Dan Henderson, Ricardo Lamas, “King Mo,” Luis Palomino, and Erick Nicksick joined George and “Goze” on the military base in Virginia,
Thursday is an important day for Americans as we celebrate Veterans Day. Every year we honor those men and women who have served our country across the five military branches.
One week ago, Goze and I traveled to Virginia to visit troops. This was our eighth military morale trip overall and our seventh to Joint Base Langley-Eustis. JBLE is actually two bases: Langley Air Base (Air Force) and Fort Eustis (Army). Though we spent most of our time on Fort Eustis, we did drop by Langley Air Base, too.
On each of our trips, we’ve taken many MMA fighters/notables. This trip’s guest list: Dan Henderson, Muhammed Lawal, Ricardo Lamas, Luis Palomino, and Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick.
The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) will hold its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. featuring notable guest speakers and more.
After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) is set to hold its yearly conference for the first time since 2019 – and the 33rd time overall.
The 2021 ABC Conference is set to take place over the span of five days, from Saturday, July 24, to Wednesday, July 28, at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Fla. The first two days will feature referee and judge classes taught by seasoned MMA official Kevin MacDonald, while the second three will entail the presentations, meetings, and guest speakers for ABC commission members from around the country.
According to Mohegan Tribe commission director of athletic regulation and former ABC president Mike Mazzulli, all fighters are welcome to attend the referee and judging classes and/or the ABC meetings themselves (free of cost).
On Monday, July 26 speakers include ABC president Brian Dunn, referee John English, Dr. Michael Schwartz, Dr. Nitin Sethi, and WWE’s Rich Hering. Topics for the day include a retired fighters’ pension fund, boxing/MMA after the COVID-19 pandemic, what commissions should know about pre-fight medical testing, boxing and MMA rule committee updates, and tribal commissions/issues.
[lawrence-related id=634888,634841]
On Tuesday, July 27 speakers include [autotag]Nik Lentz[/autotag], first vice president of the WBO John Duggan, Dr. Warren Wang, Dr. Wayne Lee, Mohegan Tribe director of athletic regulation Mike Mazzulli, ABC database regulators Kirik Jenness and Chris Palmquist, and former Bellator star “King Mo” [autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag]. Topics for the day include weight-cutting and its complications, orthopedic injuries, and officer elections.
On Wednesday, July 28, speakers include Dr. Don Muzzi, former boxing star Nate Campbell, former UFC fighter [autotag]Spencer Fisher[/autotag], longtime MMA manager and promoter Monte Cox, and UFC hall of famer [autotag]Pat Miletich[/autotag]. Topics for the day include concussions in combat sports, bare-knuckle boxing committee formation and rules meeting, MMA before regulation, and the annual closing banquet.
‘King Mo’ Lawal shares his thoughts on the quarterfinal matchups for Bellator’s light heavyweight grand prix.
[autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag] is keeping a close eye to the upcoming Bellator light heavyweight grand prix.
The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion likes what Bellator has put together for their 205-pound division this spring – an eight-man tournament where the light heavyweight title is being disputed throughout the entirety of the bracket.
Defending titleholder [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] hopes to solidify his status as champion, while [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag], [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag], [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag], [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov[/autotag] will attempt to dethrone the champion and leave the grand prix reining over the division.
Lawal, who’s got plenty of experience in MMA tournaments, having won the Rizin FF heavyweight grand prix in 2015 and competed in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix in 2018, is excited to see this upcoming tournament unfold. And although he feels Nemkov might retain his title through the entirety of tournament, “King Mo” admits the grand prix is as competitive as they come.
Speaking with MMA Junkie Radio, Lawal shared his thoughts the upcoming Bellator light heavyweight grand prix.
Check out a live replay of Bellator 233, which featured the final fight of “King Mo’s” career.
You can watch a live replay of Bellator 233 right here on MMA Junkie, beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).
Bellator 233, which took place November 8, 2019 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla., featured former Strikeforce champion [autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag]’s retirement fight.
In the middleweight main event, [autotag]John Salter[/autotag] defeated [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] by unanimous decision. The co-headliner was “King Mo” losing by first-round knockout to [autotag]Andrew Kapel[/autotag] in his retirement fight. [autotag]Arlene Blencowe[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] also picked up victories on the main card.
You can catch all of the action in the video above.
Muhammed Lawal’s retirement fight at Bellator 233 didn’t exactly go as planned – all thanks to newcomer Andrew Kapel.
[autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag]’s retirement fight didn’t exactly go as planned – all thanks to [autotag]Andrew Kapel[/autotag].
A relatively unknown fighter and promotional debutant, Kapel (15-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) entered the cage opposite an MMA legend. Prior to their Bellator 233 showdown in November 2019, Lawal (21-10 MMA, 10-7 BMMA) had announced the fight would be his last. “King Mo” had already previously retired in early 2019 but decided to come back for one more fight.
In the span of 82 seconds, Kapel ruined Lawal’s aspirations of ending his career with a victory. After Lawal caught Kapel’s kick, the longtime MMA veteran swung for a counter hook. In the exchange, Lawal’s hook missed, but Kapel’s didn’t. Kapel floored Lawal and finished the fight with some follow up blows.
After the fight, Lawal left his gloves in the center of the cage – signaling the end of a storied 11-year career.
Check out Andrew Kapel’s knockout of Muhammed Lawal in the video above.
American Top Team coach Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal reflects on effects coronavirus is having on fighters.
The current coronavirus outbreak is affecting nearly everybody around the globe, including MMA fighters.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S. has forced many states to put restrictions and bans on mass gatherings, as well as close non-essential establishments across the board. That means shutting down many MMA gyms and forcing promotions to suspend events, as well.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and current American Top Team coach [autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag] has been a close witness to the effects the global pandemic is having on the MMA community, especially its fighters.
“It already started (messing with fighters),” Lawal told MMA Junkie Radio. “Right when it was said cards will be canceled for a while, fighters were wondering, ‘If I’m fighting in June, is that messed up? What about this?’ But June is two months from now. You got people with fights in June wondering if they’re going to be fighting. You have people also on the shelf looking for fights wondering, ‘Will I be on the shelf further, longer?’ So right now, everybody is in limbo.”
American Top Team’s flagship location in Coconut Creek, Fla., is closed, but the staff and owner Dan Lambert will reassess the situation in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, “King Mo” thinks the gym will likely remain closed much longer than that.
“Last week, when everything was getting shut down, we had a team meeting last Tuesday or last Wednesday, and said, ‘Things are getting bad. We’re gonna shut the gym down for two weeks, then we’ll have a coaches’ meeting in two more weeks to see what we’re gonna do,'” Lawal said. “I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be shut down another two weeks. That’s what I’m thinking. So right now everyone’s stir crazy.”
[lawrence-related id=412234,502213,500687]
Lawal says the reaction to the closing of the gym was no different than the one happening now across the U.S. It’s been a mixed bag from everyone involved.
“The gym is like America,” Lawal said. “You have some guys (saying), ‘Damn, this is serious.’ Then some guys like, ‘Oh, is it? I don’t know. Is it serious?’ And then there’s some other guys saying, ‘Oh, this is probably fake.’
“People were weirded out, and there’s some confusion. But once we said, ‘Hey, don’t come to the gym until we hit you up in two weeks,’ people were like, ‘Oh, hell no. What are we going to do?’ And I was like, ‘Y’all can shadowbox on your own at y’alls house or go on a jog or something, but don’t come to the gym.’ I’ve seen people doing pushups, burpees, shadowboxing, that’s about it.”
“King Mo” says he’s just living life close to normal, as he usually stays home, anyway. But even then, he’s not going to go out to risk his life and others. Lawal says the coronavirus is very real, and people should take it seriously.
“First of all, the coronavirus is very real for all ya’ll dumbass Trump supporters,” Lawal explained. “Yes, it was real from the get-go. All you dummies posting, ‘Oh, H1N1, this is not that dangerous. We’ll survive like we survived SARS.’
“The COVID-19 virus is a version of SARS – severe acute respiratory symptom. Dummies, it’s real. That’s why Donald Trump went out and declared a state of emergency. It’s real. Y’all be safe, wash your hands.”
A full recap of Bellator’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, fights and individual performances of 2019.
Bellator had its biggest and busiest year to date in 2019, with 24 numbered events that helped raise the promotion’s profile to a true position of prominence in MMA. During that time, many records were set and a host of historic moments were produced.
Now that the year has come to a close, here are some of 2019’s most significant fights and individual performances.
* * * *
GENERAL
Bellator president Scott Coker
Bellator held 24 numbered events (not including full European series shows) in 14 different cities across six countries and three continents. The 24 events are the most for the organization in a calendar year.
Those events had 128 main card fights across 11 different weight classes (not including catchweight bouts).
Those 128 main card fights combined for a total cage time of 19:48:08.
The longest event of the year (main card fights only) was Bellator 223 (1:49:02).
The shortest event of the year (main card fights only) was Bellator 214 (20:07).
Eight fighters missed weight for main card bouts. Those fighters went 4-3, while one bout was canceled.
Seven main or co-main event bouts were canceled due to a variety of reasons.
Betting favorites went 82-26 during Bellator main card fights. 14 fights had no odds available while three fights had even odds, and three ended in a no contest.
Six cards saw all the betting favorites win.
No fight cards had more underdogs win than favorites.
Bellator 225 was the first event in company history to have every fight end in a stoppage.
CHAMPIONSHIP FEATS
Ryan Bader
[autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] became the first simultaneous two-division champion in company history when he captured the heavyweight title at Bellator 214.
Bader joined Joe Warren as the second fighter in company history to win titles in two weight classes.
[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jon Fitch[/autotag] at Bellator 220 marked the first title fight in company history to end in a draw.
[autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] became the second simultaneous two-division champion in company history when he captured the lightweight title at Bellator 221.
Freire became the third fighter in company history to win titles in two weight classes, joining Bader and Warren in that exclusive club.
[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] became the first in company history to suffer five losses in title fights when he was defeated at Bellator 221.
Kyoji Horiguchi
[autotag]Kyoji Horiguchi[/autotag] became the first fighter in history to earn titles in Bellator and Rizin FF when he won the Bellator bantamweight title at Bellator 222.
Bader became the first champion in company history to register title defenses in two weight classes when he retained his heavyweight belt at Bellator 226.
Freire set a new mark for most championship-fight victories in company history with his eighth when he won at Bellator 228.
[autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] became the second fighter in company history to have three title reigns in a single weight class when he reclaimed the welterweight belt at Bellator 232. Chandler also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] became the second champion in company history to earn four consecutive title defenses when she won at Bellator 236. Ben Askren also accomplished the feat.
INDIVIDUAL FEATS
Matt Mitrione vs. Sergei Kharitonov at Bellator 215
[autotag]Matt Mitrione[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] at Bellator 215 marked the third shortest no-contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (six seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.
[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] became the second fighter in history to earn a 10-fight Bellator winning streak when he won at Bellator 216. A.J. McKee also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]David Rickels[/autotag] became the third fighter in history to reach 15 Bellator victories when he won at Bellator 219. Patricio Freire and Chandler have also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]Jordan Young[/autotag] became the first fighter in company history to earn five consecutive victories by submission when he won at Bellator 224.
[autotag]Aviv Gozali[/autotag], 18, became the youngest fighter to earn a Bellator victory when he won at Bellator 225.
Gozali’s 11-second victory at Bellator 225 marked the fastest submission in company history.
Patricio Freire
Freire set a new mark for most victories in company history with his 18th when he won at Bellator 228.
[autotag]Haim Gozali[/autotag], 46, became the oldest fighter in Bellator history to earn a submission victory when he won at Bellator 234.
[autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag] earned his first non-UFC victory since August 2001 when he won at Bellator 231.
Lima became the first fighter in company history to claim three separate tournaments victories when he won the welterweight grand prix at Bellator 232.
[autotag]Saad Awad[/autotag] became the first in history to suffer 10 Bellator defeats when he lost at Bellator 232.
[autotag]Patrick Mix[/autotag] earned the first Suloev stretch submission finish in company history when he won at Bellator 232.
[autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag] retired from MMA competition following his loss at Bellator 233.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Macfarlane became the third fighter in history to earn a 10-fight Bellator winning streak when she won at Bellator 236. Page and McKee also accomplished the feat.
McKee extended his company record winning streak to 16 fights when he earned a victory at Bellator 236.
McKee set a new record for most stoppages in featherweight history with his 11th when he won at Bellator 236.
Chandler set a new record for most stoppages in company history with his 12th when he won at Bellator 237.
Thursday night at Quintet Ultra, five of Strikeforce’s most notable veterans will compete against teams representing the UFC, WEC and PRIDE.
LAS VEGAS – Strikeforce is back. Well, sort of.
Thursday night at Quintet Ultra, five of Strikeforce’s most notable veterans will compete against teams representing the UFC, WEC and PRIDE.
The openweight elimination challenge takes place at Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas and streams on UFC Fight Pass.
Strikeforce’s team is comprised of lightweight champ (and team captain) [autotag]Gilbert Melendez[/autotag], welterweight champ [autotag]Jake Shields[/autotag], light heavyweight champ [autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag], light heavyweight champ [autotag]Renato Sobral[/autotag] and lightweight [autotag]Gesias Cavalcante[/autotag].
Wednesday, the five Strikeforce alumni reunited for a media scrum with MMA Junkie. The Strikeforce group of five fighters declared themselves the “best looking team,” joked about having to go up against Team WEC’s [autotag]Mark Munoz[/autotag], and reminisced on how far they’ve come.
The tournament will first pair Strikeforce up with WEC. In the opening round, Cavalcante will face off with former UFC title challenger Chad Mendes.
Roster orders are selected by each team behind closed doors and submitted simultaneously. Not knowing the orders of other quintets, each team will have to stick to its order if members of its team get eliminated.
In addition to the team competition, Quintet Ultra will feature singles matches. Gordon Ryan meets Aleksei Oleinik, while Cynthia Calvillo – who replaces a previously announced Pearl Gonzalez – takes on Danielle Kelly. A prelims single match between Craig Jones and Fredson Paixao also is set.
