Bellator and TNA to team up promoting King Mo
Mo Lawal is back. “I’m just doin’ where the money’s at. If I get an offer to do somethin’ ……
Mo Lawal is back.
“I’m just doin’ where the money’s at. If I get an offer to do somethin’ … I chase the paper. You know what I’m sayin’? I’m not no slave to no brand, I don’t chase the brand, I don’t give a f— about that s—. I chase dollars, you know what I’m sayin’?”
The question of course is where will the dollars chasing be? Now that has apparently been answered.
Front Row Brian reported tonight that Bellator and TNA would be involved in a joint venture where King Mo Lawal would perform for both companies in 2013.
Brian @FrontRowBrian
News already dropped apparently so I’ll just say it. @KingMoFH will fight for @BellatorMMA and perform in @IMPACTWRESTLING at same time
Brian @FrontRowBrian
@KingMoFH fighting for BFC/TNA is the first deal of its kind in North America. Lashley did TNA/MMA but did minor league MMA
Brian @FrontRowBrian
WWE also wanted @KingMoFH. However, they would have required him to spend extended time in developmental and no MMA.
Brian @FrontRowBrian
TNA is most interested, at this point, in programs involving King Mo and Sting and then King Mo and Kurt Angle.
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Interestingly, despite Zuffa firing King Mo, they still retained matching rights. Otherwise this deal would’ve been signed 3 weeks ago.
@Lopati
does Barnett look for a deal similar to King Mo’s?
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Only if UFC doesn’t offer him a contract. RT
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Mo is well. He’s in NYC right now. Will do #MMAUncensored tomorrow. Attend BFC show on FRI. Weight almost back to normal (215)
@SlumDoggg
throw out some numbers tho FRB??? what the deal look like?
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Better than his SF deal which was 90 and 30 per. RT
Brian @FrontRowBrian
King Mo’s deal with @BellatorMMA + @ImpactWrestling is groundbreaking. More will follow. Congrats to @MikeKogan for cutting the deal.
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Credit also to @BjornRebney + @TNADixie for recognizing @KingMoFH’s unique talent. Charisma. Amateur wrestling pedigree. MMA. Quite a resume
Brian @FrontRowBrian
I know Rampage Jackson has Bellator/TNA in mind now. Could see Rampage/Mo settle their feud in a shoot and work environment
MMA Fan Headquarters @MMAFANHQ
they squashed feud. They met @ a MMA Elite signing event (sponsors both) & brand CEO had them shake hands.
Jordan Bregman @NotAirJordan
is he gonna have to go the tournament route or straight into super fights with BFC
Brian @FrontRowBrian
unclear at this point.
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Who are some other MMA fighters who would excel in @ImpactWrestling? @philbaroni comes to mind.
Alex @BoboBrazil3
s TNA planning on putting him on tv with no wrestling training?
Brian @FrontRowBrian
very minimal training. Will work a shoot style
Nick Vlass @Nick_Vlass
do u think Mo does Pro wrestling first. Serves his 9 monhts suspension & gets healthy to fight MMA in a year
Brian @FrontRowBrian
Yes, pro wrestling first. MMA sometime during fall season of BFC
Brian @FrontRowBrian
See some people asking why would King Mo would sign w/ BFC/TNA. He was stuck in SF even if Uncle Dana took him back. 4 fights left.
Brian @FrontRowBrian
So King Mo to UFC was no foregone conclusion. He’s 31. He’s about making money NOW. Not in 18+ months. Viacom can make him a global brand.
Lawal is a lifelong pro wrestling fan who always aspired to go into pro wrestling after the Olympics in wrestling. He failed to make the 2008 Olympic team, but ended up doing MMA, where he was Strikeforce light heavyweight champion at one point.
Lawal is currently serving a nine month suspension for testing positive for the steroid Drostanolone after a January win over Lorenz Larkin. He was then fired from Strikeforce by Dana White after the hearing where he was suspended, by going on twitter and calling Pat Lundvall of the Nevada State Athletic Commission a racist b—-.
He immediately made inquiries about getting into pro wrestling with WWE, which recruited him before the Olympics.
TNA and Bellator had been looking at cross-promotional ideas. Doing both genres simultaneously would be difficult at best, given the beating pro wrestling puts on your body and the type of training needed to perform at the top level in MMA. In addition, Lawal has had limited training in pro wrestling, which usually requires even in the best of athletes a good two years before one is ready to perform at the level expected for a national promotion.
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