Bobby Lashley: 3 Reasons We Should Be Excited
Published by Dave Sholler on December 16th, 2008 in Current Events

 Print |  Email |  RSS

Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Bobby Lashley wasted little time bursting onto the MMA scene last Saturday. Forty-one seconds into his professional debut, the 6’1, 250-pound monster stopped Joshua Franklin on cuts at the Mixed Fighting Alliance show in Miami.

With a series of ferocious bombs from his opponent’s guard, as well as a few swift shots on the feet, Lashley emerged as the next potential mixed martial arts sensation. While it was only his first bout, Lashley looked confident inside the cage and could be poised for a steady rise to MMA stardom. In fact, fans are already chirping about the similarities between Lashley and another former pro wrestler currently ruling the UFC.

To no one’s surprise, comparisons to UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar have begun. For the most part, the similarities are indeed evident. Both come from backgrounds in collegiate and professional wrestling. Likewise, both are insanely athletic, boasting speed and agility not normally offered by competitors of their size. With that said, does Lashley truly have Lesnar’s upside? Will he one day grace the hallowed Octagon and wear one of the UFC’s highly-regarded titles?

Although too soon to predict Lashley’s future, there are reasons to believe that the 32-year-old Missouri Valley College product will one day become one of the sport’s finest combatants.

MMAmemories.com takes a look at the one of the sport’s rising prospects and offers three reasons why we should be excited about Bobby Lashley’s promise as a mixed martial artist. We’ll also offer a down and dirty prediction on how Lashley will fare in mixed martial arts competition moving forward.

3. He’s taking it seriously…

Training with the renowned American Top Team in Florida, Lashley is showing the type of dedication to the sport that is necessary for success. Working on all facets of his game with the likes of UFC vets Thiago Alves and Wilson Gouveia, as well as former EliteXC star Antonio Silva, Lashley has recognized the need to roll, spar, and work out with the best. Already north of 30 years old, Lashley understands that his window of opportunity will not last forever. Linking up with the folks at American Top Team should speed up the process.

2. He’s a freak of nature…

With a bodybuilder’s physique, track star’s speed, and iron man’s persistence, Lashley has the athletic tools that can undoubtedly translate inside the fighting circle. As demonstrated in his win over Franklin, Lashley will look for slams and likes to stay active both on the ground and standing. If the Denver native can continue to exhibit supreme endurance and a relentless approach, he will entertain fans for years to come.

1. He’s Bobby Lashley…

Sometimes a person just knows how to captivate an audience. Lashley is one of those figures. Lashley’s collegiate experience, coupled with his background in performing in front of millions while with the WWE, makes him a perfect fight for MMA. Oh, and did we mention that he is a phenomenal athlete? Don’t believe us? Check out some of the maneuvers he used to complete while professional wrestling. Sure, the outcomes of WWE matches are predetermined. Lashley’s abilities, however, are absolutely authentic. With the proper MMA seasoning, Bobby Lashley can be a force inside the cage for the foreseeable future.

The final verdict: Bobby Lashley needs at least five fights outside of a major organization before making the huge leap. The approach taken by Lesnar was a gigantic risk that luckily paid off. Lashley doesn’t need to take such drastic measures though. Over the course of the next 6-8 months, Lashley should continue to diversify his game and add elements of Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and boxing. If he is able to sharpen his tools in a timely manner, Lashley will be ready for top-level competition by the end of 2009. Dana White, are you listening?