King Mo

Real Name: Muhammed Lawal
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 217 lbs.
Date of Birth: January 11, 1981
From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Resides: Coconut Creek, Florida
Pro Debut: 2012
Trained By: (MMA) American Kickboxing Academy & Team Quest
Finishing Move: Kneebar

Biography

– Lawal excelled at wrestling and football at high school level and would go on to compete in the NCAA Division II at the University of Central Oklahoma, becoming a national champion in 2002
– Lawal moved up to Division I in his senior year at Oklahoma State University and would go on to place third in the Division I All-Americans
– Lawal won the US National Championship in freestyle wrestling in 2005, 2006 and 2008, however, after being overlooked for the 2008 Olympic Games, Lawal was offered a WWE development deal. He turned down the offer in favour of participating in MMA
– Lawal debuted on September 28, 2008 at Sengoku 5 in Tokyo, defeating Travis Wiuff by knockout in two minutes
– Lawal would win three more fights for Sengoku over the next six months before returning to the US to compete for M-1 Global
– In October 2009, Lawal signed with Strikeforce
– On April 17, 2010, Lawal defeated Gegard Mousasi by unanimous decision to win the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title
– Lawal suffered his first MMA loss in August 2010, falling to Rafael Cavalcante by TKO. Lawal would take nearly a year off following the fight in order to undergo knee surgery and rehab various minor injuries
– Lawal returned to competition in September 2011, defeating Roger Gracie by KO in round 1
– Following a victory over Lorenz Larkin in January 2012, Lawal tested positive for anabolic steroids and was suspended for nine months. During his suspension, he was released by Strikeforce following comments made about Pat Lundvall, the commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission
– In May 2012, Lawal signed with Bellator, as well as signing with the affiliated TNA Wrestling
– Lawal began his pro wrestling training at Ohio Valley Wrestling in September 2012
– Lawal (billed as King Mo) debuted for TNA on the October 4, 2012 episode of Impact
– Lawal served as the special guest enforcer for the James Storm vs. Bobby Roode match at Bound For Glory 2012
– Lawal debuted for Bellator on January 24, 2013, defeating Przemyslaw Mysiala by KO
– King Mo wrestled his first match on May 1, 2013, defeating Austin Bradley at an OVW event in Louisville
– In July 2015, Lawal announced that he was no longer with TNA Wrestling
– Having earned an 8-3 record during his time with the company, Lawal was chosen to represent Bellator in the Heavyweight division at the 2015 Rizin World Grand Prix. Lawal would win the tournament, defeating Jiri Prochazka in the final
– Lawal returned to TNA at Bound For Glory 2017, teaming with Lashley to defeat Moose & Stephan Bonnar in a Cage Match
– Lawal lost his final four MMA fights, announcing his retirement shortly before the final bout in November 2019. Shortly after the fight, it was announced that Lawal had signed a full-time pro wrestling contract with MLW
– Mo debuted for MLW on November 9, defeating Ricky Martinez