Bobby Lashley Signs with Strikeforce

[Turd Ferguson]

Strikeforce pulls in the other major free agent that was out there...

After months of speculation about a potential signing, Strikeforce overnight made it official and announced Bobby Lashley has inked a multi-year contract.

The 33-year-old will make his promotional debut on the Jan. 30 "Strikeforce: Miami" card as part of the night's Showtime broadcast, though no opponent has been revealed.

Lashley (4-0), a former champion for World Wrestling Entertainment who now performs for Total Nonstop Action, is undefeated since his move to mixed martial arts.

"Strikeforce: Miami" takes place at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.

"I'm looking forward to fighting for Strikeforce and challenging myself by taking on some of the top heavyweights in MMA," Lashley stated.

Now that Lashley is a part of Strikeforce, he really needs to focus on his MMA career. He's a very good mixed martial artist, and for the most part, he's been pretty dominant so far in his four fights. Now that he's part of the second biggest MMA promotion out there, he needs to legitimize himself as a legit mixed martial artist. Leaving TNA needs to be his next option. It's not like he's doing much right now anyway. Strikeforce has some very talented heavyweights on their roster. Being in TNA is only going to distract him.

Lashley said that he wants to be in the UFC and someday have a fight with Brock Lesnar. Building himself up in Strikeforce and making a clean break with pro-wrestling can go a long way in getting that done. Dana said himself that he would never sign anyone who does pro wrestling and MMA at the same time, and with good reason. The risk of injury is so high.

 

[Dave]

Yeah, I have to agree with you Guy. The next step for Lashley is to leave the world of Professional Wrestling behind him. It is a shame given that he was built up to the heavens by Vince McMahon and then stepped away from wrestling. Only to be signed bt TNA a little while later. I personally thought that he would be jacking in the MMA to focus on the world of professional wrestling again but that has not come to fruition. Lashley was and is still a great wrestler that could do a number of things but if he wants to be a serious contender for an MMA life and career, then he needs to give up on professional wrestling once and for all.

You have seen the Ultimate Fighter and how hard these guys train to able to go toe to toe with some of the best MMA stars in the world. Now, I am not calling Lashley's training into doubt, far from it. However, the time that Lashley spends in the ring and perfecting spots with the guys at TNA would be better spent in the gym perfecting his MMA. He is a talented guy and has a great future ahead of him in both of the sports but they cannot run in conjunction, I believe. I think that he needs to be clear in his mind that about which sport he is going to follow and just stick to it. With him signing for Strikeforce, Lashley has a real chance of getting to the UFC and having his dream realised but he needs to drop out of TNA for that to happen I think.

 

[INDYjon22]

This is a good pick up for Strikeforce, they obviously want to keep Fedor around and they have a somewhat lackluster Heavyweight division so all the depth in the world will help with that. Strikeforce needs to keep as much fresh competition as possible for Fedor.

But that of course is not the only postitive for Strikeforce signing Lashley. He is a good fighter who is only getting better and better with every fight. He could be a potentially big time player in the future and I would not be surprised one bit if we someday saw Lashley fight Lesnar, granted Lesnar recovers from all of his ailments.

Also I completely see a match with Fedor in the near future. After Fedor rips Barnetts arm off and fights Overeem the only other new and credible challenger will probably be Lashley. So I only see this as a positive for Lashley from all perspectives, of course unless he proves to be a complete bust like Sean O'Haire did.

Good job Strikeforce, everyday you make me a bigger supporter of your company.

 

[jmt225]

Yeah, very good sign for Strikeforce.

I just hope they take Lashley as a serious fighter and not feed him a couple of cans, or flat out fucking jokes, in his first couple of fights with the company. They need to treat him like the UFC treated Lesnar; feed him top talent from the get-go. In fact, I say for the first match-up: Bobby Lashley vs. Brett Rogers. That's money, right there, and it will tell us from the start if Lashley is the real deal or not.

Anyway, I completely agree Guy that Lashley needs to cut the TNA shit. Either be a Mixed Martial Artist, or be a professional wrestler. You can't be both. Plus, it makes Spike look bad for having a Strikeforce competitor compete on a show the UFC promoted. Lashley needs to just ditch TNA and focus on the tremendous opportunity he has in Strikeforce.

 

[Fizzy]

Great great sign for Strikeforce.

They are really signing some huge names now, and making themselves a legitimate competitor in MMA. I see him having a fight with Fedor soon seeing as Fedor really only has two more people that pose somewhat of a threat to him. Once he dismantles that fuck up Barnett and whenever Overeem decides to fight him, he will have no fighters left except Lashley. Lashley though really needs to cut the TNA shit. Like someone said the risk of injury is so high, and it's just embarrassing that hes going to be doing both at the same time. Either he cuts TNA or cuts MMA and I really hope he sticks with MMA.

 

[King Douche]

Alot of people like to diss Boby Lashley for joining TNA just to do his MMA thing later, but I feel its nothing wrong in doing 2 jobs, especially in todays economy were a person wnats to make alot of money to support themselves and their family. Bobby is a decent wrestler, who is not great in the ring but not bad at all. He also is not good on the mic but he does have talent. I think he would make a good martial arts fighter as he has beaten some good fighters already now in his mma career. And him now being aaprt of strikeforce is just purely awesome. Maybe one day he could join the UFC and become Heavyweight Champion. All the best of luck to him as its nice to see a brother doing something with his life and a fight with Fedor when he is ready might be awesome. Still waiting for the day when he takes on Brock Lesnar, if Lesnar ever recovers.

 

[Kenny Powers]

There is nothing wrong with Lashley being apart of MMA and TNA, but you can't fully utilize when you have two jobs. It's a pretty good guarantee that even though Lashley's TNA schedule is light, his MMA is going to be anything but. There is no way he can fully train for MMA and be involved in TNA, unless he is only on Impact ever other month.

Lashley doesn't need TNA and I'm sure TNA can do fine without him if they are bringing in some big names next month. TNA isn't going to put Lashley on the map. Strikeforce is the best thing for him. I am biased since I don't want to see Lashley in a wrestling ring ever again, but honestly MMA is a better route for him.