In the world of mixed martial arts, it doesn’t get any better than the Ultimate Fighting Championship. That doesn’t mean that other promotions won’t give it their best shot to knock off the best and with their first pay-per-view event on Nov. 2, Bellator Fighting Championship is attempting to give the UFC a run for their money. Already announced for the event is a main event featuring two former UFC champions, Tito Ortiz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as well as the lightweight title fight between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler. In the most recent announcement, fans of mixed martial arts will get a chance to see an interim light heavyweight title fight between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Emanuel Newton.
In what was called one of the greatest upsets of the year, Newton knocked out the former Strikeforce champion with a spinning back fist on his way to winning the eight man tournament in the spring. It was the absolute worst case scenario for the promotion as they hoped to push Lawal as a “two-sport” star due to his contract with TNA Wrestling.
In a way, Lawal avenged that loss in the summer by winning the four man tournament, earning a shot at the current champion Attila Vegh. Unfortunately for Lawal and Newton, Vegh is on the sidelines due to injury and the promotion decided to put the interim title in play for this grudge match. It hasn’t taken long for Lawal to talk trash as per usual, but Newton is hoping to let his hands do the talking and will hope to become the champion by knocking out the world class wrestler once again.
Bellator’s first pay-per-view – dubbed Bellator 106 – will be held at the Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach Calif.
