'King Mo' wanted Bellator grand-prix spot because new-school trash-talking sucks

This might sound a little odd, but “King Mo” really doesn’t like the current state of MMA and the influx of trash-talking.

No, seriously.

Muhammed Lawal can cut a promo as well as anyone, and before clashing in the cage or ring, he and his opponents have often tangled on the mics. But the veteran “moneyfight” fighter (he’ll gladly take fights at light heavyweight or heavyweight or any other weight that promises a hefty paycheck, he says) said he was simply responding opponents or just trying to get a laugh.

But MMA these days? With the nonstop trash-talking and insulting and chest-thumping? The fact that everyone is getting in on the trash-talking game?

“This new-school sh*t? The whole thing with everybody talking trash to everybody? I’m not with it,” Lawal told MMAjunkie. “It’s fake.”

That’s why he jumped at the chance to enter the yearlong Bellator heavyweight grand prix. The eight-man tournament crowns a new Bellator heavyweight champion. Lawal’s (21-6 MMA, 10-4 BMMA) opening-round matchup comes against reigning 205-pound champ Ryan Bader (24-5 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), and they fight May 12 in San Jose, Calif., (likely Bellator 198) in a Paramount-televised matchup.

The best part? In a tourney field that also includes Matt Mitrione, Roy Nelson, Fedor Emelianenko, Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen (who recently defeated Quinton Jackson in his opening-round matchup), no trash-talk is needed.

“This? We ain’t go to do nothing because the names should sell itself, the tournament should sell itself,” Lawal said.

It’s a reason he jumped at the chance to enter the field, though he’s one of the smaller entrants.

“I told them that if there’s a heavyweight grand prix or heavyweight tournament, make sure I’m in it,” Lawal said. “So, I think I was the first entrant. Straight up.”

Lawal is no stranger to tourneys. The 37-year-old entered – and won – many of them during a decorated amateur-wrestling career. He won a Bellator tourney. He won a Rizin FF open-weigh tournament. Now, he thinks he’s the guy to win Bellator’s big-man grand prix, especially since he knows what it takes.

“It’s all about game plan and being injury-free and being smart,” he said. “I think I have one loss at heavyweight – and that’s against (Mirko) Cro Cop. And I honestly feel like if I had a chance to train in the ring, I would’ve beat him. But things happen.

“It’s all about staying healthy, being smart and then implementing your game plan. If you do that, you’re going to win.”

For more on “Bellator: Bader vs. King Mo,” check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.