King Mo, Feijao Cleared for Strikeforce ‘Houston’

On the eve of his first title defense, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal hit the scales in full flamboyance.

Lawal checked in at 203.75 pounds for his showdown with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (203.5) in the Strikeforce “Houston” main event on Saturday at the Toyota Center in Houston. Co-headliners Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (184.75) and Tim Kennedy (185) -- the two men who will vie for the promotion’s vacant middleweight crown -- also met their contracted weight requirements at Friday’s official weigh-in.

Perfect in seven professional appearances, Lawal has not competed since he won the Strikeforce light heavyweight crown in a unanimous decision over Gegard Mousasi in April. The 29-year-old Murfreesboro, Tenn., native has delivered five of his seven wins by knockout or technical knockout, four of them inside the first round. He owns notable victories against Travis Wiuff, Mike Whitehead and current light heavyweight King of Pancrase Ryo Kawamura. A collegiate All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, Lawal has won the United States Senior National Championships three times.

Cavalcante, who trains with UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva and Brazilian icon Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, has not fought since he knocked out Antwain Britt at Strikeforce “Heavy Artillery” in May. He will carry a two-fight winning streak into his matchup with Lawal. The 29-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has secured eight of his nine wins by knockout or technical knockout and sports six first-round finishes on his resume.

Strikeforce “Houston” -- which will also feature a lightweight duel pitting former EliteXC champion Karl James Noons (156.25) against UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel (154.75) and a heavyweight tilt pairing one-time World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Bobby Lashley (246) with Chad Griggs (228.5) -- will air live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET. Sherdog.com will stream two undercard matches, Daniel Cormier (249) vs. Jason Riley (256.5) and Andre Galvao (170.75) vs. Jorge Patino (170.8), at 9 p.m. ET.

Strikeforce “Houston”
Saturday, Aug. 21
Toyota Center
Houston

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (203.75) vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (203.5)

Strikeforce Middleweight Championship
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (184.75) vs. Tim Kennedy (185)

* Karl James Noons (156.25) vs. Jorge Gurgel (154.75)
Bobby Lashley (246) vs. Chad Griggs (228.5)
Daniel Cormier (249) vs. Jason Riley (256.5)
Andre Galvao (170.75) vs. Jorge “Macaco” Patino (170.8)
Vinicius Magalhaes (144.5) vs. Rocky Long (146.25) **
Kier Gooch (155.5) vs. Adam Schindler (155.5)
Jose Santibanez (154.25) vs. Reynaldo Trujillo (155.25)
Humberto DeLeon (127.25) vs. Chad Robichaux (131) ***
Chad Cook (205.25) vs. Arteneus Young (204)

* Gurgel immediately waived off Noons' .25 pounds overage and accepted the fight.

** Long weighed in .25 pounds above the limit, but the fight will go forward after Magalhaes accepted it at a catchweight.

*** Robichaux's opponent cleared the weight difference. There will be no penalty.