‘King’ Mo Lawal explains why he decided to retire from fighting

After nearly 11 years and 31 fights, Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal has decided to call it a career.

The 38-year-old veteran officially retired from mixed martial arts on Monday after competing in promotions such as Bellator MMA, Strikeforce and RIZIN.

Lawal made his move into MMA after a successful career in collegiate wrestling where he was a Division I All-American and a Division II National Champion. Once he transitioned into fighting, Lawal was immediately considered a top prospect, and in just his seventh professional fight, he became Strikeforce light heavyweight champion with a win over Gegard Mousasi.

Unfortunately over the years, Lawal has undergone dozens of surgeries on his knees, hips…