Lorenz Larkin

[GeneChing]

I didn't realize he cites Kung Fu as his main style. He's a fighter with Strikeforce. We've mentioned him in passing here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52352&page=2) and here (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1075193#post1075193). Larkin faces King Mo this weekend.

Here's his Strikeforce profile (http://www.strikeforce.com/fighters/men-light-heavyweights/lorenz-larkin/):

Lorenz Larkin
The Monsoon

Record: 12-0
Age: 25
Height: 5 ft. 11 in.
Weight: 205 lbs
Fighting out of: Riverside, California
Style: Kung Fu
News
Media
Lorenz Larkin's Bio

TRAINING: Two a days – go to the gym in the morning and at night

Thoughts on opponent, Mo Lawal? He is one of the top people in my division and a good fighter.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training because I sucked at football and team sports.

What ranks and titles have you held? MEZ Sports light heavyweight champ

Do you have any heroes? My dad

What does it mean for you to fight in STRIKEFORCE? It means everything to me. It’s what I started training for. This was the dream

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No

What was your job before you started fighting? Mattress salesman

If any list specific accomplishments in amateur competition? XMMA heavyweight champ, Hardrock MMA heavyweight champ, Ring of Rage heavyweight champ, SSF heavyweight champ, Rebel Sports heavyweight champ, and I was 10-0 as an amateur.

Ranks in any martial arts styles: blue belt in BJJ

Favorite grappling technique: gogoplata

Favorite Striking technique: Mantis strike

What do you consider to be the key fight in your career, and why? When I fought Scott Lighty because that’s the fight that changed my career.

STRIKEFORCE HISTORY:
Challengers 19 (9/23/11) Larkin won a three round unanimous decision over Nick Rossborough
Challengers 16 (6/24/11) Larkin won a three round unanimous decision over Gian Villante
Challengers 15 (4/1/11) Larkin stopped Scott Lighty via strikes at 3:15 of the second round



Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine set for Jan. 7 in Las Vegas (http://www.strikeforce.com/news/2011/12/strikeforce-rockhold-vs-jardine-set-for-jan-7-in-las-vegas/)
by strikeforce | December 8, 2011

Las Vegas, Nevada – STRIKEFORCE® announced today that it will host an exciting middleweight championship bout in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday, Jan. 7, when champion Luke Rockhold battles UFC® veteran Keith Jardine in the night’s main event, live from The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

STRIKEFORCE®: ROCKHOLD vs. JARDINE will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

“What a way for STRIKEFORCE to kick off the New Year!” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “We’re happy to give fans in Vegas the chance to see the STRIKEFORCE middleweight title defended by one of the hottest young champions in the sport in Luke Rockhold when he takes on, quite possibly, the toughest and most unorthodox fighter in all of MMA, Keith Jardine. Fans at Hard Rock should expect an exciting standup battle in the main event on January 7.”

The Jan. 7, fight card will also feature two up-and-coming fighters taking on former champions when Robbie Lawler faces Adlan Amagov in a middleweight bout and “King” Mo Lawal takes on undefeated Lorenz Larkin in a light heavyweight bout. Also on the televised portion of the card, Tarec Saffiedine and Tyler Stinson will clash in a welterweight bout. A fifth yet-to-be announced fight will air on the SHOWTIME portion of the event.

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE®: ROCKHOLD vs. JARDINE go on sale Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $104, $79, $54 and $39. Tickets will be available at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office or online at www.thejointlasvegas.com. Tickets are also available online at www.TicketMaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket prices do not include service charges.
...
One of the most vocal and recognizable personalities in the sport, “King” Mo Lawal (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) steps back into the cage for the first time since September when he knocked out Roger Gracie in the final seconds of the first round. The former NCAA Division I wrestler also bears heavy hands, having ended six of his fights via KO to bring his overall record to 8-1. The former STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight champ is ready to put gold back around his waist, but must first get through undefeated rising prospect Lorenz Larkin (fighting out of Riverside, Calif.), whose record currently stands at 12-0. In his career, “The Monsoon” has scored eight knockout victories and hopes his ninth comes on Jan. 7.

[Lucas]

I didn't realize he cites Kung Fu as his main style.

ive been told thats not possible. :eek:

[TaichiMantis]

Favorite striking technique: mantis strike

Hmmm...would love to see that :D

[GeneChing]

ive been told thats not possible. :eek: Yea, I guess it isn't. :(


‘King Mo’ Muhammed takes Lorenz Larkin into his realm to force stoppage at Strikeforce (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/king-mo-muhammed-takes-lorenz-larkin-realm-force-043832129.html)
By Steve Cofield | Cagewriter – Sat, Jan 7, 2012 11:38 PM EST

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/6Zt3N0RBlGymmBeCUpoa8Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmmaexperts/lawal.jpg
Lawal nails Larkin shortly before stoppage (Tracy Lee)

LAS VEGAS - Muhammed Lawal's ready to reclaim his crown. Make that another crown.

