'King Mo' vs. 'Cro Cop,' Heath Herring vs. Amir Aliakbari slated for Rizin FF 3 grand prix

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TheEmperorRises

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Dec 4, 2015
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Two notable names are late additions to the upcoming continuation of the Rizin FF open-weight world grand prix.

Bellator veteran Muhammed Lawal (20-5) has stepped in as a replacement for recently scratched Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1) and will fight Mirko Filipovic (32-11-2). Additionally, former UFC and PRIDE fighter Heath Herring (28-14), who hasn’t fought since 2008, has replaced Shane Carwin (12-2) and will fight Amir Aliakbari (3-0) in another quarterfinal-round matchup at the upcoming Rizin FF 3 event.

Rizin FF officials confirmed the matchups today when contacted by MMAjunkie.

“King Mo” Lawal, who’s spent the majority of his career at light heavyweight, defeated heavyweight Satoshi Ishii this past Friday in Bellator 169’s headliner. After the Dublin show, Bellator officials announced Lawal would be part of the Rizin FF tournament field, though his opponent wasn’t disclosed. Additionally, BloodyElbow.com today first reported that Herring, who’s done commentary work for Rizin FF broadcasts, had also joined the tournament field, though an opponent wasn’t disclosed.

The bouts join previously announced quarterfinal-round matchups set for Rizin FF 3, which takes place Dec. 29 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Two days later, on New Year’s Eve, the semifinal round and tournament final take place at the same venue as part of Rizin FF 4.

The 14-man, 16-slot openweight tournament (Silva and Carwin – and thus Lawal and Herring – received first-round byes) kicked off on Sept. 25 at Rizin FF 2.

Lawal is on an 8-1 run, which included winning Rizin FF’s world heavyweight grand prix in 2015, heading into his fight with Mirko “Cro Cop,” who recently ended his retirement to defeat Hyun Man Myung in a Rizin FF opening-round tournament fight. The former PRIDE great is now on a 4-0 run since 2014.

Herring, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since UFC 87, where he suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Brock Lesnar. However, the former PRIDE title challenger and fan favorite didn’t confirm his retirement until a few years later. The 38-year-old now ends that retirement and meets Aliakbari, a 29-year-old Iranian and standout Greco-Roman wrestler who’s won all three of his MMA bouts via TKO since a 2015 pro debut.

Other grand-prix matchups include former sumo wrestling champion and super heavyweight Kaido Hoovelson (2-0) vs. Tsuyoshi Kosaka (27-18-2). Additionally, sambo champion and Fedor Emelianenko protege Valentin Moldavsky (5-0) meets KSW vet Szymon Bajor (16-6).

In the Dec. 31 semifinals, the “Cro Cop”-Lawal winner faces the Hoovelson-Kosaka winner, and the Herring-Aliakbari winner meets the Moldavsky-Bajor winner.

Full story here:
'King Mo' vs. 'Cro Cop,' Heath Herring vs. Amir Aliakbari slated for Rizin FF 3 grand prix
 

ECC170

Monster's 11,ATM 2,Parlay Challenge,Hero GP Champ
Pro Fighter
Jan 23, 2015
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Why did Carwin drop out? Akbar is a beast
 

ECC170

Monster's 11,ATM 2,Parlay Challenge,Hero GP Champ
Pro Fighter
Jan 23, 2015
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Haven't heard why yet. He had neck issues in the past, so that would be my guess, but that's just speculation.
Was looking forward to that fight...Heath has one hell of a mountain in front of him
 

Wild

Zi Nazi
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
85,004
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Never thought we'd see Heath Herring return to fighting, but glad it's going to happen. RIZIN is making things interesting.
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
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Honestly I'd always thought I'd see Herring return before Carwin ever would.
I'm more excited to see Herring back in there, and Cro Cop/King Mo?








 

stielar

Posting Machine
Dec 30, 2015
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Wand and Carwin are bigger names than Herring and King Mo. Not saying the Herring and King Mo are not great, they are. But in terms of prestige the tournament has gone a level down than what it was before.
 

TheEmperorRises

Right click hospital, left click cemetery
Dec 4, 2015
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Wand and Carwin are bigger names than Herring and King Mo. Not saying the Herring and King Mo are not great, they are. But in terms of prestige the tournament has gone a level down than what it was before.
Maybe, but the intrigue is still the same. Of all 4 guys, King Mo is closest to his prime.
 

Wild

Zi Nazi
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
85,004
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Honestly I'd always thought I'd see Herring return before Carwin ever would.
I'm more excited to see Herring back in there, and Cro Cop/King Mo?








Who do you have winning the Mo/Cro Cop fight?
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
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Who do you have winning the Mo/Cro Cop fight?
I'm picking King Mo to take the whole thing now, but this is the final imo.
Although I hope it's Mirko that comes in loaded and puts on a show.
 

kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
12,435
23,026
This tournament is basically in shambles. I predict this as Rizin's last or second to last show.