Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsMuhammed “King Mo” Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who returned to the cage on Jan. 7, may not be back in the cage any time soon after testing positive for a banned steroid.
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who returned to the cage on Jan. 7, may not be back in the cage any time soon after testing positive for a banned steroid.
Lawal tested positive for Drostanalone, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced today.
Drostanalone can be used as a medication for lowering cholesterol and is sometimes prescribed to cancer patients, but it is also used as a performance-enhancing substance. It is particularly known as a steroid that athletes and bodybuilders use when they are attempting to maintain strength and muscle mass while cutting weight.
The Nevada Commission did not say what discipline Lawal will face, but fighters who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs typically have their license suspended for anywhere from six months to a year. Lawal’s TKO victory was viewed as likely to earn him another shot at the Strikeforce light heavyweight title, but that apparently won’t happen now.
Lawal is the second well-known Strikeforce fighter to fail a performance-enhancing drug test recently. Cris Cyborg, the promotion’s 145-pound female champion, also tested positive for steroids at her most recent fight.
The Nevada Commission announced that all the other fighters who took part in the Jan. 7 Strikeforce show tested negative for all banned substances.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has long been a mainstay in the UFC light heavyweight division. The former UFC light heavyweight champion has found success while competing in the UFC, so it’d be hard to see him fighting anywhere else.While appearing on …
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has long been a mainstay in the UFC light heavyweight division.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion has found success while competing in the UFC, so it’d be hard to see him fighting anywhere else.
While appearing on HDNet’s “Inside MMA” earlier this week, Jackson addressed his ongoing feud with current rival Muhammad Lawal. The two light heavyweights have traded words back and forth for some time, leading most fans to watching a future bout between them.
Lawal challenged Jackson to a matchup, however, it wouldn’t reside in the UFC. When asked about the potential bout, Jackson didn’t seem too fond of the idea.
“It’s funny that he gotta talk about me after his fight and say I should move down to the Strikeforce and fight him. I’m sorry, but from where I’m sittin’, that’s a step down,” Jackson said.
Jackson would go on to discredit Lawal’s skills and essentially show no interest in facing the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion.
“I don’t like the guy. He’s a hater. He’s a big time hater, you know what I’m sayin’?,” he said. “Why would I wanna step down to the Strikeforce and fight him when I’m fightin’ in the biggest organization in the world?”
“King Mo” was one of the potential fighters to be brought over from Strikeforce, however, since he recently signed a multi-fight deal, it doesn’t look like a bout with Jackson will happen anytime soon.
As for Jackson, he is scheduled to meet Ryan Bader at UFC 143 in Japan on February 25th.
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsMiddleweight Robbie Lawler was the highest earner at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, banking a flat purse of $150,000 in his fight against Adlan Amagov.
The next highest paid were Muhammed Lawal and Luke Rockhold at $9…
Middleweight Robbie Lawler was the highest earner at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, banking a flat purse of $150,000 in his fight against Adlan Amagov.
The next highest paid were Muhammed Lawal and Luke Rockhold at $95,000 and $90,000, respectively, at this past Saturday’s Showtime-televised card in Las Vegas.
Below are the Strikeforce fighter salaries, reported by Strikeforce to the Nevada state commission.
In a sport built on respect and discipline like mixed martial arts, it’s not often that there is legitimate bad blood between two fighters. What’s even more rare is when it’s two fighters who don’t even work for the same promotion, who have never fough…
In a sport built on respect and discipline like mixed martial arts, it’s not often that there is legitimate bad blood between two fighters. What’s even more rare is when it’s two fighters who don’t even work for the same promotion, who have never fought one another, that simply do not like one another.
However, that’s exactly the situation between Strikeforce’s “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal and the UFC’s Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
The ongoing war of words between these two fighters is well-documented and only grew in intensity after Saturday night’s Strikeforce event in Las Vegas.
In a post-fight interview, the ever-confident Lawal trashed Jackson to reporters, brushing off even the possibility that Jackson could take him in a fight.
“Why you got bring up that bum’s name?” Lawal asked reporters who suggested the possible grudge match with Rampage for his next fight. “If [Jackson] wants to come to Strikeforce and get beat, he can.”
“To me in my mind and in my eyes, he don’t got it no more.”
