We’re here with coverage of Bellator’s live media conference call ahead of next week’s Bellator 175 card headlined by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson taking on King Mo Lawal. This page will be updated with quotes and news from the call as it happens. The call will begin at 2 p.m. ET.
Scott Coker welcomed everyone to the call. He ran down the main card and turned over the call to Rampage and King Mo.
A reporter asked about an argument Rampage and Mo had in a van in the past. Rampage was hesitant to comment on it, saying he couldn’t remember. When asked how he plans to beat Mo’s ass, Rampage said he’d do it by “beating his ass.”
Scott Coker has left the call and isn’t available for questions.
Both Mo and Rampage said they like Chicago and are looking forward to returning. Rampage said he’s looking forward to checking out a strip club. Rampage seems very disinterested in being on the call.
Rampage said he knows the fans want him to shut King Mo’s mouth.
King Mo talked about how the canvas Bellator uses has changed with the new regime and is not as slippery as it used to be. Rampage said King Mo will be “slippin’ to an ass whoopin’.” Rampage laughed at his line. King Mo talked
King Mo said he’s seen pictures of Rampage and that he’s gotten “fat” and that’s why he took the fight at heavyweight. Rampage said he’ll weigh 260 on fight night. Mo said Rampage is looking “fat, old, and sloppy.”
King Mo: “Come the 31st, you’re definitely going down.”
Rampage: “I don’t fight for the love of dudes.”
Rampage said it’s not a heavyweight fight and that it’s a catchweight fight. Mo corrected him and said it is heavyweight. Rampage asked if he can weigh 265 and Mo said that’s OK.
Rampage: “We know King Mo doesn’t care about weight, look at his girlfriend.”
Rampage said he has a thyroid issue and that’s why he wants the fight at heavyweight.
Rampage wouldn’t comment on his potential future with UFC and was only focused on the fight on March 31st.
They argued about a time at Walmart when Rampage asked a guy who is better looking.
King Mo: “This n—- is corny.”
Rampage said he told Bellator he wanted to fight a heavyweight guy who strikes.
Rampage told a reporter who asked about his thyroid to “get off the phone mother f—er.”
Rampage reiterated that he thought it was a catchweight and he had to weigh 235.
Rampage: “I wish more of my opponents would talk s— like King Mo.”
Rampage: “I enjoy the fighting part. The training is what I have to get motivated for.”
Rampage said he was going to have his doctors look at things with his thyroid and hasn’t ruled out a return to light heavyweight in the future. He also said he would be interested in another fight with Wanderlei Silva in the future.
King Mo told Rampage to work that sprawl well. He told Rampage he will “hump that leg for 15 minutes.” Mo belabored the point that he’s going to keep taking him down. He’s trolling him hard because he knows Rampage hates fighting wrestlers.
King Mo: “You know you thought you lost (the first fight).” Rampage: “I was sad I didn’t knock you out.” Mo: “Nice spin. Go work for Donald Trump.”
They concluded the call and plugged Bellator 175 on March 31st on Spike at 9 p.m. ET.
WEDNESDAY NOTEBOOK ITEMS…
-Celebrity news site X17 Online caught up with Dana White and acknowledged that there is “too much money involved” for a Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight not to happen. White also professed his continued support for U.S. President Donald Trump. “Listen, everybody needs to give him a chance,” he said. “I can tell you this, I got 17 years experience with this guy — always been good to me, always been a stand-up guy. Give him a chance and lets see what happens.”
-Stephen Thompson successfully underwent knee surgery recently and posted a video to his Instagram account while still recovering from the anesthetic telling his followers that he’s “still messed up” but that “today was a good day.”
-UFC Welterweight Viscardi Andrade has been handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. USADA announced Tuesday that the suspension will be retroactive to March 20 of 2016 the day after he defeated Richard Walsh at UFC Fight Night Brisbane. Andrade failed an out of competition test taken on March 7, 2016, but results did not come in until after the fight.
NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: TUESDAY NEWS DIGEST 3/21: Bellator giving pay-per-view another shot with Sonnen vs. Silva, Fedor vs. Mitrione main events (w/Hiscoe’s Analysis)
(MMATorch’s Daily News Digest features the top story of the day with added analysis, plus smaller tidbits in the News Notes section. Mike Hiscoe, who writes the News Digest Sundays through Thursdays, has a background in film criticism and previously wrote for the DVD Town and Movie Metropolis websites. His passion for Mixed Martial Arts goes back to 2005, but it was in the promotion for UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie that he really got hooked.”This is my house, I build it,” is still among the all-time great UFC promos. You can follow Mike on social media under the tag @mikehiscoe. He now provides his experienced writing and perspective on live MMA events for MMATorch.)
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