Former Strikeforce champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is coming out of retirement to face Dave Mundell in a light heavyweight bout at BKFC 66, despite previously retiring due to severe health issues.
Former Strikeforce champion and Bellator veteran Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is making a surprising return from retirement. He’s set to compete for the first time in nearly five years after signing with BKFC.
In his debut, the 43-year-old will face Dave Mundell in a light heavyweight bout. This match is scheduled for BKFC 66 in Hollywood, Fla., on Sept. 13.
Lawal’s return is unexpected, especially since he’s been focused on coaching at American Top Team in Florida. When he retired, he cited health issues as the main reason for stepping away from fighting.
“It’s been on my mind for a while,” Lawal told MMAFighting about his decision to retire in 2019. “I just put it in the back of my head.”
“The pain from injuries was messing me up,” he continued, “and my lack of range of motion from my hip and knee.”
“I’ve been fighting most of my career with no legs, a messed-up knee or hip,” he added. “After I had that hip surgery where they put titanium metal in my hip, it kind of made me think — I’m going to need a knee replacement, an elbow replacement, and another hip replacement.”
“I was like, I’m getting old; I’m 38; I’ve got kids,” Lawal said candidly. “I can’t even run right now or jog properly. It’s that bad.”
He concluded, “If I can’t jog or sprint or be explosive, then I’ve got to stop.”
Beyond MMA, Lawal was an accomplished wrestler at Oklahoma State and an All-American. After missing out on the Olympic team in 2008, he transitioned into MMA.
Lawal hasn’t yet addressed why he’s returning now. However, many veteran fighters have noted that preparing for BKFC isn’t as physically demanding as training for MMA bouts due to the absence of grappling and wrestling.
Regardless of the reason behind his comeback, Lawal is diving straight into competition against Mundell. Mundell holds an impressive record of 8-1 in bare-knuckle fights and is the current middleweight champion.
The main event for BKFC 66 will feature bantamweight champion Alberto Blas defending his title against Ryan Reber.