Lashley outmuscles Sapp

Eurosport - Sun, 28 Jun 10:38:00 2009

Bobby Lashley defeated Bob Sapp inside two minutes in the main event on the "Ultimate Chaos" show in Biloxi.

Bobby Lashley, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS - 0

Lashley went in for a quick takedown, bringing Sapp - 67 pounds heavier - to the canvas.

He then threw a barrage of punches before the referee put an end to the fight at 1:17 in the first round.

"To all the heavyweights out there, if you're not looking at me, you better, because I'm coming. I'll take on all challengers," Lashley said after his fourth pro mixed martial arts victory.

32-year-old Lashley has, after hard workouts in Florida and altitude training in Colorado, dropped from being a 273-pound guy who looked like he walked right off the Mr Olympia stage to 255.

He has often been compared with UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, and there are obvious similarities.

Both were college wrestling champions (Lashley was NAIA national champion in 1997, 1998 and 1999 at Missouri Valley College) at a high enough level that both had the ability to at least compete for a spot on the Olympic team.

Both are powerful, actually freakish physical specimens who were shockingly agile for their size, even noted for having great vertical leaps. Lashley came into pro wrestling after Lesnar left, and copied his ring entrance of jumping flat footed from the floor onto the ring apron.

Both were recruited into pro wrestling by WWE executive and former amateur wrestler Gerald Brisco. Both rose quickly and were headlining pay-per-view shows. Then both walked out of the company and wound up as fighters. Both even endured the same taunts, and thus far have been successful in shoving those taunts down their opponents' throats.

Lashley was ranked top six nationally in his weight class (he wrestled Greco-Roman at 211 pounds) in 2003, with a goal of making the 2004 Olympics. However, he badly aggravated a knee injury when he instinctively dropped to the ground avoiding a bullet in a Colorado Springs bank that was being robbed in September 2003.

"He took a shot to the back of my head," Lashley recalled. "The guy opened the door and he shot right afterwards. I dropped to the ground, and injured the knee."

Two surgeries later, he was told he wasn't going to be able to make it back in time for the 2004 Olympic trials, which led to him taking the offer from WWE.

Dave Meltzer, Yahoo! Sports / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. Let's be honest it's criminal that Brock has a­ belt after 3 Ufc fights and one of those he lost. I do­ like Brock because he's different than the majority­ of the heavyweights however he has had a easy way in­ because of his fan base. Hope Mir wins by ankle lock ;)

    From trevellyan82, on Thu 9 Jul 8:32AM

  2. oh come on guys how long has mma been around and in all­ that time only 1 has succsesfully made in mma, dominate­ i think not.

    From mark.dunne53, on Wed 1 Jul 10:12AM

  3. So what is it about Pro wreslting that is giving them­ an advantage over greco roman, all american or free­ style combatants who havent wasted the past 5 years of­ their lives in an entertainment show?

    Jeez, go comment­ on something else

    From JOHN, on Tue 30 Jun 11:05PM

  4. lol - there are pro-wrestlers like HHH who are not real­ wrestlers, then there are pro-wrestlers like Brock and­ Lashley who are actual wrestlers.
    Someone like Kurt­ Angle who is an Olympic medalist would not cut it in­ the UFC.
    So I agree, the right pro-wrestlers with the­ right training probably could dominate MMA.

    From Raj S, on Mon 29 Jun 3:59PM

  5. lol max, Lashley beat Bob Sapp for crying out loud.­ That isnt anything to shout about.

    And if you think­ that pro werestlers are going to end up dominating MMA­ then I will respectfully ask you to please go learn­ more about the game.

    From JOHN, on Sun 28 Jun 11:07AM

  6. lashley did it in the first round. This guy is for real­ and believe me people i think we'll be seeing alot­ more of lashley.

    From maxdrobot, on Sun 28 Jun 9:20AM

  7. I wish Lashley the best, i think once more ex pro­ wrestlers move over to mma they will begin to dominate­ the sport.

    From maxdrobot, on Sat 27 Jun 9:42PM
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