightweight title fight between Michael Chandler and Will Brooks and a main event pitting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson against Muhammed“King Mo”Lawal.
These two have bad blood for a while and have been trash talking one another since King Mo was in Strikeforce and Rampage was in the UFC.
The winner of this fight gets a shot at the title, and for King Mo, that means a rematch with Emanuel Newton. There’s a lot on the line for him at Bellator 120, so let’s check out his keys to victory.
Mixed martial arts purists may not want to acknowledge it, but Bellator 120 could be the biggest pay-per-view in the promotion’s history.
It takes place Saturday, May 17 from the Landers Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Sure two of the three biggest names…
Mixed martial arts purists may not want to acknowledge it, but Bellator 120 could be the biggest pay-per-view in the promotion’s history.
It takes place Saturday, May 17 from the Landers Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Sure two of the three biggest names involved are essentially UFC castoffs, but it doesn’t change the fact that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Tito Ortiz’s names still carry weight in the MMA world.
On Saturday night, there figures to be more casual fans tuned into Bellator than ever before. From a business standpoint, that’s a good thing.
Jackson will engage in a battle that will almost certainly be filled with stand-up strikes. From the moment he arrived at Bellator, it seemed a meeting with Muhammed Lawal AKA “King Mo” was inevitable.
Finally, these two epic showmen and big-time strikers will scrap in a cage. Here’s a lively interview with the two men from two years ago, when previous hostilities had blown over.
(Caution: NSFW language)
Ortiz’s assignment isn’t quite as exciting. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” will battle 29-year-old Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko. The champion’s title will not be on the line as Shlemenko is coming up to 205 pounds to face Ortiz.
The 39-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion is talking the talk leading up to the fight. Per Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie, Ortiz said:
“I’m going to make him famous on Saturday. Because he’s going to beat his face up with my fists and my elbow.”
Both Jackson and Ortiz’s fights figure to be slugfests, and that’s more than likely exactly what Bellator matchmakers want.
This should be fun.
Here’s a look at the card, viewing information and predictions. Just beneath the table is a closer look at the three biggest bouts on the card.
Shlemenko Will Slam Ortiz
Perhaps you’re a long-time fan of Ortiz, and you’d love to see him have some success years past his prime. If that’s who you are, you’re not going to want to watch the fight on Saturday.
At this point in Ortiz’s career, he’s a shell of his former self. Even in his prime, he would probably have had a difficult time against Shlemenko.
It doesn’t matter that Shlemenko is technically a middleweight, and Ortiz is a light heavyweight. Shlemenko is simply more skilled.
Ortiz rose to prominence at a time when one-trick ponies were champions. Only well-balanced stallions are legitimate champions in MMA these days.
Shlemenko is one of those thoroughbreds. Excuse all the horse references, the Preakness Stakes takes place on the same day.
In any case, Shlemenko will beat Ortiz to the punch constantly. He’ll employ body kicks and counter right hands to bust up the UFC legend. By the third round, Ortiz will be bloodied.
Look for a referee stoppage to save him from further damage.
Brooks Will Stop Chandler in Impressive Fashion
Coming off the first loss of his MMA career to Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler will be hungry for victory. The defeat cost Chandler the Bellator lightweight title. The split decision in the fight was controversial.
It appeared Chandler deserved to beat Alvarez in what was an excellent scrap. Now Chandler is trying to lock up a chance to regain his title.
Brooks has some clear advantages in length and athleticism. He’s also a skilled wrestler who might be a little more prepared for Chandler’s takedowns than Alvarez was.
This is an intriguing bout because Brooks had his sights set on Chandler back in early 2013. He was caught unprepared by Saad Awad and knocked out. He avenged the loss in Oct. 2013, and he has won four in a row since the setback.
Now he finally gets Chandler, but it’s just for the interim title. No matter.
Brooks has all the tools. He’s a dynamic striker, a powerful grappler and explosive in everything he does. He’ll stop the tough and gritty Chandler for the biggest win of his career.
Rampage Will Conquer the King
This bout is not about technical acumen. This is a simple fight, and that’s the charm in it. Both Rampage and King Mo are two of the most colorful personalities the sport has ever seen.
This bout needed to happen, even if it is the MMA equivalent of a cheap thrill.
It seems the bout is destined to be a stand-up fight. Both men have a wrestling background, but prefer to let their fists settle their cage affairs. If King Mo wrestles, he will beat Rampage, but I have a feeling he won’t do that.
“If this is about striking on the outside, I don’t have much of a choice but to pick Rampage even if I acknowledge he’s not the threat he once was.”
Rampage is far from the ferocious, howling, offensive juggernaut he once was; but he can still punch. He also possesses a better chin than Lawal. While Jackson has been stopped more times in his career, he hasn’t lost by TKO or KO since 2005 when he was still in Pride.
Lawal has been defeated twice in the last four years by punches. It appears as though another such defeat is in the cards for the King on Saturday.
