“King Mo” Lawal Fires Back at Critics

 
If you ask any honest MMA blogger to choose 4 words to describe what goes through their mind, prior to reading an interview with dudes like Chael Sonnen or “King Mo” Lawal, there’s a 90% chance they are ‘this-will-be-good.’ Sonnen’s gift for shocking gab has garnered him his own term with Fix for golden quotes, […]

 mo_lawal_vs_mike_whitehead

If you ask any honest MMA blogger to choose 4 words to describe what goes through their mind, prior to reading an interview with dudes like Chael Sonnen or “King Mo” Lawal, there’s a 90% chance they are ‘this-will-be-good.’ Sonnen’s gift for shocking gab has garnered him his own term with Fix for golden quotes, ‘Sonnens’, while Lawal continues to deliver in this respect, no doubt because the recently crowned Strikeforce champ is now receiving more well deserved coverage.

Yesterday we posted Lawal’s take on this weekend’s UFC 115 bout between Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin, and the accomplished wrestler certainly didn’t wimp out on making a pick, stating outright he’s picking Liddell by KO. Well, in an interview posted today by Fight Hype, Lawal covers several topics candidly, including training with James Toney, his views that “Rampage” Jackson has slowed down, as well as, his favourable opinions of Rashad Evans. Where the interview gets particularly popcorn worthy, is when Lawal talks about himself and Evans being labelled by some, as ‘lay-and-pray’ fighters:

“That’s the UFC frat boy fans. They just want to see slugfests. If you want to see a slugfest, go to a bar. If you put two skilled fighters in there, you can’t get them to have a slugfest. You can get two mid-level fighters. If you want to see crisp stand-up, watch boxing. They hate to see someone with good stand-up come to MMA, like James Toney, but when someone like Rashad uses his wrestling, he is considered boring.”

To check out the rest of the interview, which trust us, doesn’t disappoint head here.

Report: “JZ” Cavalcante Signs 4 Fight Deal With Strikeforce

It looks as though Strikeforce has added another notable fighter to its roster, as both MMA Junkie and FightHype are reporting that Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante has signed with the promotion. FightHype was the first to post news about the signing, and in a follow up story from MMA Junkie this afternoon, the outlet is reporting […]

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It looks as though Strikeforce has added another notable fighter to its roster, as both MMA Junkie and FightHype are reporting that Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante has signed with the promotion. FightHype was the first to post news about the signing, and in a follow up story from MMA Junkie this afternoon, the outlet is reporting that Cavalcante has signed a one year, 4 fight deal, with Strikeforce.

Now, if you’re only familiar with those fighters that appear in UFC Undisputed, you may very well be asking ‘’who is “JZ” Cavalcante?” and “why should I give an eff?” Well, through 2006 and 2007, Cavalcante took the MMA world by storm, and more specifically Japan, as the American Top Team fighter won back-to-back lightweight grand-prixs will competing for K-1 Hero’s. In other words, at the time, JZ could proudly tell anyone at a cocktail party that he was ‘kind of a big deal.’ The last two years his career has been stifled a bit by injuries, as well as, by fighting dudes like Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri.

It could turn out that Cavalcante may not deliver on the hype that should accompany him into Strikeforce, similar to guys like Marius Zaromskis and the aforementioned Aoki, but then again, maybe he won’t face someone like Nick Diaz or Gilbert Melendez in his promotional debut. At any rate, it definitely could be a nice score for Strikeforce.

Arlovski Couldn’t Figure Out Bigfoot

Andrei Arlovski could not get anything together against Antonio Silva. Silva’s reach seemed to be a problem for Arlovski.
Arlovski kept his hands low and his chin absorbed a lot of punches on the feet. Although lasting all 3 rounds, Silva, was too much body, too much reach. Arlovski looked timid and the fact that he […]

Andrei Arlovski could not get anything together against Antonio Silva. Silva’s reach seemed to be a problem for Arlovski.

Arlovski kept his hands low and his chin absorbed a lot of punches on the feet. Although lasting all 3 rounds, Silva, was too much body, too much reach. Arlovski looked timid and the fact that he couldn’t connect, really has me questioning if he still wants to do this.

Its not like Silva is even that amazing on his feet, however in this fight he did look good. Certainly, Silva is not known for his hands though.

Overall I thought the card was pretty weak. You don’t hear me say that often.

Brett Rogers Pounded Out By Overeem

From what I could tell, Rogers beat himself before the fight started. He was backing up the whole time. It looked like the adrenaline dump hit him early, he couldn’t keep his hands up 25 seconds in.
That is not the reason he got beat though. Over…

From what I could tell, Rogers beat himself before the fight started. He was backing up the whole time. It looked like the adrenaline dump hit him early, he couldn’t keep his hands up 25 seconds in.

That is not the reason he got beat though. Overeem is just better.

Strikeforce Heavy Artillery Undercard

ANDREI ARLOVSKI vs ANTONIO SILVA
Firstly there are way too many “The Pitbull’s” in mma, but Arlovski has been with that nickname for years going way back in the UFC. This is not an easy fight for Arlovski at all. I almost am displeased with myself if I pick Arlovski. He has a wealth of talent […]

ANDREI ARLOVSKI vs ANTONIO SILVA

Firstly there are way too many “The Pitbull’s” in mma, but Arlovski has been with that nickname for years going way back in the UFC. This is not an easy fight for Arlovski at all. I almost am displeased with myself if I pick Arlovski. He has a wealth of talent and is certainly the more skilled striker in this fight. I think Arlovski boxes his way to a decision victory.

“JACARE” SOUZA vs JOEY VILLASENOR

Hard not to pick Jacare here. Villasenor on his feet will beat Jacare, but on the ground this fight is likely to end in the 2nd via sub. I think that is where Jacare wins it.

ROGER GRACIE vs KEVIN RANDLEMAN

Avoid.

ANTWAIN BRITT vs RAFAEL “FEIJAO”

Not familiar with Britt. “Feijao” is a beast though.