With Tom DeBlass Injured, ‘King’ Mo Lawal Now Faces Marcus Sursa at Bellator 123

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Muhammed Lawal has a new opponent for the light heavyweight co-main event of Bellator 123.

A source close to the bout Monday informed Sherdog.com that Lawal’s original opponent, Tom DeBlass, suffered a knee injury and was forced to withdraw. “King Mo” will instead face Texan Marcus Sursa on Sept. 5 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Lawal, 33, will look to get back on track after dropping a unanimous decision to Quinton Jackson in May. The former Strikeforce champion has alternated wins and losses in his last four outings, besting Mikhail Zayats and Jacob Noe while falling to Jackson and reigning Bellator champ Emanuel Newton.

Sursa, 31, makes his Bellator return after scoring back-to-back wins against Andrew Kapel and Eric Schambari in regional competition. “Money” will prepare for the short-notice bout with a three-week camp in California, where he will divide his time between Reign Training Center, Kings MMA and Glory Gym.

Bellator 123 will go head-to-head with the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s UFC Fight Night “Mousasi vs. Jacare 2” card, which takes place in Ledyard, Conn., on the same night. Bellator officials today announced that their card will kick off at an earlier start time of 8 p.m. ET.