For ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Bellator 233 isn’t a comeback: ‘I just wants to end on a win’

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For ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Bellator 233 isn’t a comeback: ‘I just wants to end on a win’

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – Less than seven months after he retired following a loss at RIZIN 15, Muhammed Lawal will return to the cage for one more fight – but whatever you do, don’t call it a comeback.

“King Mo” Lawal (21-9 MMA, 10-6 BMMA) will face Andrew Kapal (14-6 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in the co-main event of Bellator 233, a bout he said will be the final fight of his career.

“I’m not really back,” Lawal told MMA Junkie. “It’s like a one-off. When you say someone’s back, they’re back to make a run for something. I’m going back so I can get a ‘W’ and then grab it and take off running again back to retirement. That’s all I’m doing.

“Once I get that win, it’s back to retirement and go back to coaching. That’s it. … I just want to end on a win.”

The word “retirement” is rapidly losing value in the world of MMA. A high percentage of fighters who announce retirements end up returning at a later date. Lawal said he’ll call himself retired from pro MMA, but could end up competing if an exhibition fight arose.

“Unless I was going to come back and fight an old man fight, (I’m retired),” Lawal said. “Against another old (guy) in a fight that would be kind of fun. Then yeah, whatever. But will I come back for a title? Nah, no. No, nah. Nope. Exhibitions? Yeah, I’m up for those.”

Strikeforce, RIZIN, Bellator – Lawal has competed for a trifecta of the highest level promotions in MMA. One promotion missing from the list is the UFC. Lawal said he is more than okay with that notion. He never set out for UFC greatness – just MMA greatness.

“I’m cool with the way things played out,” Lawal said. “I never made one mention of the UFC. I was always an MMA fan. I’m the MMA fan. I don’t care about the UFC. ‘King Mo’ never said it was my goal to be a UFC champion. My goal was to be champion, get paid, have fun, travel, win fights. Of course, I lost fights here and there.

“But I went out and had fun, fought, competed. I was no groupie. I ain’t no groupie. I wasn’t the guy chasing it as some motivation. That’s like me saying, ‘Man, if I’m wearing shoes, they only gotta be Nike.’ That’s not me. I’m not like that. Hell no.”

Even though it will potentially be his last time competing inside the cage Friday night, Lawal isn’t going to allow the “retirement fight” to skew his focus away from a win. Victory is the only thing he can allow himself to worry about.

“I just want to get that ‘W’… When it’s all said and done and I stop fighting,” Lawal said. “Some people will remember me. Some people won’t remember me. It’s all good, man. Because fighting goes on. You know what I’m saying? Eventually everyone fades.”

Bellator 233 takes place Friday at WinStar World Casino. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

For 'King Mo' Lawal, Bellator 233 isn't a comeback: 'I just wants to end on a win'