As a former NCAA Division II wrestling champion at Central Oklahoma and a NCAA Division I All-American at Oklahoma State, Muhammed Lawal entered MMA with the base needed to attain immediate success in the sport.
And an immediate success he has been. After having won his pro debut against former YAMMA heavyweight champion Travis Wiuff following a first round TKO at Sengoku “Fifth Battle” last year, Lawal has won his past three fights and is currently 4-0.
Lawal made his pro MMA debut after failing to make the U.S. Olympic team in anticipation of the Beijing Games last summer. However, he had been preparing for his MMA debut for quite some time by splitting his time between the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and Team Quest in Temecula, Calif.
Lawal was able to pick up MMA quickly, thanks in large part to his wrestling ability but also partly to his past training in boxing as well as Judo. Currently on the sidelines due while he recovers from knee surgery, Lawal not only has the tools to succeed inside the ring, but also outside of it.
In a sport where having a personality can often allow a fighter to increase his earning potential, there have been few athletes that have migrated to MMA in recent years that possess more charisma than Lawal. Dubbed as “King Mo” by his employers at Sengoku, Lawal has become one of the few new stars produced by the Japanese MMA scene in recent years.
With one fight left on his current contract with Sengoku, Lawal has been biding his time as he waits to return to training. He devoted some of that time to conduct a recent interview with M-1Global.com contributor Michael Mazur.
Michael Mazur: How’s the healing of your hand going? When do you think you’ll recover from the injury enough to come back to business?
Muhammed Lawal: The hand is feeling great. I recently had ACL two weeks after my last fight and things are going great. I am way ahead of the recommended recovery time. Hopefully I will be 100% by august
Michael Mazur: Are you content with Sengoku? How many fights have you got left on your contract with them?
Muhammed Lawal: Sengoku is great… They let me be me and I have a lot of fun! I have one more fight left with them.
Michael Mazur: What are the plans after the current contract expires?
Muhammed Lawal: Anything is possible. I will leave that up to my manager, Dr Ryan Parsons.
Michael Mazur: How many fights do you personally think you need in order to prepare for the top ten opposition? What’s your trainers’ opinion on this issue?
Muhammed Lawal: That’s a great question. My opinion on the top ten is that you really never know who is top ten till everyone fights everyone. Anyone can get beat. Styles make fights. I feel like I am ready to fight anyone. I just need some fight footage on my opponent and a good gameplan.
Michael Mazur: Could you tell people unfamiliar with you what’s your martial arts background?
Muhammed Lawal: I was an Olympic-level wrestler.
Michael Mazur: Who do you train / spar with the most?
Muhammed Lawal: I train and spar with Mayhem Miller, Melchor Menor, Justin Fortune, Benji Radach, Babalu, Romulo Barral, Dean Lister, Mark Munoz, and Kami Barzini.
Michael Mazur: What are your strengths and what are the elements of the game you’ve been working harder on
Muhammed Lawal: I work hard in all areas because I am trying to become a well rounded fighter.
Michael Mazur: You try to knock your opponent out with one punch, to finish the fight in an effective manner. Is that not too dangerous for a fighter to pay much attention to an entertaining side of the fights?
Muhammed Lawal: Stepping in the ring against anyone is dangerous. I go out there to win and entertain and that’s part of me. I enjoy having fun and fighting is very fun.
Michael Mazur: Who do you like more to fight against: wrestlers or strikers? Why?
Muhammed Lawal: It doesn’t matter if they are a strike,r I will just take them down and if they are a wrestler I will just keep them on their feet. It depends on their overall skill set.
Michael Mazur: Could you please tell about your training regimen (per day, per week)?
Muhammed Lawal: I train 8-10 times a week but the rest is secret (laughs). I can’t give away my secrets!
Michael Mazur: How many tattoos do you have? What do they mean?
Muhammed Lawal: I have too many tattoos to count. They all symbolize things I was going through at the time in my life when I got them.
Michael Mazur: Who’s the best pound-4-pound fighter in the world right now according to you?
Muhammed Lawal: Right now, it is so hard to say because there are so many fighters that haven’t fought each other. But I would like to say myself (laughs)
Michael Mazur: Is light heavyweight your place? No thoughts of going up or down in weight?
Muhammed Lawal: 185 is an option but I prefer to fight heavy or light heavy weight.
Michael Mazur: How do you spend your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
Muhammed Lawal: I am a normal guy. I like to shop, watch movies, play video games with my little brother, go to the club and show off my dancing skills, and watch TV.
Michael Mazur: Are you religious?
Muhammed Lawal: I don’t practice a religion. I am spiritual. I just treat my fellow man and woman with respect. I love all people. My religion is unconditional love and acceptance.
Michael Mazur: Where did your nickname originate from?
Muhammed Lawal: My brother Kami gave me that name. He told me once you do what you have to do, you will be a king!
Michael Mazur: How many queens ought a fighter to have accompany him during his entrance?
Muhammed Lawal: (Laughs) As many as they can handle. I am lookin to get more Queens!!!
Michael Mazur: Do you like Asian girls more than others? If so, you have a lot in common with Rampage.
Muhammed Lawal: (Laughs) I don’t have a preference on girls.They just have to have a good body and a pretty face!
Michael Mazur: Thank you very much for your time. Any closing words for the fans around the world and sponsors?
Muhammed Lawal: I would like to thank everyone that has supported me. Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Ryan Parsons, my family, all my training partners, and Cage Fighter!!!
Igor Karaev contrbuted to this interview.
