Fighter Profile: Bobby Lashley
Overall MMA Record: 5-1
Hometown: Junction City, KS
Height: 6’3” Weight: 265
Age: 33
Bobby Lashley, 33, is a former amateur and professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist who fights in the heavyweight division. “The Dominator” has been training specifically for MMA nearly a year but fighting for only seven months. He currently trains at the highly regarded Florida based, American Top Team.
After completing high school, Lashley continued his amateur wrestling career at the NAIA Missouri Valley College where he placed no lower than fifth during the four years that he participated. After college he enlisted into the army, continuing his wrestling career there as well.
After fulfilling his duties with the United States Army and options limited in the amateur wrestling ranks, Lashley was signed to a contract for the World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestling organization. He became a three year veteran of the WWE, participating on the ECW, Smackdown, and RAW brands from 2005 through 2008. In 2008, after headlining pay per view events and earning a huge boost in name recognition, he would leave the professional wrestling ranks and begin his journey as a mixed martial artist.
The heavyweight sought out help with his training at the American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. He developed quickly, making his first appearance as a professional in December 2008 against Joshua Franklin at a Mixed Fighting Alliance show. Lashley showed his new found striking game, opening a cut on his opponent, severe enough that he was not allowed to continue.
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With his debut match out of the way, Lashley believed that he was ready for a UFC hall of famer in his next fight. His opponent, Ken Shamrock, tested for steroids in a pre fight screening, pitting him against journeyman Jason Guida instead. Lashley, unfamiliar with his opponent, shrugged off an early submission attempt by Guida, established his ground and pound game and cruised to a unanimous decision victory.
Continuing his hectic fight schedule, the skilled heavyweight next went north to Canada to fight in the popular Maximum Fighting Championship organization. His opponent, Mike Cook, showed future opponents what not to do when fighting Lashley. As Cook made his way to the ring, he mocked Lashley by wearing a mask, emulating WWE star, Rey Mysterio. Lashley took his aggression out on his opponent, slapping on a guillotine choke only 24 seconds into the 1st round for the win at MFC 21.
Fighting for the fourth time in six months, Lashley met his biggest challenge to date when he jumped in the ring with K-1 superstar, Bob “The Beast” Sapp. The June Ultimate Chaos show audience witnessed Lashley come into his own, earning his third stoppage of his young career. He used takedowns to get “The Beast” to the floor and from there he utilized his strength, making Sapp submit with numerous punches to the face.
The former WWE star has quieted many of his biggest critics with his impressive fighting style inside the cage and cool composure outside of the cage. After his last bout in June, the eager striker admitted to the crowd that he would like to fight two more times before the year is out, but with his singing with Strikeforce meant he fought less frequently to start his time with the larger promotion.
Recent Bobby Lashley MMA News:
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Defeated Wes Sims at Strikeforce: Miami on January 30, 2010 - Strikeforce Miami results
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Lost to Chad Griggs by TKO at Strikeforce: Houston on August 21, 2010 - Strikeforce Houston results
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Updated August 2010