Though Lawal apparently believes that Jackson is no longer a top-level fighter, the point remains that a fight between these two light heavyweights could make for some serious fireworks in the cage.
We haven’t yet seen King Mo in a real war with someone who he truly doesn’t like, but Jackson has been there before many times, including his intense rivalry with the man who coached opposite from him on The Ultimate Fighter, Rashad Evans.
The fight itself between those two wasn’t even for a title, but the real-life feelings between the competitors sparked great interest from fans as the fight headlined one of the most-watched UFC events in history.
Zuffa has a chance to capture that kind of rivalry again. It’s time to book the fight between “King Mo” and “Rampage.”
Given Rampage’s recent struggles against top talent in the UFC, it’s hard to believe that he’s going to get back to title contention anytime soon. Why not bring over a well-known fighter like Jackson to headline a big Strikeforce event against Lawal?
Zuffa can’t sit and wait, hoping that there is going to be some sort of sudden influx of talent in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division. The division is practically bare, with Lawal having essentially defeated everyone worth noting other than Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante.
Saturday night’s fight card was headlined by Keith Jardine, a fighter making his middleweight debut at the age of 36 and had only won two of his previous eight fights. He was fighting for a title against Luke Rockhold.
That fight alone gives us a pretty obvious indication of where the current Strikeforce roster is.
The reality is that after the UFC grabbed the likes of Alistair Overeem, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Jake Shields, there just really isn’t much left.
Why not give back to the Strikeforce roster in the form of Jackson, a fighter who fans easily recognize and love, and put him in a fight that everyone wants to see against an opponent that actually makes sense?
King Mo vs. Rampage Jackson could be one of the biggest fights in the history of the promotion and it could realistically help save the dwindling Strikeforce light heavyweight division.
The Strikeforce: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine fight card is in the books, and the full results are below: – Luke Rockhold defeats Keith Jardine via TKO at 4:26 of Round 1 – Robbie Lawler defeats Adlan Amagov via TKO at 1:48 of Round 1 – Muhammed La…
The Strikeforce: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine fight card is in the books, and the full results are below:
– Luke Rockhold defeats Keith Jardine via TKO at 4:26 of Round 1
– Robbie Lawler defeats Adlan Amagov via TKO at 1:48 of Round 1
– Muhammed Lawal defeats Lorenz Larkin via TKO at 1:32 of Round 2
– Tyron Woodley defeats Jordan Mein via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
If there was ever a time to test the legitimacy of Luke Rockhold, let alone his claim to be the undisputed Strikeforce middleweight champion, tonight is the night he will be greatly tested.At least, that’s how some fans would like to claim to see …
If there was ever a time to test the legitimacy of Luke Rockhold, let alone his claim to be the undisputed Strikeforce middleweight champion, tonight is the night he will be greatly tested.
At least, that’s how some fans would like to claim to see it, but Keith Jardine sees the Strikeforce middleweight title bout, the first mainstream MMA title fight of 2012, in a much different light.
As a matter of fact, “The Dean of Mean” sees the main event as an opportunity to silence some haters, make a successful middleweight debut, and win the Strikeforce middleweight title—all in one night. Rockhold, however, is not going to be anything less than a stiff challenge for the former UFC veteran.
Speaking of UFC veterans, Robbie Lawler is back in action and ready to expose the wild man in Russian-born Chechen striker Adlan Amagov, but after two straight losses under the Strikeforce banner, to Jacare Souza and Tim Kennedy, many question if Lawler still can regain his old touch.
Amagov has so far been unbeaten in the Strikeforce cage, but the 9-1-1 fighter brings plenty of promise and an exciting style to the cage. So to say Lawler is in for a pretty difficult ride is an understatement.
Finally, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is back in action after a vicious KO of Roger Gracie, but while he will greatly test Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin in certain aspects of their light heavyweight bout, Mo has not faced a strong striker the caliber of Larkin.
Needless to say, the stylistic clash should make for one of the more appropriate ways to ring in the 2012 MMA year.
With all this, plus Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson and more, this is your live (blog) coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, and make no mistake about it folks, we’re not stopping until the last shot lands here tonight!
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who returned to the cage on Jan. 7, may not be back in the cage any time soon after testing positive for a banned steroid.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has long been a mainstay in the UFC light heavyweight division. 
Middleweight