We have to hand it to Strikeforce. The MMA promotion has clearly emerged as the UFC’s main competition and it has a genuinely interesting fight card to behold this weekend. Among Saturday’s competitors is Bobby Lashley; the former WWE superstar now draws lanky Wes Sims in what should be a cupcake matchup for him.
The big question on most of our minds is whether or not Lashley is the next Brock Lesnar.
To me, the more compelling question is: do we want him to be?
It’s easy to draw similarities between the two. Both men come from highly accomplished collegiate wrestling backgrounds. Both were quite popular in the WWE. Both have to slim down and drop water weight just to make the 265-pound limit. Both, love them or hate them, are outstanding athletes – “next generation” mixed martial artists.
But for now, there’s one crucial factor separating Lashley and Lesnar: their mouths.
Lesnar embraces the heel role and it’s helped him fast-track his way to the top. He wanted the best right away and landed a title fight in his fourth career bout. Since then, he’s defamed sponsors, referees, Canadian health care and more. In the process, he’s infuriated any mixed martial artists, professional or immature, who respect the sport’s honour.
So far, so good for Lashley. He’s confident – any fighter should be – but not brash. He openly admits he’s too green for the likes of Fedor or Alistair Overeem after four pro fights. He knows he has to develop his striking and submission defense before he can hang with the big boys.
Eventually, though, Lashley could reach a crossroads. As hated as Lesnar is, he’s “good television.” He drives ratings, starts water-cooler discussions and has unquestionably raised the UFC’s profile. As the UFC’s competition, Strikeforce knows it could use its own heel. Might it pressure Lashley to run is mouth more and drive up ratings? By doing so, Lashley will earn bigger pay days.
Here’s hoping he doesn’t give in. Instead, I’d love to see him emerge as an anti-Lesnar, a guy with the same career background but a different philosophy for fighting. And wouldn’t that make for a great rivalry if Lashley one day migrated to the UFC?
By Matt Larkin
Guest Writer
Wrestling Clubs North York, Brampton, Etobicoke, Markham, Mississauga, Oshawa, Peel Region, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Thornhill, Toronto, Vaughan, Woodbridge, York, York Region Ontario Canada.