The heat between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal continues to get hotter as they approach their pay-per-view headlining bout at Bellator 120 on Saturday.
After weighing in for the fight, Jackson and Lawal had words with eac…
The heat between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal continues to get hotter as they approach their pay-per-view headlining bout at Bellator 120 on Saturday.
After weighing in for the fight, Jackson and Lawal had words with each other during their staredown photo. The conflict culminated in Jackson shoving Lawal back into a member of the Bellator security team. Bellator President Bjorn Rebney stepped between the two, and members of the fighters’ entourages ended the incident.
Lawal and Jackson have had a heated rivalry since Bellator 110, when Lawal beat Mikhail Zayats and Jackson beat Christian M’Pumbu to advance to the finals of the Season 10 light heavyweight tournament. The victories set them up for a showdown to decide who would face Bellator’s light heavyweight champion, Emanuel Newton, for a shot at the belt. When Lawal was brought into the cage for the standard showdown, the two had to be held back following an eruption from Jackson.
The two former Zuffa champs (Lawal was the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Jackson was the UFC light heavyweight champion) have actually been on-and-off beefing for several years now. In 2009 they exchanged heated words, which started up their cross-promotional rivalry. They would go on to settle their differences in 2012, but their impending bout seems to have reignited things.
It’s worth noting that many have questioned the legitimacy of their rivalry. Mike Mazzulli, head of the commission that oversaw Bellator 110, implied (h/t Cage Potato) that the initial in-cage scuffle between the two was planned.
Rampage and King Mo face off at Bellator 120 this Saturday. Stick with Bleacher Report for more details on the event.
Amid all the chaos surrounding Bellator 120, there has been precious little time to consider Emanuel Newton.Odd, considering Newton is ostensibly the prize at the end of the fight company’s long, strange second try at pay-per-view. The winner of …
Amid all the chaos surrounding Bellator 120, there has been precious little time to consider Emanuel Newton.
Odd, considering Newton is ostensibly the prize at the end of the fight company’s long, strange second try at pay-per-view. The winner of Saturday night’s revamped main event between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and MuhammedLawal will be crowned the Bellator Season 10 light heavyweight tournament winner and earn a shot at his 205-pound title.
At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen, in theory.
In practice, the aftermath of Jackson vs. Lawal might only present more vexing questions for an organization that so often seems short on answers.
For starters, Lawal already lost twice to Newton during the last 15 months; first, by a knockout-of-the-year quality spinning backfist in February of 2013 and then by fairly tepid unanimous decision in November. The tournament automatically provides a mechanism to engineer a third fight between the two, but good luck getting anyone aside from the promotion’s baseline 500,000 viewers to care.
Under normal circumstances that alone could be enough to prompt Bellator execs to secretly hope for a Jackson victory. He comes into this bout as more than a 2-1 favorite, according to BestFightOdds.com, and has proved himself to be one of the fight company’s only real ratings draws since jumping ship from the UFC last year.
Except for one minor detail—and this should give everybody a good laugh.
“Why not let the young cats be the champion and have their belt?” the 35-year-old former UFC titlist said. “Emanuel and I have the same coach. That’s going to divide our gym. I really don’t care for the belt … I’d rather not fight him.”
Classic.
Only Rampage Jackson could enter a four-man tournament obviously designed to give him a good chance to win and a few days before the final round announce, you know what, forget it. He’s not going to do that thing he’s supposed to do. He really doesn’t “care” about the whole reason they had the tournament in the first place.
This should surprise exactly zero onlookers. Jackson, after all, has been making life difficult for MMA promoters since Lawal was still sporting black and orange and walking the quad back at Oklahoma State. When his relationship with the UFC short-circuited and he signed with Bellator, we all knew there could be trouble.
So, to recap: If Lawal wins, Bellator has a fight it probably can’t sell. If Jackson wins, it has one it might not be able to make at all.
What to do?
If Jackson emerges victorious, try to convince him to fight his teammate? That might work, but it might also put Bellator at odds with one of the most cantankerous fighters in the business. Once Jackson gets crosswise with an employer, it rarely ends well.
If Lawal takes it, suck it up and book a third fight with Newton? That might work, but it would feel fairly anticlimactic. Not sure it would lead to any more of the “big, significant pay-per-view events” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney pined for on this week’s MMA Junkie Radio.
Perhaps there is another option. Perhaps neither Jackson nor Lawal ends up fighting Newton at all.
With the specter of Tito Ortiz still lurking around, would anybody really be surprised if Ortiz manages to sneak past middleweight Alexander Shlemenko and then winds up in the cage to challenge the Lawal/Jackson winner?
It wouldn’t be a perfect—or even advisable—plot twist, but if Ortiz is going to hang around attempting to fight in your MMA company, you have to do something with him, right?
The tournament has always been king in Bellator, but from the beginning this one has seemed a bit different. With just two rounds and two recognizable faces, it appeared tailor-made to produce a bout between Jackson and Lawal, rather than identify the next challenger for the title.
In that sense, Bellator may have already gotten what it wanted.
It would be a sad turn for Newton if either Lawal or Jackson gets booked elsewhere. It already feels like the 30-year-old champion is being summarily overshadowed in his own division, despite a 6-1 organizational record and two wins over one of this weekend’s main eventers.
But this is the fight game, where feelings and even the rules often finish second to the bottom line.
Perhaps the biggest question for Bellator coming out of this show will be to stick closely to its tournament format and move forward with an underwhelming title bout, or to chase a bigger matchup and leave Newton dancing by himself.
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.
Bellator’s pay-per-view jalopy sputters towards the finish line at long last with Bellator 120 set to air this coming Saturday. The card features a good amount of appeal for both hardcore and casual MMA fans.
Headlined by the “grudge” match betwee…
Bellator’s pay-per-view jalopy sputters towards the finish line at long last with Bellator 120 set to air this coming Saturday. The card features a good amount of appeal for both hardcore and casual MMA fans.
Headlined by the “grudge” match between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “King” Mo Lawal and backed up by the interim lightweight title match between Michael Chandler and Will Brooks, fans can look forward to…something.
The loss of Eddie Alvarez still looms large over this card, and there is no getting around that. Still, there are five relatively intriguing fights on the main card, each worth talking about.
So what do you need to know heading into this card? Find out right here!
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.
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.