Palace Fighting Championship (PFC): Bobby Lashley vs Mike Hayes on Feb. 6
by Jesse Holland on Jan 11, 2009 1:14 PM EST
55 comments
The California-based mixed martial arts promotion, Palace Fighting Championships (PFC), today confirmed that recently acquired former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (1-0) will do battle against CageSport veteran Mike Hayes (4-0) at a joint mixed martial arts and boxing card at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California on February 6.
Lashley recently made his professional mixed martial arts debut with a first round technical knockout win over Joshua Franklin at Mixed Fighting Alliance: "There Will Be Blood" at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla., on December 13. He overwhelmed his opponent right from the get-go, opening up a gnarly fight-ending gash on his head only 41 seconds into the bout.
While it wasn’t a true showcase of Lashley’s developing mixed martial arts skills, it was an impressive performance nonetheless. Now training with one of the most highly regarded camps in the world, American Top Team, the potential is almost limitless for a guy with the background, size and athletic ability of Lashley.
Still, Lashley will have something to prove against Hayes. The 'White Buffalo Warrior' made his debut in Strikeforce a successful one back in February when he decisioned the husky Matt Kovacs at 'Strikeforce at the Dome.'
Hayes fought three more times in 2008 and continued to improve in each contest. After submitting Josh Bennett in August under the CageSport banner, he pounded out Jeremiah Constant in the first round just three months later with the same promotion.
Joining them in action is 170-pound judo specialist, Hector Lombard (17-2-1) against a yet-to-be-named opponent. "Shango" was supposed to fight Karo Parisyan at UFC 78, but had visa issues and never made his way back onto another UFC card.
He also signed with Elite XC last year, but never got a chance to compete for promotion before it went out of business in October. In short, his debut on American soil is long overdue. Fernando Gonzalez (13-6), loser of three out of his last four fights, is being mentioned as a possible opponent.
Here is the current line up for the February 6 PFC event:
Mixed Martial Arts:
Bobby Lashley (1-0) vs. Mike Hayes (4-0)
Ulysses Gomez (2-1) vs. David Suarez (2-1)
Chad Mendes (1-0) vs. Shannon Slack (0-0)
Erin Toughill (8-2-1) vs. Adrienna Jenkins (10-2)
Alexis Vila (4-0) vs. Ben Nguyen (2-1)
Hector Lombard (17-2-1) vs. TBA (0-0)
Brandon Cash (4-0) vs. Steve Gavin (3-2)
Boxing:
Andre Ward vs. Henry Buchanon
Shawn Estrada vs. TBA
Dewey Cooper vs. Arthur Williams
Poppies Martinez vs. TBA
Carina Moreno vs. Chantal Cordova
Manuel Quezada vs. Eric Boose
0 recs |
55 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Will the UFC just give this dude a contract already! Regardless of whether he does well or not, he would be a major sell and they could just go the easy route and feed him easy opponents to hype him up.
I personally wanna see Lesnar/Lashley. That would be a gorilla fight for the ages!
by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 11, 2009 1:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If he wins this fight, I bet they sign him right away!!!
by 1-0 via Arm Triangle on Jan 11, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. He will definitely get signed if he wins, and you know Dana already has a plan for him and Lesnar to eventually slug it out.
by El_Mexicutioner, formerly The_Mexicutioner on Jan 11, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed but i don’t think he was a major sell at WWE so probly won’t translate as well in UFC. Also that gimmick is already taken up by Lesnar. Everyone will probly just say – “Oh, another one” at least until he gets a big win. They also need to find an opponent for LaRosa because it’s getting ridiculous. Either that or she should go to XMMA to face cyborg on feb.
ATT news – anyone that’s fan of Antonio Mendes, he’s now a member of the elite team with hopes to be the next thiago silva.
by NameNotRequired on Jan 11, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
UFC doesn’t usually hype fighters = Kimbo never signed and Lesner got Mir,Herring and Couture, not easy fights by any means.
by Robert(1) on Jan 11, 2009 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Herring was an easy fight in my opinion. He is very overated, I mean Jake Obrien absolutely dominated him.
by GSP4Prez on Jan 12, 2009 1:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Herring beat Kongo right before he fought Lesnar, and I don’t hear anyone calling him a cupcake.
by Fred on Jan 12, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m sure the UFC will sign Lashley then they might as well add the Undertaker and Kane.
This is starting to get a little ridiculous with these former WWF “wrestlers” getting into MMA and becoming immediate UFC fighters. Dana might as well call Vince McMahon and cross promote an event with the headliner being Lesnar vs. The Undertaker, and if you think that’s a joke the Undertaker has used a gogoplata as a finishing move and also wears MMA gloves in his “matches”.
by Tyler on Jan 11, 2009 1:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The mock outrage over WWE guys coming into MMA is sooooooooooo played out.
by Rich B on Jan 11, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah Rich B the outrage of WWE guys coming into MMA has been played out because it’s a fucking joke.
by Tyler on Jan 11, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
what’s a joke is you poo-pooing on lesnar’s legit wrestling background. hating on lesnar doesn’t turn you into a hardcore fan.
