Mohegan commission fines Muhammed 'King Mo' Lawal, looking at curbing staredowns

The Mohegan Department of Athletic Regulation is taking administrative action against one-high profile fighter and evaluating a rule change for others following Bellator 123.

MDAR director Michael Mizzulli today told MMAjunkie the commission is fining Muhammed Lawal $2,500 for cursing and flipping off the crowd following his win over Dustin Jacoby at the event this past Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Additionally, Mizzulli said the commission is looking into changing its regulations to disallow staredowns in the cage following a publicity stunt from Stephan Bonnar and Justin McCully at the event.

“If a faceoff occurs by accident, we’re going to make the promoter liable as much as the fighters,” Mizzulli said.

Earlier this week, MMAjunkie requested a response from the commission on the shoving match between Bonnar, McCully and Tito Ortiz, who is set to fight Bonnar at Bellator 131 on Nov. 15. Although a majority of MMA observers believe the fracas was staged, and Bonnar and McCully admitted they drummed up the idea for publicity, Mazzulli said the commission was not amused by their behavior.

The regulator was similarly dismayed by Lawal’s display in the cage. He said the fighter violated a statute of the commissions codes that allows for disciplinary action when a licensee “has conducted him or herself at any time or place in a manner which is deemed by the Department to reflect discredit to unarmed combat.”

Mazzulli said Lawal will be formally suspended if he doesn’t pay the fine “in a timely manner.” The fine has been noted in the Association of Boxing Commissions’ administrative database.

Lawal rep Mike Kogan said the fighter will pay the fine without complaint.

“That’s their right,” he said. “The commissions can do whatever they want. They felt like he was being disrespectful to whatever standards they have, and it’s their right to fine them. Of course we’re going to pay the fine. He felt like the crowd was against him and he wanted to give them a little bit of their own medicine.”

The 33-year-old fighter was previously fined when he tested positive for drostanolone following a knockout of Lorenz Larkin in the now-defunct Strikeforce. He reportedly was fined $39,000, which represented 30 percent of his “show” purse and his win bonus.

Lawal was unreachable for comment.

And for more on Bellator 123, including a full event recap, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

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