Nicknamed "King Mo," Lawal is a nasty ground artist and put the hurt on Larkin, stopping him at 1:32 of the second round in fight No. 3 of the main card at Strikeforce inside The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Lawal got off 15 unanswered shots before referee Kim Winslow saved Larkin. Some in attendance thought it was a late stoppage, including Lawal, who yelled something in disgust about the ref.

"She explained to me that she wants to give us a fair chance to keep on continuing," Lawal said once he calmed down a bit. "If it was me, I'd rather be put to sleep, too."

Lawal, a former star on the international wrestling scene, has developed his striking, but there was little sense in banging it out on the feet with Larkin. Larkin is a dynamic striker with very little grappling experience.

King Mo played to his strength early by scoring a takedown just 27 seconds into the fight. Larkin got back to his feet after a shaky standup by referee Kim Winslow.

Lawal was good on both of takedown attempts and landed 58-of-94 shots on the ground.

In essence, this was a light heavyweight title qualifier. Lawal should be line to face someone for the title later this year. Former champ Dan Henderson vacated the title when he left to return to the UFC.


No loss of words for “King” Mo Lawal (http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/no-loss-of-words-for-king-mo-lawal-105662)
Post-fight report by Andreas Hale
Photo by Chris Cozzone

Never at a loss for words, “King” Mo Lawal provided all the unintentional side-splitting entertainment needed at the post-fight press conference of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine after scoring a resounding 2nd round TKO over Lorenz Larkin. His knockout preceded his AKA teammate Luke Rockhold’s knockout over Keith Jardine in a night where the American Kickboxing Academy reigned supreme.

“The fight went exactly the way I knew it was going to go,” Lawal explained of his ground and pound approach to taking out Larkin. “I knew I’d take him down. I had great sparring for this. I knew if I could deal with what Luke Rockhold throws at me in sparring I could deal with what the ‘Shaolin Master’ could throw.”

The devastating knockout came after roughly 15 unanswered punches to the face before referee Kim Winslow finally rescued Larkin from further damage that could have ruined the young fighter’s career. Lawal knew that the stoppage came late and was concerned with Winslow’s ability as a referee.

“I knew it was bad because he was cursing every time I hit him,” Mo explained as he recounted the final moments before the stoppage. “He was like “Aw ****!” I was like “Ref?” There were people yelling in the crowd to stop it but she came in too late.”
Lawal has a remedy for bad officiating and made a suggestion that had the entire press room erupt with laughter.

“The commission needs to do something with her. How about let her take a fight and give her a bad referee. Let her fight Cris “Cyborg” Santos and let her get a late stoppage after getting punched in the face.”

The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion has been impressive in back to back fights since coming back from surgery after his knockout loss to Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante back in 2010. There’s a secret to Lawal’s success however. And it’s probably not what you think.

“There’s a little secret though,” Lawal began. “You put me and my tag team partner Luke Rockhold on the same card, people getting beat. I guarantee you that. We are cookies and cream, dominos, whatever you want to call it.”

With another victory under his belt, the former NCAA Division II national champion must look towards the future to figure out what may be next for him. Many feel that he’s deserving of a rematch against Feijao to reclaim his title but there have been murmurs of him facing former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi again. That’s certainly something that King Mo isn’t too thrilled about.

“Don’t say Mousasi name or I’m going to fall asleep,” he said as laughter came from the press in attendance. “He’s the most boring person in MMA. If I had to fight him again I would though. I just hate thinking about him. Join my bandwagon and let’s boycott Gegard!”

Another possibility — albeit a long shot — would be a highly anticipated showdown with Twitter rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Although it’s not likely to happen in the near future, King Mo welcomes a throwdown with Rampage.

“Why did you have to bring up that bum’s name,” Lawal barked. “If he wants to come to Strikeforce and get beat he can. He needs to stick to acting though because he doesn’t have it anymore. He’s a subpar actor though. He should be on “The B-Team” not “The A-Team.”

With Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker holding firm that no more Strikeforce fighters will be going to the UFC, Lawal made sure to confirm that he has no concerns about switching teams anytime soon.
“The fans are asking about the UFC, its stupid,” he said. “I’m in Strikeforce and I can’t be concerned with that. I have to worry about my next Strikeforce fight.”