M-1 Global ‘Breakthrough:’ Mark Kerr replaces Don Frye against ‘King Mo’ on Aug. 28http://mmamania.com/2009/08/10/m-1-glob ... on-aug-28/Undefeated up-and-comer Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (4-0) will lock horns with ADCC champion Mark Kerr (15-10) at “M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough”after grizzled veteran Don Frye withdrew from the Aug. 28 bout scheduled for the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.
It will mark the United States debut for the decorated collegiate wrestling champion and Division I All-American from Oklahoma State University.
Lawal has competed exclusively under the World Victory Road banner in Japan since his professional mixed martial arts debut just last year. The 28-year-old has show tremendous promise, defeating several veterans of the sport and stopping most of them.
His biggest — and perhaps most surprising victory — came in his debut against Travis Wiuff at Sengoku: “Fifth Battle” — Lawal needed little more than two minutes to score a convincing technical knockout win via strikes. He most recently outpointed Ryo Kawamura via unanimous decision at Sengoku: “Seventh Battle” back in March 2009.
“The Predator” withdrew from the bout last week for undisclosed reasons.
Kerr is a mixed martial arts star of yesteryear, having stormed his way through the the UFC and PRIDE in the late 1990’s. The former Division I collegiate champion out of Syracuse University put together 12 straight wins to start his career, including a perfect 4-0 in the UFC.
“The Smashing Machine” first tasted defeat via unanimous decision opposite Kazuyuki Fujita in the 2000 PRIDE Grand Prix finals.
It would be all downhill from there. After a championship run in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC), Kerr would go 3-9 in MMA and is currently on a four fight losing streak. His most recent effort went sour when he was choked out by Jeff Monson at Vengeance Fighting Championship last September.
It will be a difficult task for him to overcome the rising star of Lawal, but it is MMA and there are no absolutes (see Bowles, Brian).
M-1 Global Presents ‘Breakthrough’ will air on HDNet from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Missouri on August 28 and will also feature a exhibition sparring match between Fedor Emelianenko and Gegard Mousasi.
