Former Strikeforce champion and Bellator veteran Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal has made a surprising return from retirement, signing a deal to compete in BKFC after nearly five years away from the sport.
Lawal, 43, will face Dave Mundell in a light heavyweight bout at BKFC 66 in Hollywood, Fla. on Sept. 13.
After spending the past few years coaching at American Top Team, Lawal decided to come out of retirement despite health concerns that led to his initial decision to step away from fighting.
In a previous interview with MMAFighting, Lawal discussed his decision to retire in 2019 due to ongoing injuries and the toll it was taking on his body.
Lawal, a decorated wrestler and former All-American at Oklahoma State, transitioned to MMA after missing out on the Olympic team in 2008.
While Lawal has not publicly addressed his return, the transition to BKFC may offer a less physically demanding challenge compared to traditional MMA fights.
Lawal will make his comeback against Mundell, the current middleweight champion in BKFC with an 8-1 record in bare-knuckle competition.
The main event at BKFC 66 features bantamweight champion Alberto Blas defending his title against Ryan Reber.