Muhammed Lawal: Why King Mo Could Be a Force in the UFC

The name Muhammed Lawal may not be recognized by many mixed martial arts fans today.

However, throw in the nickname "King Mo" and fans become well aware of who we are referring to.

Lawal, who stands 6'0'' and weighs 205 pounds has come to be one of the most popular fighters in MMA today.

After beginning his career with an impressive 5-0 record, Lawal signed on with the organization of Strikeforce as his career appeared to be hitting the premier stage.

However, it wasn't necessarily Lawal's record that landed him a gig, but his powerful strikes that allowed him to finish four opponents in his first five bouts.

Lawal didn't miss a beat after signing on with Strikeforce, posting a perfect 2-0 record on route to becoming the light heavyweight champion.

Despite losing his very next bout to Rafael Cavalcante, "King Mo" would bounce back with an enormous first-round knockout over Roger Gracie at the Strikeforce World Grand Prix.

While Lawal is currently set to take on Lorenz Larkin at the upcoming Strikeforce event on January 7th, it's hard not to look at his possible future in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Not only does Lawal have a potential future in the UFC but a successful one at that.

Lawal's knockout power has quickly separated him from the middle of the pack in the 205-pound weight division.

In fact, in nine total fights, Lawal has finished off his opponent via knockout six different times.

However, while Lawal is often recognized as a serious threat in the stand-up, many often fail to realize just how well-rounded "King Mo" truly is.

Lawal is a freestyle wrestler who took home gold at the Pan American Championships in 2007.

While Lawal's plan of attack has revolved around his striking, he is more than capable of grappling with nearly any light heavyweight in the world.

With the future of Strikeforce in jeopardy, it's likely we could see a merger allowing "King Mo" to make his UFC debut in the near future.

Lawal's skill set demonstrates all the right ingredients for a successful career in the UFC.

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