Former UFC fighter Tom DeBlass has been on a tear since entering the Bellator cage. Not only has he finished two opponents consecutively, but he has also competed heavily in the world of jiu jitsu, winning the Pan American Games and most recently defeating former Strikeforce champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral in a grappling superfight at the World MMA Expo. But DeBlass’ resurgence hasn’t impressed everyone. “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal has been watching DeBlass from the sidelines and feels the New Jersey native is not in his league:
“I’m gonna be ready for him. He thinks he’s gonna knock me out or something like that. He thinks he has better hands than me, faster hands than me, but I’m glad he thinks that. I want it to be a good fight. He’s fought guys with shorter arms that just go out there and swing. His last two fights? That dude was touchin’ him up. I’m not worried about it.”
DeBlass, on the other hand, remains unfazed by the former Strikeforce champion’s bravado, and responded to Lawal by saying:
“Very good, I’m glad you are not worried about me Mo. He is obviously worried enough to find out I said I am faster than all of his previous opponents and that isn’t trash talk, that’s the absolute truth. He’s never fought someone with my hand speed. Listen, Mo is one of the best MMA fighters in the world. He’s a very, very tough opponent. I’m not supposed to win this they say right? Well we will see. I have the experience now. I’m ready to bleed; anything can happen in a fight, but I’m ready for a bloody war. I’m not looking to be a GQ model anytime soon. Let’s do it.”
While DeBlass is ready for his big shot at the Bellator poster boy at Bellator 123, he remains more so concerned about his own mixed martial arts development and realises what perceived holes in his game Lawal will likely target:
“Mo will use his jab since he saw Carlos Brooks use it effectively before I TKO’d him. He will throw his overhand right since I drop my left. I know what my flaws were. And I know what he’s gonna do. And lastly, he will try and take me down and hold me down.”
With Lawal being one of Viacom’s most valuable assets, a win for DeBlass would likely propel him into immediate title contention. but for DeBlass, mixed martial arts success isn’t everything:
“A win over King Mo will make me happy. Life to me is about being happy. I’d like to compete in Metamoris, which is a world class grappling event November 5. I just like to be happy. And I like to win. There isn’t a man that walks this earth that I fear. I am just going to take it one fight at a time though.”
DeBlass is currently coming off two straight finishes, whereas his opponent Lawal is still trying to recapture his form following a frustrating performance against Quinton Jackson.
• Tom DeBlass vs. Muhammed Lawal
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Bellator 123 takes place on September 5, 2014 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Click the stars to rate how good you think Bellator 123 will be.
