Muhammed Lawal isn't after the same things most fighters aim to achieve. 

Titles, stardom and fame don't concern "King Mo" in the slightest. What matters to Lawal is an interesting challenge and a proper paycheck at the end of a hard night's work. His insistence on these things has made him one of the most polarizing figures in the sport of mixed martial arts, but staying on his personal grind is the only way Lawal sees to get where he's going in a harsh and unforgiving business.

In order to make sure big challenges and paydays are always at the ready, Lawal has kept a willingness to move up and down through weight classes. Along the way, the former Strikeforce champion coined the term "Moneyweight Fight," but the reality of what he's doing is paying homage to the men he views as real fighters who came before him.

"There were guys before me like Royce Gracie, [Kazushi] Sakuraba, Wanderlei [Silva] and Mark Hall," Lawal told FloCombat. "They fought people who were a lot bigger and didn't care. They are the throwback fighters, and I'm just trying to be like them. I don't care about size. I've wrestled guys bigger. I've fought guys bigger. It makes no difference to me. It's just part of the game.

"I'm all about the right fights for the right amount of money. I just want to stay busy, you know what I'm saying? Keep me busy. I want to fight and stay busy and that's what it comes down to. I like to get four or five fights a year."

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The current challenge standing directly in his path is a rematch with rival Quinton Jackson at Bellator 175 this Friday night, March 31, in Chicago. The two hard-charging stars initially collided in 2014 with "Rampage" taking a close decision victory on the judges' scorecards. The loss has never sat right with Lawal and that's why he was more than willing to run things back in the "Windy City."

While the lead up to their first meeting was a highlight of soundbites and solid trash-talk exchanges, the build up to the rematch has delivered on the same fronts. That said, despite the constant banter between the two, both men have been vocal about the mutual respect they carry for one another.

Perhaps if their paths weren't set on a collision course, Lawal and Jackson could actually be friends. But Lawal isn't ready to go quite that far.

"Maybe, but who knows?" Lawal said. "It's what-ifs, and we probably could, but who knows? I don't know and I really don't try to figure it out. I just do what I can do. Train smart, train hard and then come to fight."

With the rematch just a few days away, Lawal is ready for the talking to be over and the fighting to get underway. The former Oklahoma State University wrestling standout understands the promotional grind is part of the game and a necessary one at that. Yet, the elements that drive him forward as an athlete come from the physical and mental challenges required in preparation and the execution of his skills on fight night.

"I like to train," Lawal said. "I train hard and smart and I like to push myself every day. I just don't care much for the culture as everybody knows. I'm not on Twitter as much and the MMA rumors I'm not really involved in all of that. I hear them but I don't actively seek them out. Just train hard and enjoy what you do, and that's what I'm doing."

As an elite-level fighter, Lawal has learned to compartmentalize things in his life to keep happiness as a constant component. As a lifelong boxing and wrestling fan of both professional and amateur varieties, Lawal has numerous outlets to keep the rigors of his own career far from his mind when need be.

Take this weekend for example. In addition to his own high-profile showdown at Bellator 175, Lawal is excited to see some exciting wrestling that surprisingly won't take place at WWE's famed Wrestlemania event.

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"I'm not going to Wrestlemania," Lawal said. "I'm going to the Super Card of Honor. I'm a Ring of Honor guy. After this fight I'm going on April 1st to watch The [Young] Bucks vs. The Hardys. I'm gonna watch Hangman Page and The Guerrillas of Destiny face The Briscoes and Bully Ray. They have some good matches and that card is fire from top to bottom." 

In addition to the pro wrestling game, Lawal riffed on his love of boxing. 

"Growing up, it wasn't about MMA, it was about who had good hands," he said. "You had guys like [Muhammad] Ali, [Marvin] Hagler, [Thomas] Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. It was all about [those] guys. Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson. It was about the hands, and growing up, boxing was king. To me it still is. I love boxing. I like MMA and I like MMA training, but I love boxing. Boxing is my love. That and pro wrestling and amateur wrestling."

In addition to his own success as a mixed martial artist, Lawal is also deeply entrenched in the betterment of his squad at American Top Team. Lawal moved from Las Vegas to South Florida several years back and is a constant fixture in the Coconut Creek facility.

The world-renowned gym has long been one of the most successful collectives in MMA, but a recent surge by rising ATT talent has put the fight game on notice in a big way. Lawal believes the attention gained and respect earned is long overdue, and he is happy for his friends and teammates.


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"[Jorge] Masvidal and Dustin Poirier...there are a few guys at the gym like that," Lawal said. "It's good to see that. Will Brooks will get a little streak going and he'll be in the same boat. It's all about being hot in the moment and Masvidal is hot right now and doing his thing. I'm happy for him. He's finally getting his respect, and it's a good feeling."




​Watch the full interview with King Mo here: