Former Strikeforce champion 'King' Muhammed Lawal to debut with Bellator on Jan. 17

It appears that "King Mo's" coronation date has been set with his new promotion.

MMA Fighting is reporting that the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal will make his first Bellator appearance on Thursday, Jan. 17, at the UCI Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calififornia in the quarterfinals of the light heavyweight tournament on Spike TV.

While a date and location have been uncovered, it is still unkown who Lawal will be squaring off against.

The former world class wrestler last competed in January of this year against Lorenz Larkin, scoring a first round knockout under the Strikeforce banner but his victory was overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission following a hot post-fight test for the steroid drostanolone.

While recovering from an injury, he posted some inflammatory comments about one of the commissioners following his hearing in Nevada and was immediately released from Zuffa.

Lawal signed with Bellator in a unique deal which also included an opportunity to wrestle in the professional wrestling promotion TNA. He debuted on Spike TV earlier this year.

Not much else has been released about potential light heavyweights in the tournament, although fellow former Strikeforce champion Renatu Sobral is expected to participate as well.

How do you like "King Mo's" odds, Maniacs?