‘King Mo’ Signs Long-Term Extension with Bellator, Gets New Opponent on Sept. 5

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While there has been constant shuffling of Muhammed Lawal’s foes at Bellator 123, “King Mo” is certain of one thing: He’s staying with the promotion for the long haul.

Bellator MMA announced on Thursday that Lawal has signed a long-term contract extension that will keep the light heavyweight with the organization “for years to come.” Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lawal pointed to the changes at the top as the reason he came to terms with the promotion.

“This was one of the easiest decisions I could have made,” he said. “After everything that went down over the last six or seven months, I didn’t think this was something that would ever happen, but when [new promotion president Scott Coker] came on board with Bellator, everything changed. This is where I want to be. I don’t care who I fight, when it is, or where it is. I get paid to fight, and that’s what I’m going to do for Bellator. That’s it.”

At Bellator 123, Lawal will face two-time UFC veteran Dustin Jacoby, who replaces Marcus Sursa on short notice. “King Mo’s” original foe on Sept. 5 was supposed to be Tom DeBlass, who exited the matchup after suffering a knee injury. Sursa also withdrew due to injury.

Bellator 123 takes place at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., and will go head-to-head with UFC Fight Night “Mousasi vs. Jacare 2,” which goes down in Ledyard, Conn., on the same night.

Lawal, 33, last appeared at Bellator 120, where he dropped a controversial unanimous decision to Quinton Jackson. The former Strikeforce champion is 4-3 with Bellator overall, having lost a pair of bouts current 205-pound champ Emanuel Newton in addition to falling to “Rampage.”

Jacoby was let go by the UFC in 2012 after consecutive losses to Clifford Starks and Chris Camozzi. He is 4-1 since then, most recently garnering a first-round knockout win over Lucas Lopes at Titan FC 29.