Issue 125
February 2015
The Bellator knockout artist and part-time pro wrestler talks the commentary booth, inspiration and the ‘King Mo’ crown.
Q. With your recent role as analyst for Invicta FC did you have to channel your inner (pro wrestling announcers) Gorilla Monsoon or Tony Schiavone in the booth?
A. “I’m kind of coming from the comic relief and the professional fighter analyst point of view. I was riding Mauro Ranallo’s coattails and this time around I got to work with ‘The Voice’ Michael Schiavello and Miesha Tate. We worked well together. It was a great experience. I feel like I’m coming in to my own as an announcer/analyst.”
Q. Do you see a future in the booth once you hang up the MMA gloves?
A. “I don’t know. I would like to be a boxing analyst. I love boxing. We’ll see what happens. I don’t look into the future like that. I take it day by day.”
Q. With your well-documented amateur wrestling background and your natural showmanship skills, what do you think it will take to get amateur wrestling over into the mainstream around the world?
A. “They should just copy what the WWE does, what TNA does. Give them elaborate entrances, storylines, let them be themselves. Tell them to have fun. The problem with amateur wrestling in the past has been that they were too worried about being serious and the honor and integrity of the sport, which is important in the sport but the average person doesn’t care about honor and integrity. They care about entertainment.”
Q. Back in the day you had the opportunity to sign a developmental deal with the WWE but chose to try out for the Olympic team...
A. “My goal was to make the Olympic team and then do pro wrestling. I could have gone the pro wrestling route but I would have always had questions or doubts about making the Olympic team. It would have paid more. Sometimes I look back and wonder what would’ve happened if I would’ve taken the deal but it is what it is.”
Q. You’re obviously a big fan of pro wrestling, so who are some of the guys that inspired you when they stepped into the squared circle?
A. “DDP (Diamond Dallas Page) was my guy. Also, I liked Nikita Koloff, Sting, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. He was one of my favorites. I loved Arn Anderson.”
Q. I have to ask, when ‘King Mo’ isn’t wearing the crown where do you keep it?
A. “The crown is in my closet at the crib. I’m King Mo for the fights and I’m Mo Lawal when I’m just chilin’. I’m pretty laid back. People think I’m all crazy and arrogant but that’s not me. When you’re fighting and you need to perform and be in a certain frame of mind you’re going to be arrogant – you’re selfish. But when you’re not you aren’t necessarily like that.”
Q. If you could fight anyone in any weight class, who would you choose to fight?
A. “Yeah, I would fight a corpse if it could make me a million dollars. That’s who I want to fight.”
Q. Who are the people that inspire you most, personally and professionally?
A. “Nobody inspires me to do what I do. I do it because I want to do it. As far as being a better person, my mom, my friends and family inspire me. As far as fighting and wrestling, I do it because I enjoy it, because it’s fun.”
Q. Who are your favorite fighters to watch?
A. “I watch more boxing than MMA. I like watching Floyd Mayweather. As far as mixed martial arts I really just watch my friends fight. I watch kickboxing. I watch amateur wrestling. I like Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake. Guys like that.”
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