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WEB EXCLUSIVE: Beat to the punch-Lawal victorious in Bellator debut
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal stepped into the cage for the first time in more than a year Thursday night.
The Plano East alum proved worth the wait.
Making his debut for Bellator Fighting Championships, Lawal (9-1-1) knocked out Przemyslaw Mysiala (16-8) in the first round of a light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal from WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla.
That ran counter to Mysiala's strategy in his U.S. debut as entering the bout he said, "I'm coming in to knock King Mo off his throne." Mysiala had won six of his last eight fights, but Lawal proved the kingdom was strong by picking up his first victory since a first-round knockout of Roger Gracie at a Strikeforce show in September 2011. Lawal's only other bout since then came in a January 2012 victory over Lorenz Larkin that was turned into a no-contest after Lawal tested positive for a banned substance.
Lawal's ring rust lasted all of a minute as Mysiala fired off a flurry of attempted strikes during that time frame.
It was all Lawal from there though as the former Panther used his six-inch reach advantage to pick apart and bloody the face of Mysiala with a barrage of jabs. Those left hands set up a counter right that floored Mysiala for the knockout with 1:08 remaining in the first round.
"I didn't even have no strategy, Lawal said. "My goal was to come in and knock him out."
A goal Lawal plans to maintain going forward.
"I'm gonna knock 'em all out," he said. "That's all I wanna do."
Thursday's finish, Lawal's sixth first-round stoppage, sent the fans into a frenzy.
"Yeah, I felt [the support] in here," Lawal said. "I wrestled here at Oklahoma State and Central Oklahoma, and everybody came out to support me."
With the victory, Lawal moves on to the tournament semifinals to face Emanuel Newton (19-7) Feb. 21 from the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. The winner of the bracket will receive a title shot. Current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu defends his belt Feb. 28 against Attila Vegh.
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