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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal signed a very unique deal earlier this year after his release from Strikeforce, signing a joint deal with Bellator Fighting Championships and pro wrestling promotion TNA.
Lawal made his TNA debut already this year on Spike TV, and will make his official Bellator debut this coming January as Bellator moves to Thursday nights after TNA on Spike. That much was already known, but now we have a date for Lawal's debut next year, as MMAFighting.com reports that he'll make his debut on January 17.
Per the report, Lawal's debut will take place from the UCI Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., and will be a part of the season eight light heavyweight tournament. It's likely to be the second event of the year, as Bellator is expected to make their Spike TV debut on January 10 with a kick off to the welterweight tournament.
Penick's Analysis: Bellator's move back to Thursday nights is a smart one. As the UFC moves to Tuesday's with The Ultimate Fighter, it leaves Bellator clear to carve out their own audience at a set time each week, without worrying about tape delays like on FSN or head to heads on the same night as another promotion. Lawal's going to be a favorite through the Bellator light heavyweight tournament, and he'll immediately be one of the promotion's biggest stars as they look to forge a new path in 2013.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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