Lawal Enlists Army to Train for ‘Feijao’

HOUSTON -- Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal believes his nomadic training style has served him well in MMA.

During a press conference on Thursday, Lawal rattled off a healthy list of training partners and gyms he enlisted in preparation for his first title defense against Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante at Strikeforce “Houston” on Saturday at the Toyota Center.

It’s a strategy the 2005 U.S. world team member also used during his fruitful collegiate and international wrestling career.

“The thing about training with the same team, day in and day out, is if you’re the top dog and are just beating everybody up, they’ll give you a false look,” said Lawal. “I figured that I’d take the same approach (I did with wrestling) in MMA and train with a solid team, but then once in a while get out there and train with other people here and there to see if I’m doing the right thing or if I need to make adjustments.”

In recent months, Lawal said he’s worked with former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, middleweight contender Nate Marquardt, heavyweight challenger Shane Carwin, and Grudge Training Center coach Trevor Wittman in Denver, in addition to the rotating list of Southern California regulars who keep him on his toes.

Lawal believes he’ll need nothing less against Cavalcante, who has clinched all nine of his career victories with strikes and blew past Antwain Britt with a first-round knockout in May to earn his title shot.

“Feijao has a heavy left hand and an even heavier right hand. He comes forward. He likes to throw knees,” said Lawal. “Brazilians come to fight.”

Lawal is a student of the game in every sense. An avid tape watcher, the 29-year-old fighter has seven fights in less than two years in the sport. The Black House-trained Cavalcante, who trains under the Team Nogueira banner, debuted in 2006 and has four more fights under his belt.

“I’m still young in the game,” said Lawal. “Even though I beat (Gegard) Mousasi and had a few good victories, I can’t look past this dude. I know he’s a seasoned vet and he’s hungry. That’s why I look at myself as an underdog – because of his experience and he comes out of a good camp.”

Lawal, who captured the promotion’s title with a commanding unanimous decision over favorite Mousasi last April in Nashville, said his relationship with fans who counted him out last time hasn’t changed much.

“I like the fans that understand MMA, but a lot of them don’t understand it and want to talk trash to me -- I just ignore them,” he said. “The ones that are knowledgeable: I’ll listen to all day.”