Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 Former collegiate wrestling standout and WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (0-0) will make his professional MMA debut for the Mixed Fighting Alliance on Dec. 13 in Miami. Officials from the Florida-based organization recently confirmed Lashley's bout with fellow first-time fighter Joshua Franklin (0-0) with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). Lashley will make the appearance while on loan from the American Fight League, who have elected to suspend operations until 2009. Lashley, a two-time NAIA national wrestling champion while at Missouri Valley College, also won two armed-forces titles while serving in the U.S. Army. The 32-year-old signed with the WWE in 2003 and debuted with the organization in 2005. His character won titles in both the WWE and Extreme Championship Wrestling organizations. Lashley signed with the American Fight League in May. The former WWE superstar told MMAjunkie.com then that he was taking his time in preparation for his MMA debut. "I'm putting it all together," Lashley said. "I'm going into this thing not with just overpowering my own style with [wrestling]. I'm actually learning everything else. I'm learning the jiu-jitsu; I'm taking it from the basics. I'm learning my kickboxing, my boxing. I'm getting the whole game tied together. So when I debut, it's not going to be a wrestler trying to do MMA. It's going to be a fighter." In addition to Lashley vs. Franklin, "Mixed Fighting Alliance: There Will Be Blood" will be headlined by Jeff Monson (26-8) vs Ricco Rodriguez (34-9). That bout will represent a rematch from "UFC 35: Throwdown." That 2002 fight saw Rodriguez, who was on a nine-fight win streak at the time, victorious with a third-round TKO. I'm going to shed a bit of light on Lashley's jump into MMA for the pro wrestling fans that don't really know... Lashley trains with one of the best training camps in MMA, American Top Team which is based out of Coconut Creek, Florida. From the reports I've heard from people who train there, Lashley is an absolute beast and should have no problem making the jump into MMA. People at ATT are amazed by his athleticism... AFL is bound to go under from what I hear so should Lashley have a few good showings, it will be a matter of time until the UFC signs him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mik 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 I already quit watching wrestling by the time he started so I'm not familiar with him. It will be interesting to see how he does. He certainly looks like he can be an athletic freak like Brock. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mfn 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 Brock vs. Lashley -- BOOK IT NOW! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Niggardly King 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 What weight is he fighting at? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruteSquad_BRODY 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 He weigh's 255 ripped today - sez Meltz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted November 13, 2008 As usual with any grappler making the jump to MMA/a guy that huge, the biggest question will be "Can he take a punch?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toxxic 0 Report post Posted November 16, 2008 255 sounds big - I saw a picture of him off the roids and he looked about 220, but maybe he's bulked right up again, only naturally this time... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maztinho 0 Report post Posted November 17, 2008 I already quit watching wrestling by the time he started so I'm not familiar with him. It will be interesting to see how he does. He certainly looks like he can be an athletic freak like Brock. Even in the WWE he was "Black Brock" basically, so the comparison is apropo, like it's been mentioned the ability to take a punch is the main question mark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted November 18, 2008 Hopefully he won't have to talk. Men his size with voices like a girl's dont really strike much fear into anyone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted November 18, 2008 Hopefully he won't have to talk. Men his size with voices like a girl's dont really strike much fear into anyone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2008 it's been mentioned the ability to take a punch is the main question mark. I just wanted to point out that for those who have been saying that, remember Lashley was a former military man. If he can't take a punch, I'd hate to think of who is still defending this country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2008 They hardly throw you out of basic training if it just so happens that you can't take a punch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2008 Yeah but logic dictates your coach wouldn't let you have a professional fight if you couldn't take a punch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2008 Mac Danzig: Andy Wang can take a punch... Blake Bowman: But apparently not a headkick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2008 Yeah but logic dictates your coach wouldn't let you have a professional fight if you couldn't take a punch. goulet.jpg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2008 From PWI: BIG BOBBY LASHLEY-MMA UPDATE by Matt Rosenthal @ Former WWE star and ECW champion Bobby Lashley has just signed and joined American Top Team(ATT), one of the top MMA gyms in the country, and world for that matter. UFC stars such as Thiago Alves, Denis Kang, Thiago Silva and Marcus Aurelio(a locally-based guy - I think he's based out of Hamilton, NJ) are on the squad as well as WEC Featherweight Champion, Mike Brown, and EliteXC Heavyweight Champion, Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva. This would seem to indicate that Lashley is extremely serious about MMA, and if he dedicates himself, could turn into quite a force in a few years. There are also rumors, related to this, that Lashley has cut down to roughly 205 pounds giving him the potential to fight at Light Heavyweight. Of course, that would ruin Dana White's attempt at 2 Million PPV buys with a 2011 Main Event of Brock Lesnar vs Bobby Lashley (tongue firmly implanted in cheek)! The rumor actually comes from a running joke Lashley has been making in training that by the time he's done training at ATT, they'll have driven him down to 205 lbs. from the workout. He's currently around 250 lbs. Lashley will face his first professional fight on 12/13 in Miami, Florida. If Lashley really is serious about MMA, then he's picked a great place to learn. I hope he does well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Old news... I even mentioned it in my 1st post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2008 I'm more shocked about the fact that he's hovering around 205 lbs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Niggardly King 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Well, before he somehow put on 80 pounds of muscle within a year... he weighed around 180-190. Supposedly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2008 He was a 177 lbs. collegiate wrestler, so 205 is a more realistic body size for the guy, though it reminds me how ridiculously juiced these guys get in pro-wrestling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted December 5, 2008 Yeah I heard about him being 177 in college, but I still expected with how juiced he got in pro wrestling for him to stay at that weight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Twisted Intestine 0 Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Did you guys read it? It says he was just joking about them driving him to 205 from the workout. He's currently around 250. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted December 6, 2008 Oh, okay. Let the countdown to a positive test begin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 I really doubt he is going to be that stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 I really doubt he is going to be that stupid. ... to point out a few. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord of The Curry 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 Where has Kang actually tested positive? I know you mentioned him losing a slot on TUF 1 because of it but I've yet to see an actual published report about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 I have it on good authority, though my source is sworn to anonymity. Sorry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord of The Curry 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 That's cool, I'm not looking for a reveal or nothing. Could just be one of those better-kept secrets of the internets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 Honestly, I'm not looking to villify Kang or anything. There's any number of fighters out there who have unreported stories about them that would either reflect negatively on said fighter and/or reinforce preconceived notions about them (IE- Bas). It just makes for funny inside jokes, though never intentionally to the detriment of a guy's career or anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2008 I know Kang is on steroids because he told that to a friend of mine; this was a couple of years ago. What unreported stories are you talking about with regards to Bas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
