What to Watch For: Bellator 169

The broad shoulders of Muhammed Lawal have been tapped to carry the Bellator MMA flag into uncharted territory, as the organization continues a global tour that has seen it visit Israel, Italy and England over the past eight months. Lawal will lock horns with 2008 Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii in the Bellator 169 main event on Friday at the 3Arena in Dublin, with the Scott Coker-led promotion pitching its tent in Ireland for the first time. Meanwhile, undefeated Irish prospect James Gallagher confronts Anthony Taylor in the featherweight co-headliner.A three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, Lawal has rattled off seven wins across his past eight appearances. The 35-year-old American Top Team representative last competed at Bellator 154 on May 14, when he wound up on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Phil Davis at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Victories over Gegard Mousasi, Cheick Kongo, Linton Vassell and Jiri Prochazka anchor the Lawal resume. The former Strikeforce champion won the 2015 Rizin Fighting Federation heavyweight grand prix. Ishii will enter the cage on a two-fight losing streak. The decorated judo black belt last appeared at Bellator 157 on June 24, when he dropped a split decision to former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder Quinton Jackson. Ishii’s six career losses have come at the hands of five men: Jackson, Prochazka, Mirko Filipovic (twice), Fedor Emelianenko and Hidehiko Yoshida. With the Lawal-Ishii battle front and center, here is what to watch for at …

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