Former Professional Wrestler Bobby Lashley Planning Fall MMA Debut
After abruptly leaving the WWE earlier this year, former professional wrestler Bobby Lashley now has plans to make his mixed martial arts debut this fall according to the Daily Star:
Lashley has his sights set on MMA, and has been training hard, to avoid going in as a typical wrestler. He tells me his kickboxing and striking have come on leaps and bounds – “I want to knock people out on my feet and submit people” – and that he’s looking at his debut as early as August, or even on PPV in October.
“I want to be an MMA guy who used to wrestle,” he says.
Lashley joins currect UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar as former WWE superstars have used their amateur wrestling credentials and status as former professional wrestlers to propel themselves into MMA competition.
Tags: Bobby Lashley
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From what I hear he’s been training at the american kickbooxing academy for a few years.. I think he might do better than lesnar.. I used to watch wrestling occasionally and I was astonished by Lashley’s athleticism. Lesnar is a big strong wrestler.. Lashley is stronger.. maybe not as decorated as an amateur wrestler but WAY more athletic
I guess this is going to be the new trend. Entertainment Wrestlers coming over to MMA. I hoep that doesn’t spoil the sport. However, I am interested to see how Lashley does. One thing though, I thought he was fired from the WWE after being caught multiple times using steriods….at least that’s what I heard. Does anyone no for sure???
Very interesting, I thought that he was still debating whether he should give TNA a shot first but I would love to see him fight !
He’s definitely another beast like Lesnar !
UFC should grab him right from the start !
JAI … I just saw a list of suspended wrestlers over the last few years and Lashleys name wasn;t on the list. I’m pretty sure he’s just a huge pure athlete. He left WWE because of problems he had with management, I don’t think they were giving him the push he was looking for.
And I don’t think this will be the new trend to be honest. Lashley and Lesnar, even Kurt Angle, with their backgrounds in wrestling and competition should have headed directly to MMA. But I do think that WWE and TNA might be an alternative for MMA stars who want a change, like maybe Tito Ortiz …
Does anyone know how tall he is or how much he weighs?
i cant wait for lashley to join mma he could make his debut in october when his contract expires and i have heard he is saying he wants to join ufc and fight brock lesnar and maybe challenge for the heavyweight title bobby lashley in the wwe weighed 273 lb and he is 6ft 3inch tall and his Lashley attended Missouri Valley College, where he won three national amateur wrestling championships between 1996 and 1998 and placed fourth in 1995. Throughout 1997 and 1998, he was the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Wrestling Champion.[2] Lashley later joined the United States Army, where he continued to wrestle.
I think they should have Lashley Tag with Lesnar in Oct vs Mir and Nog…put a seal over the top of the octagon…and a secret door to a chair… but right before lashley hits Mir…Dana White comes out and tells Lashley that if he doesnt hit Lesnar with a chair, he is fired…
Seriously…come on….if this is going to be the new trend, I dont know how excited I will be to watch the UFC…hell..in a few years, will they have a Celebrity Match…like BJ Penn vs Jackie Chan for charity?
Aside from his obvious steroid addiction I hope he does well. Lashley was an amature wrestler and if he has been training in kick boxing properly for MMA, I can see him doing very well. I have watched a lot of wrestling and many times I saw Lashley and Lesnar go through tables, fall from the top rope to the floor outside of the ring, get hit by many objects and nearly destroy themselves for a “fake” fight. Their bodies can defnitely handle it but I am almost sure Lesnar is the stronger of the two. A future match up between the two would be HUGE to the world of WWE and wrestling fans.
Jason N- I usually agree with almost everything you say but don’t get angry towards the trend you’re seeing. Remember Kurt Angle wanted to try MMA(specifically the UFC) and Dana White said “no” because Angle did not want to go train in certain camp or somethin on the lines of that. Shouldn’t you give guys a shot first? By the way, Jackie Chan would beat the **** out of BJ.
im not mad persay….just…baffeled.. i guess is the best word….I mean, there are top HW’s out there not in the UFC, and they go after people who would fake wrestle…sure they are in shape, strong..and prob have a wrestling background.. but if you ask me, its more of a namesake – publicity stunt more than anything….which yes, thats the point if you are looking to make money.. but what happens when you hype a guy for months….and he loses in 2 minutes?? Oh yea.. you make him the main event AGAIN….come on… us fans deserve better I think…
I have a feeling that with Kurt Angel…he wasnt rushed to the UFC bc he wasnt needed…Im sure he would have fought at 205…I dont think he would have fought vs the HW’s…I could be wrong…but if I am right, then thats why…Im sure Dana wanted him to go somewhere..get experience then come back…with Lesnar..there was and still is a need for HW’s…so lets just throw in to the wolves so to speak…sure he had what..1…2..mma fights before he fought in the ufc…but I think they will do the same with Lashley…have him fight for some small company 1 or 2 times..then make him the main event!!