Bellator is betting on a competitive grudge match between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal as the headliner for Bellator 120. One man who doesn’t think like that is UFC light heavyweight contender Daniel “DC” Cormier.
Cormier post…
Bellator is betting on a competitive grudge match between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal as the headliner for Bellator 120. One man who doesn’t think like that is UFC light heavyweight contender Daniel “DC” Cormier.
Cormier posted some words of encouragement to “King Mo” on his Instagram account. Apparently “DC” doesn’t just think Lawal will win, but will also put an end to Jackson’s MMA career.
This guy insisted that I fight. This guys called me when I was at my lowest point everyday. This guy paid my mortgage when I was broke. Hes my brother and I can’t wait until he competes this weekend in his 1st ppv main event. You don’t meet many people like Muhammad Lawal in one lifetime and I am lucky to have this guy. Watch him put an end to rampage career. Mo you a champion my brother and good luck. You won’t need it. #brother #teamthirsty #okstate #worldteam my brother. Kick his ass MO! @kingmofh
Cormier and Lawal were roommates while they were attending Oklahoma State University, and Cormier has detailed how Lawal has helped him through some very tragic events.
For Lawal, it certainly paints a different picture of “King Mo.” The image most fans are shown of the Bellator light heavyweight is one of confidence/arrogance and a certain level of flash. He does wear a crown to the cage after all.
Lawal will face “Rampage” in the main event of Bellator 120, the first time the promotion will put on a pay-per-view event. The winner will be crowned Season 10 light heavyweight tournament winner and receive a title shot down the line.
“King Mo” has a litany of amateur wrestling credentials, along with a Strikeforce title on his mantle. He will be looking for his third title opportunity after getting bounced in the Season 8 semifinals by Emanuel Newton and losing to Newton once again in a rematch at Bellator 106.
Jackson, meanwhile, has yet to taste defeat inside the Bellator cage. He’s one of the most recognizable names in the sport of MMA and recently knocked out former Bellator light heavyweight champ Christian M’Pumbu in the first round.
“Rampage” will undoubtedly be looking to add another knockout to his resume, as his punching power is among the best in MMA. Meanwhile, it will be something of a question mark as to what “King Mo” will use as a game plan. He has the wrestling credentials but has been looking to show off his improved striking game in recent fights.
Admit it: You’re excited about the fact that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will throw down with Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal live on pay-per-view at Bellator 120 on May 17 in Memphis, Tennessee.
It’s OK. I don’t want to be so thrilled about a matchup bet…
Admit it: You’re excited about the fact that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will throw down with Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal live on pay-per-view at Bellator 120 on May 17 in Memphis, Tennessee.
It’s OK. I don’t want to be so thrilled about a matchup between two over-the-hump light heavyweights, either.
But here we are…
Rampage vs. King Mo is a fight we just can’t help but love. It treads the intersection of entertainment and sport so perfectly that fans immediately perk up and tune in.
Do you feel that tickle? That’s Bellator bringing you Rampage vs. King Mo, friend. You can try to ignore it, but that will only make the sensation stronger.
Remember when Chael Sonnen went from kind-of-boring-wrestler to kind-of-boring-wrestler-who-now-talks-a-bunch-of-trash-and-makes-me-laugh?
After defeating Nate Marquardt at UFC 109, Sonnen was given a title shot against Anderson “The Spider” Silva at UFC 117.
He then went insane, hyping himself and the fight to no end. Now, this is how fans identify him: the fun trash-talker.
With Rampage vs. King Mo, we get two fun trash-talkers who are unafraid to make themselves sound ridiculous at the expense of grabbing a headline or searing in the perfect burn.
It’s amazing.
Make no mistake: Neither Rampage nor King Mo possesses the skills on the mic of Sonnen (although Rampage is a bit more clever than Mo, if we’re being fair). But they try. They say stuff. They yell at each other.
They hype the fight.
And when two fighters buy into their jobs as promoters before a bout, it adds a level of intrigue to the match whether you want to accept it or not.
With all the pre-fight banter between Rampage and King Mo, it’s easy to forget that this May 17 fight actually matters. The winner will fight for the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and take a step toward becoming the 205-pound king of the promotion.
This distinction has eluded King Mo throughout his stint inside the Bellator cage, and while he has entered full pro wrestling mode before the fight, don’t forget: The man is a competitor. He wants to win. He doesn’t like to lose, and winning the Bellator strap would only supply more ammo for his Mo-16.
Rampage, on the other hand, has looked phenomenal since leaving the UFC for Bellator, earning two knockouts in as many appearances. Maybe this is a product of a lower level of competition, or maybe he is legitimately refocused and reinvigorated inside the Bellator cage.
That’s why they fight.
Add in all the pre-fight smack talk, and this bout between aging light heavyweights is just impossible to ignore.
Resist as we might, the tickle is strong in this one, and giving into the sensation is easier and more rewarding in the end.
There’s no harm in accepting it. Go ahead. Coochy Coo.
After years of bad blood, it was inevitable. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and