The second Bellator light heavyweight tournament of 2013 wrapped up last night in New Mexico as Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal defeated Jacob Noe to win the Summer Series tournament.
In his post fight interview with Bellator color analyst Jimmy Smith, Lawal mentioned that he didn’t know what the status of current light heavyweight champion Attila Vegh and began to lobby for a rematch against season eight tournament winner Emanuel Newton.
“I don’t know what ups with Attila Vegh but if he wants to wait, I will fight whats that boys name again,” Lawal said following his win at Bellator 97. “Emanuel, who ever is name is. The dude that throw the spinning stuff on me and lucky it got landed on me. I will fight him and then I will fight Attila. Lets make something happen.”
After hearing what Lawal said last night, Newton was not surprised by the comments. While speaking to TheMMAReport.com, “The Hardcore Kid,” feels that Lawal is attempting to talk himself in a rematch like Chael Sonnen as done.
“I am so use to Mo’s ignorance and his trash talking,” Newton said. “I don’t even pay attention to it and I really don’t pay much attention to my Twitter and things he says on there. I hear he is always talking crap and he just wants to talk himself into a rematch just like Chael Sonnen talked himself into a fight with [Jon] Jones. It’s just talk, talk, talk and that is just Mo’s personality.”
“I don’t care. He can say whatever he wants and he can say Emanuel, whats his name. You remember my name fool, I knocked your ass out and it was no lucky punch. I throw the technique all the time and I set it up perfectly. I was looking when I threw it and I knew where the punch was going. He can keep saying it was a lucky punch and he can keep talking crap but when he fights me, then its going to be a whole different story.”
Newton (21-7-1) has been waiting for his chance at the Bellator light heavyweight title against Attila Vegh since winning the Bellator tournament in March. He had to win three fights to win the tournament where Lawal only had to win two fights. He wants to have his fight with Vegh and get the title.
“I already won my tournament. He fought two fights and I had to fight three. I have earned my way to getting that belt. I think I eat Vegh alive right now. Especially with how I am feeling right now and how I am growing as a fighter. I am ready to eat Vegh alive and destroy him and get my belt. That is what I want to do but its all about fighting. This is the MMA game, it’s like a roller coaster. Its up and down and you never know what is going to happen. I am just rolling with the punches.”
Vegh is apparently injured and no details of his injury have been released by his camp or Bellator. Bellator MMA Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney told Chad Cooper of TheExaminer.com that Vegh has been injured and there could be a possibility of Newton and Lawal taking place.
Could Newton and Lawal end up meeting each other on the upcoming inaugural Bellator pay-per-view, while Vegh sits on the sideline and recover from his injury? With not knowing what the situation with Vegh is, Newton wants to fight and needs to fight.
“I’m sure right now it’s all going to be about negotiations and seeing what is going on with Attila. I don’t know what he is doing. With the money he has made this year just in Bellator alone in his country [Slovakia] and he is living like a millionaire. Why would he want to come and lose his belt to me, when he can delay and prolong it happening. Maybe he is really injury. All I know is I want to fight. I need to fight. Whoever it is or who they want me to fight, as long as the negotiations work out, I am ready to go.”
Whether the fight happens now or down the road, Newton feels that it’s not in god’s plan for Lawal to defeat him. Along with it not being in the plans in his mind, he also feels that Lawal will not stand with him on the feet and it will be a grappling fight.
“I don’t think it’s in god’s plan for Mo to beat me. His personality, his pridefulness, his cockiness and just everything that Mo is. He is a good guy and Mo is a friend and will always be a friend even though he talks crap. It’s the nature of the sport. I don’t think it’s in god’s plan for Mo to beat me. I just don’t see it happening, especially if he fights me how he fought Noe last night. Mo’s wrestling is amazing but I will be ready for anything he has to throw. I know he will not want to stand on his feet with me.”
Time will tell whether Newton gets his chance against Vegh next or if Bellator will want to schedule a rematch between him and Lawal. Newton earned his shot at the title and he wants thats title fight.
“I earned my title shot and that is what Bellator is about. It’s about title shots are not given, they are earned. I earned my shot. I would like my belt but at the same time if someone is injured, can’t fight, it’s understandable. I can’t sit here and not provide for the family and not make money. Whatever Bellator wants, if we can come to an agreement on something, I am more than willing to get back into the ring and fight whoever.”