It takes a certain type of individual to take on the persona of a king -- complete with crown, robe and female escorts -- while maintaining a serious focus on mixed martial arts success.

It took Muhammed Lawal (2-0) to do it in his professional debut at World Victory Road: Sengoku 5 Middleweight Grand Prix.

"I know the Japanese love the show, and that's my personality," Lawal recently told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com. "The whole 'King Mo' persona was my idea. The name my boy gave to me, but the persona -- like getting the four girls, getting the umbrella girl and getting the rose girl -- that was all me."

Lawal was a highly touted 27-year-old prospect when he made his way to the ring in royal garb for his September debut in World Victory Road. When he destroyed Travis Wiuff -- a veteran of 66 professional contests on a nine-fight winning streak -- in just over two minutes, many took note.

After the former collegiate wrestling champion earned his second career knockout in just as many fights at World Victory Road: Sengoku 6 over Chute Boxe's Fabio Silva, many more seem primed to join the "King Mo" bandwagon.

"When I first started wrestling, my goal was to be an Olympic champion and -- I said a UFC champion because that's all there really was back then -- but a mixed martial arts champion," Lawal said. "In the Olympics I fell short, but I always wanted to be a fighter. Now you can fight and get paid and not get fined or arrested? Let's do that. That's where it's at."

Lawal was a hopeful for the 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. Eliminated in the final round of qualifying, Lawal then made the transition to MMA. The Texan said the change has been a pleasant one.

"When you're a wrestler, we wrestle for nothing," Lawal said. "We're struggling to make ends meet. And now fighting, they treat you better. You get paid to fight. It's more professional.

"So I'm just taking the same attitude of, 'I've got to go to work, put in these hours, (and) take care of my body.'"

Lawal's athleticism has already been exhibited at heavyweight in his bout with Wiuff, as well as light heavyweight when fighting Silva. Lawal said he's comfortable in both of those weight classes -- and more.

"I can make 185 (pounds)," Lawal said. "I can make 205 (pounds). I can make heavyweight. Let's put it like this: I'm trying to fight where I can get the most cash."

And while "King Mo" has enjoyed the flashy style of Japanese MMA, he would also enjoy fighting in front of his native country when the time is right.

"I'd fight in the UFC if I was ready to go," Lawal said. "I could probably go there (now) and beat some people there, but I just feel like I need to hone my skills. When I'm ready to make a run for a title, I'll go to the UFC or go to Affliction. Go to whatever big organization is around.

"I'm not trying to be the wrestler that just shows up and takes people down and not throw no punches. I'm trying to learn stuff."

The charismatic young fighter has made an immediate splash with two wins in just five weeks. But Lawal insists he will not let the immediate success deter his desire to improve.

"I'm staying level-headed," Lawal said. "I'm still a beginner. So I still have to improve. To me, I might be the favorite in a fight -- because I was the favorite this last fight -- but realistically, I'm not the favorite because I have little ring experience.

"I'm just fighting, and I still have a lot of room to grow. So I'm just going to keep on trying to improve on all aspects of my fight game."

Source: www.mmajunkie.com