Strikeforce Signs “King” Mo Lawal

Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com is reporting that Strikeforce has signed light heavyweight prospect “King” Mo Lawal to a multi-fight deal with the anticipation that he could fight as early as December:

The deal allows the undefeated Lawal, a NCAA Div. 1 All-American wrestling champion for Oklahoma State in 2003 and decorated international competitor, to continue competing on the Japanese circuit. There, the 28-year-old heavyweight has made a name for himself with four straight victories in the Sengoku Raiden Championship (formerly Sengoku) over the last year. Three of those wins have come by stoppage from strikes, while Lawal’s only decision came after he tore his ACL in the first round of his match with Ryo Kawamura at Sengoku “Seventh Battle” last March.

Payout Perspective:

Lawal is a great prospect: he’s got the wrestling pedigree, fighting instincts, athleticism, and charisma to be a successful fighter sometime into the future.

However, the deal is most interesting in the context of the battle that Strikeforce and the UFC are currently waging for talent. Not only is Lawal a possible star in the making, but he’s already got a name in Japan. That bodes well for the Strikeforce-Dream partnership, and hurts the UFC as they look to capture some of the floundering Japanese market.

Why did Lawal choose Strikeforce? I suspect because of the non-exclusivity of the contract. The deal gives him the flexibility to make more money in Japan than he’d probably get from either of the big promotions in North America, while still fighting in North America, on occassion, in order to build his name there.