Jason N, there are many pro wrestlers that would do great in MMA, just because they were in wrestling, doesn’t mean thats all they can do. Making stupid, mark comments like that just shows that you are a MARK.
And I don’t know what Jackie Chan weighs, but its probably somewhere around 150-170. I think BJ would take him down and submit him in seconds, not that it would ever happen, but Jackie Chan is an old man, and is only skilled in one style of martial arts.
Bobby Lashley is an animal, and wrestled with the armed forces, he won many titles while he did that. I think he will do very well in MMA, but they need to bring him in slow, not throw him to the wolves like Lesnar.
wow..i feel like im on a sesame street special when i say…….hey kids, the word of the day is… SARCASM….settle!
He’s 6-feet, 3-inches tall and billed as 273 pounds. I think he, like Lesnar, has tons of potential in the sport. He won three national amateur wrestling championships at Missouri Valley, was an NCAA champion, and wrestled in the army as well.
Very good credentials and definitely a marketable guy who hasn’t, at least publicly, tested positive for steroids. If he’s going to be on PPV as he indicates he might it’s almost certain to be the UFC or Affliction as they’re the only major promotions doing regular pay-per-views and who would have the money and reputation to bring Lashley in.
Lashley is a fantastic wrestler. I admit, I watch WWE and UFC. He left WWE for problems with management -he was not fired nor suspended for anything doing with steroids. He doesnt do steroids, trust me.
I hope he’s better than Lesnar though!
In Japan a LOT of MMA fighters are “professional” wrestlers. So it doesn’t surprise me at all to see more pro wrestlers come to MMA here in the states. What’s great is when they get KO’d or Subbed everyone can tell them “I told you so!” and when they win we get better athletes into the sport.
LOL @ the Brock/Bobby tag team match up! Instead of firing, maybe Dana could start his own kiss my a$$ club… Wait, he already has one.
Pro Wrestlers to MMA is not going to be a big trend or anything. There were 3 guys in my mind who could fight MMA, Brock, Bobby and Kurt, i’ll even throw Goldberg in there ( not anymore though ). I think if anything were gonna see more MMA fighters to Pro Wrestling in the near future….
I cant see the harm ins Lashly coming into the UFC. Or any MMA organization. If he does well, thats GREAT! and if he gets his @$$ wooped, well thats GREAT! too. MMA is the real deal, and if they can make it in the MMA world, more cudos to them.
I personally like the idea of lesner and lashly being in the UFC. I would like it even more if they became successful.
wait… who wouldnt wanna see jackie chan jumping off the cage to give BJ a flying round house kick to the face?? come on guys!!! All joking aside, Lashly does need some serious experience before he jumps into the octagon against some world class mixed martial artists, even though brock lost, he was dominating the fight against mir untill he got caught in the ancle lock. plus who’s gonna disagree with me when i say the HW division NEEDS talent, who isn’t sick of seeing tim slivia controlling the fight for 5 rounds then winning by decision??
ive neve heard of the guy but wish him luck!
Lesnar might have a strength advantage who knows… but for sure lashley is WAY more athletic… check out some of his wrestling matches.. he wasn’t just the “powerhouse” guy.. he was quite agile as well
UFC should sign him and let him handle that overrated Kongo.. LOL
He kinda reminds me of a Cheick Kongo
I guarantee Lashley isn’t as strong as Lesnar, and it’s not even close.
yo so many Pro-wrestlers seem to be moving to MMA. Lesnar and i keep reading these things on Kurt Angle. these guys better not come in and just ruin MMA. make it as lame as they did to wrestling.
Mark Coleman is out with a knee injury so Brock needs a new opponent for the AUGUST fight(“I want to knock people out on my feet and submit people†– and that he’s looking at his debut as early as August, or even on PPV in October.
) Hmmmm what a interesting turn of events. Anyone seeing an old wrestling matchup brewing?
Mustafa- I think Bobby Lashley would do a great job in MMA. Brock Lesnar made a great debut against Frank Mir he kicked his ass. so the Ufc should Have Bobby Lashley as part of their roster, then the Heavyweight division would be even better, i would like to see Brock Lesnar and Bobby lashley and Lesnar Fight
A younger Kevin Randleman
vs A younger Mark Coleman
Bobby -vs- Brock