During the lead-in hype, Lashley promised he would stand with Sapp, and test his stand-up skills; Lashley ended up taking the intelligent route to victory, taking Sapp down within seconds and smashing him until Sapp tapped…twice. The ref initially missed the first tapout. With the win, and his solid team behind him, a UFC debut can’t be too far off. Check out the fight below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LnXCXYOHIk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHwIqD3bRPk

We’ll have to see what’s next for Lashley, as he’s looked pretty decent thus far. I just hope the rumors of him fighting Ken Shamrock (in Japan to avoid Shamrock’s 1yr suspension for steroids) don’t come to fruition. He gains nothing by beating up the old guy, and on the miniscule chance that Shamrock manages to catch Lashley in a submission…Lashley’s career would fall faster than Kimbo Slice’s.

Shamrock is set to take on Lashley March 21 in Pensacola, Fl in an event titled, “March Badness” The card is a hybrid boxing/MMA event, put on by Roy Jones Jr’s promotion.

Shamrock’s fall from grace has been well documented, losing comeback fight after comeback fight, all by way of TKO’s and KO’s. However, he finally found a dude he could beat up in Ross Clifton (6 wins, 9 losses), slapping an armbar on the giant of a man. Now, he takes a massive leap up in the calibre of opponent in Bobby Lashley. True, Lashley is only 1-0 in MMA, but the guy is a genetic freak along the lines of Brock Lesnar. Heck, during Lashley’s pro wrestling days, his unofficial nickname was, “Black Lesnar”, as promoter Vince McMahon was pushing him as the next Lesnar. He also trains at a very respected camp at American Top Team in Florida.

I don’t like Ken’s chances in this one, and really hope he retires before he gets hurt badly. No one over 40 other than Randy Couture has had much success in a young man’s game.

Former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley is set to make his much anticipated mixed martial arts debut with Mixed Fight Alliance: There Will be Blood at the American Airlines Arena in Miama, Fl on December 13. No opponent has been named at this time.

Lashley was a three-time national collegiate wrestling champion, as was another former WWE wrestler, Brock Lesnar. Lashley was largely brought in to replace Lesnar, a larger than life monster of a man who could move like a cat. Ironically, Lesnar was brought in as WWE’s answer to Bill Goldberg. Lesnar at one time was heckled by chants of, “Goldbrock” while Lashley was serenaded with the nickname of “Black Lesnar”. Funny how history repeats itself.

Now Lashley is hoping to make as big of an impact as Lesnar, who is fighting for the UFC Heavyweight Title, in MMA, starting on December 13th. While both men possess similar physical appearances and have similar wrestling backgrounds, Lesnar actually started fighting at an earlier age than Lashley, as Lashley is already 32 years of age.

Time isn’t on his side, but he is training at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida and that’s a great start. Team members include Thiago Alves, Denis Kang, Thiago Silva and many others.

Lashley is actually signed to a fight contract with the AFL, but like all smaller promotions, they let their fighters fight in other promotions as long as it doesn’t interfere with their cards.

And no, I don’t think he looks as shredded and puffy anymore. At least I hope not…