Bader defeats King Mo with 1st-round knockout

SAN JOSE, Calif.— Ryan Bader’s first punch as a heavyweight was enough to put the rest of the division on notice — and moved the 34-year-old fighter one step closer to getting a second championship belt wrapped around his waist.

It certainly got King Mo’s attention.

Bader made a quick and impressive debut in the heavyweight division, stopping Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawall 15 seconds into the first round of the main event at Bellator 199.

Bader (25-5, 11 knockouts) sent Lawall sprawling to the mat with a crisp left hook - the first punch of the fight. Bader quickly pounced and landed repeated right hands before referee Mike Beltron stepped in to stop the fight, the last of the quarterfinal matches of the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix.

“I just saw him duck and I knew where his head was going, so I met him with that hook,” Bader said. “I was surprised, but I thought that result was going to come at some point. I thought there would be more trading. It just happened to be the first punch.”

The abrupt end capped a card that was lacking in action most of the night until Bader’s big left landed on Lawall’s chin, bringing the SAP Center crowd to its feet for one of the few times.

“I found the sweet spot,” Bader told the crowd afterward.

The 34-year-old Bader, who holds the light heavyweight crown, is attempting to become the first fighter in Bellator to hold two belts simultaneously in Bellator. Conor McGregor holds two championships in UFC.

To do it, Bader will have to win two more fights.

Matt Mitrione awaits in one semifinal match while heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko takes on Chael Sonnen in the other, with the winners advancing to the finals later this year.

“It gets real now,” Bader said. “I’m looking forward to that fight. Matt’s a buddy of mine, too. It’s a good relationship. My plan is to win this belt and defend both.”

Some questioned how well