Admit it: You're excited about the fact that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will throw down with Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal live on pay-per-view at Bellator 120 on May 17 in Memphis, Tennessee.
It's OK. I don't want to be so thrilled about a matchup between two over-the-hump light heavyweights, either.
But here we are...
Rampage vs. King Mo is a fight we just can't help but love. It treads the intersection of entertainment and sport so perfectly that fans immediately perk up and tune in.
Do you feel that tickle? That's Bellator bringing you Rampage vs. King Mo, friend. You can try to ignore it, but that will only make the sensation stronger.
Remember when Chael Sonnen went from kind-of-boring-wrestler to kind-of-boring-wrestler-who-now-talks-a-bunch-of-trash-and-makes-me-laugh?
After defeating Nate Marquardt at UFC 109, Sonnen was given a title shot against Anderson "The Spider" Silva at UFC 117.
He then went insane, hyping himself and the fight to no end. Now, this is how fans identify him: the fun trash-talker.
With Rampage vs. King Mo, we get two fun trash-talkers who are unafraid to make themselves sound ridiculous at the expense of grabbing a headline or searing in the perfect burn.
It's amazing.
Make no mistake: Neither Rampage nor King Mo possesses the skills on the mic of Sonnen (although Rampage is a bit more clever than Mo, if we're being fair). But they try. They say stuff. They yell at each other.
They hype the fight.
I'll give credit where it's due: Rampage's zing that Mo will be KO'd & therefore the soles of his feet should be sponsored made me chuckle.
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) May 2, 2014
And when two fighters buy into their jobs as promoters before a bout, it adds a level of intrigue to the match whether you want to accept it or not.
With all the pre-fight banter between Rampage and King Mo, it's easy to forget that this May 17 fight actually matters. The winner will fight for the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and take a step toward becoming the 205-pound king of the promotion.
This distinction has eluded King Mo throughout his stint inside the Bellator cage, and while he has entered full pro wrestling mode before the fight, don't forget: The man is a competitor. He wants to win. He doesn't like to lose, and winning the Bellator strap would only supply more ammo for his Mo-16.
Rampage, on the other hand, has looked phenomenal since leaving the UFC for Bellator, earning two knockouts in as many appearances. Maybe this is a product of a lower level of competition, or maybe he is legitimately refocused and reinvigorated inside the Bellator cage.
That's why they fight.
Add in all the pre-fight smack talk, and this bout between aging light heavyweights is just impossible to ignore.
Resist as we might, the tickle is strong in this one, and giving into the sensation is easier and more rewarding in the end.
There's no harm in accepting it. Go ahead. Coochy Coo.
You like it, don't you?
