Bellator MMA is not resting on its laurels when it comes to its first Hawaii show.
Muhammed Lawal will take on Liam McGeary in a battle of former champions at Bellator Hawaii on Dec. 15 in Honolulu, Bellator president Scott Coker announced Monday on Twitter.
Lawal (21-7, 1 NC) is a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and Rizin 2015 Heavyweight grand prix champion. “King Mo” is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Ryan Baderin the quarterfinals of the Bellator heavyweight world grand prix in May. Lawal, 37, has lost two of his last three, but has won nine of his last 12 overall.
McGeary (12-3) has lost two in a row, most recently a third-round TKO loss to Vadim Nemkov in February. The Englishman, who lives and trains in New York, held the Bellator light heavyweight title in 2015 and 2016. McGeary, 35, was undefeated until this recent stretch of three losses in four fights.
Bellator Hawaii will be headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight between champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, a Hawaii native, and challenger Valerie Letourneau. Also on the card, Lyoto Machidawill make his Bellator debut against former middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho.