Bobby Lashley Rumored Opponent for Strikeforce Event

by Zach Krantz on Oct 7, 2009 10:58 AM EDT in Rumors Comment 6 comments

Bobby Lashley who is in contract negotiations with Strikeforce is rumored to be fighting ~~Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake~~ Ron Waterman. The date of the potential fight is still not decided. According to FiveKnuckles:

FiveKnuckles.com has also learned that the undefeated former collegiate wrestling champion will likely take on Ron Waterman in his Strikeforce debut, though negotiations are still ongoing at this juncture.

Waterman and Lashley had been scheduled to lock horns at Prize Fight Promotions' third event in Denver, CO on Oct. 3, but the fight has since been postponed, likely due to current negotiations with Strikeforce, who is said to be close to securing the fight for an upcoming event.

Strikeforce would like to book the fight for its upcoming CBS debut on Nov. 7 in order to capitalize on Lashley's vast mainstream appeal, but negotiations have crawled away and may not be completed in time to accommodate the fast approaching event - in which case the fight would likely be pushed back to late December or January.

Apparantely the trend for MMA prospects is to fight opponents who have passed their prime. The truth is though that this would be a good fight for Lashley. Waterman has fought in Pride and the UFC with wins of Ricco Rodriguez and Kevin Randleman so he is a named opponent. However, Waterman is 43 years old and his win over Rodriguez was 4 years ago. Fighting Waterman would give a win over another opponent with a name (Bob Sapp), but should not provide a huge obstacle. Eventually Lashley is going to have to face another prospect or CURRENT top level competition, but with him still participating in TNA it is probably a good idea to pace himself within MMA.

Side Note: I have no problem toward professional wrestlers that make it in MMA (like that guy, what's his name, Brock Lesnar), but if I can find any way to reference 80s or 90s wrestlers then it will get done.

0 recs | Comment 6 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I am a huge fan of Bobby Lashley… he has a mile to go in his standup, but he might polish up nicely to become a well rounded fighter. He has real grace great physique and moves like a cat. I’d really like to see him progress to the next level.

I want an equal amount of blueberries in each muffin.

by Greenbeard on Oct 7, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Big Lashley fan as well. He really appears to be a great athlete and obviously has a strong wrestling base. However, I would like to see him fight someone with strong athleticism. At this point though I compare him to Anthony Johnson. A lot of hype and potential, but they have not really fought any top competition yet. Waiting for both to be tested.

"That's an Awfully Big Mustache"-Frank Drebin

watchkalibrun.com

by Zach Krantz on Oct 7, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anthony Johnson sounds like a pretty fair comparison. I think he really can be a top fighter, just like every good wrestler seem to be if they manage to develop any kind of striking, standing and on the ground. He really needs to up the ante in terms of competition though. I am not sure he is to blame though; I have the strong suspicion that a lot of the promoters try to match him with a big (old) name to sell the fight. I think he would accept a bigger challenge, but here Strikeforce is just picking up a fight that was already booked and threw it on a card a month from now…

by blawa on Oct 7, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea, i think it is partly because of promoters looking for a name to sell the fight, but a way to promote Lashley. While he can lose to Waterman and could have lost to Sapp it is a way to pad Lashley’s record and provide him with wins on t.v. It provides him with more exposure and makes him look better.

Big (old) names help sell fights, but they do more to promote Lashley as a fighter.

"That's an Awfully Big Mustache"-Frank Drebin

watchkalibrun.com

by Zach Krantz on Oct 7, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hes going the “dave pee wee” herman route. i just hope lashley steps it up in competition before he get his wins into the double digits. hermans what 12-1 but still aint fighting anybody.

"The most used phrase in my administration if I were to be President would be "What the hell you mean we're out of missiles?"
The Glenn Beck Program, January 12 2009 lp.org

by baldspot23 on Oct 7, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

that is also why i did not compare lashley to Herman. Lashley is still only 4 fights in (this is his fifth). Herman is at 13 fights and still fighting don frye

"That's an Awfully Big Mustache"-Frank Drebin

watchkalibrun.com

by Zach Krantz on Oct 7, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs