NEW VIRAL VIDEO CHRONICLES MO LAWAL'S U.S. HOMECOMING AT "HDNET FIGHTS PRESENTS M-1 GLOBAL BREAKTHROUGH"

Source - M-1 Global:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

As an amateur wrestler in the United States, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal was a former NCAA Champion, a former NCAA All-American, and a one-time Olympic hopeful.

However, to die-hard mixed martial arts fans, Lawal has become known as a future MMA mega-star thanks to his 4-0 pro MMA record that has been compiled in Japan.

But on Friday, Aug. 28 in Kansas City at the historic Memorial Hall and live on HDNet, Lawal will fight for the first time on U.S. soil against former NCAA Champion Mark Kerr at "HDNET FIGHTS PRESENTS M-1 GLOBAL BREAKTHROUGH."

After being upset in his bid to represent the U.S. during the 2008 Beijing Games, Lawal turned is focus to MMA and made a stunning debut under the Sengoku banner. Facing the vastly bigger and more experienced Travis Wiuff, Lawal needed just two minutes and 11 seconds to TKO the former YAMMA heavyweight champion.

Since the Wiuff fight, it's been all uphill for Lawal with the exception of a minor speed bump. With expectations growing, some pundits expressed disappointment that Lawal was unable to finish Ryo Kawamura in his last fight this past March and instead was only able to win via decision.

Soon after the fight it was revealed that Lawal competed on a torn ACL and that the injury would require surgery. While the procedure that Lawal underwent would normally sideline a fighter for up to a year, Lawal is attempting to come back in just six months.

Lawal's comeback from surgery and U.S. homecoming have been chronicled in a brand new viral documentary-style video directed by E. Casey Leydon of AllElbows.com. In the video, concerns about Lawal's knee and the size advantage of Kerr will have at "Breakthrough" are both addressed.

The video is available by CLICKING HERE or at the below URL and can be shared with the viewing public through an embeddable code: http://vimeo.com/6157715

In addition to Lawal vs. Kerr, "HDNET FIGHTS PRESENTS M-1 GLOBAL BREAKTHROUGH" will also feature a special sparring exhibition between "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko and newly-crowned Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. Additionally, number one Sherdog.com European MMA prospect Karl "Psycho" Amoussou will fight on live TV in the U.S. for the first time when he takes on the resurgent John "The Iron Bull" Doyle.

HDNET's telecast will begin on Friday, Aug. 28 at 10:00 p.m. ET with the local undercard at the Historic Memorial Hall in Kansas City beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and all local Ticketmaster outlets.

ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL AND THE "M-1 CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY AFFLICTION:"

M-1 Global (www.M-1Global.com) has been one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Karl Amoussou, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Daisuke Nakamura, Keith Jardine, Alistair Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, and Chalid Arrab, to name a few.

Billed as the "World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts," the M-1 Challenge is a full season of MMA events sponsored by partner Affliction that showcases some of the best up and coming MMA fighters in the world. Broadcast to over 80 countries around the world, including HDNet in the United States, the M-1 Challenge pits teams of five fighters representing their respective countries against each other for international bragging rights and the title of M-1 Challenge Champions.

The "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" affords MMA prospects all over the world an opportunity to test their skills, gain valuable experience at the international level, and become future stars in the sport of MMA. Fighters who succeed on the M-1 Challenge's international breeding ground will earn the opportunity to participate in major MMA events presented by M-1 Global and their promotional partners such as Affliction Entertainment.