by JB on Jan 11, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Who’s “poo-pooing” on Lesnar’s wrestling background? I’m certainly not. All I have to say is that people who think that Lesnar’s NCAA wrestling background had in some way something to do with him getting a title shot is ridiculous. It had nothing to do with him getting a title shot with a 2 and 1 record. His “Pro” wrestling background was the only reason he was in a championship fight. Name one other fighter who was introduced in a UFC title fight as an NCAA wrestling champ. NO ONE, but the UFC did with him because they couldn’t come out and say the truth which was, Hey this guy has a lot of WWE fans who spend money on PPV’s and giving him a title shot means a lot of PPV buys for us. There are a lot of guys in MMA who have a lot better resume than Lesnar does as an Amateur wrestler.
by Tyler on Jan 11, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
regardless of whether he deserved a title shot or not, hes done well and proved he deserves to be in the ufc. yes, he will lose eventually, everybody does. but hes tough as nails and as of right now is capable of destroying 75% of the current hws in the world. you cant doubt that.
by Egads on Jan 11, 2009 11:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Im pretty sure Randy Couture was only 3-0 when he became the heavyweight champion…SO what does that have to say with lesnar being only 2-1… If you see high potential in someone, give them a chance.
by Johnny Ski 16 on Feb 4, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Brock is a former champion wrestler, you know real wrestling? At the time money wise it maid since for him to go into fake wrestling money wise. With his, size, strength, speed & wrestling experience he’s going to be a force especially when he get’s MMA experience. I think he has the potential to be the Matt Hughes of the Heavy Weights. And Lashley a former wrestler(real) himself who also was in the army were he continued wresling could be a great matchup for brock or any Heavy weight for that matter. He has the size and speed to contend with Brock’s. We’ll have to wait and see…..the future for Heavy weight’s is looking better.
by Beaver on Jan 11, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If it’s OK for Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn to go from MMA to WWE then why can’t Lesnar and Lashley go from WWE to MMA?
by PW on Jan 11, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s worth noting that both Severn and Shamrock were Professional Wrestlers before either got into MMA. The same goes for many Japanese MMA Fighters… Sakuraba, Takada, Fujita, etc. Guys like Frye and Randleman have gone from real wrestling to MMA to Pro Wrestling as well.
by drightler on Jan 11, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m ok with lesnar and lashley…but the reason sham and severn went to the WWE was because the WWE used their story lines. There are no made up storylines in MMA. The point is that a guy shouldnt be hyped based on his acting ability. Lesnar and Lashley both have great amateur credentials, which makes them legit.
by --utaptout--..."The Prodigy's" 4th Biggest Hugger on Jan 11, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Beaver yes I know Brock is a former NCAA champion wrestler. How could someone who follows the sport not know. No one’s NCAA wrestling background has been talked about as much as Brock Lesnar, and no one I can think of has had that been part of their in ring introduction as has Lesnar.The UFC has made a point of beating that into people’s head thinking that in some way justifies a man with a two and one record fighting for the Heavyweight championship.
It Doesn’t!
by Tyler on Jan 11, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Your partly correct Tyler but because of his size strength & speed alone makes him an instant threat in the Heavy Weight division that is thin in talent. The Heavy weight division also has a wide range on the weight of the fighters anywere fom 210 to 265 and when Brock steps in the cage he weighs 285!! The average top Heavy weight is around 230 to 240 thats a huge advantage by itself you add his wrestling experience it will make up for his lack of MMA experience. + by everything I have read & heard he trains hard making his proggression eisier. That`s why I hope the UFC can get some bigger boy`s like Lashley to bring more respect to the HW div. I agree in any other weight class because they wouldn`t have the weight advantage you wouldn`t see this so early in a fighters career.
by Beaver on Jan 11, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Lesnar winning the Heavyweight Championship by beating the Heavyweight Champion justifies him fighting for the title, even if it is retroactively.
by drightler on Jan 11, 2009 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tyler I partialy with you. in any other weight class a fighter would have not got to the top this quickly. Mainly because of his Weight stepping into the ring at 285 when the other HW step in around 230 to 240 is a huge advantage add his speed(wich is equivalant to other HW if not faster and wrestling back ground he is very dangerous. We all know the HW div is thin so that also effected Brock quick rise.
by Beaver on Jan 11, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
your joking right? a lot of them have great collegiate backgrounds just before they didnt have to oppurtunity to fight MMA with few small promotions and the ufc doesnt sign just anyone..
shelton benjamin will be another one to do it, he was brocks roommate in college and wrestling all american…
by randy murders on Jan 11, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, but what you don’t understand is that WWF and UFC are two totally diffrent promotions. I mean sure, some of the wrestlers from that promotion want to do MMA now because its a more legitimate sport and pays more, but if you have the skills then why not go to the UFC? Just because they take decent fighters who just happened be from the WWF and make them money doesnt mean they are gonna cross promotion with that joke of a company.
by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 11, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Who the fuck doesn’t know that the UFC and WWE are different promotions? I mean C’mon!
by Tyler on Jan 11, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Athletes are Athletes, it doesn’t really matter where they come from. Lesnar and Lashley are both monsters and I guarantee they will fight soon. It would be a huge draw.
Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com
by Rob Dib on Jan 11, 2009 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
the average UFC fighter does not get paid more than WWE star. In fact the highest paid UFC fighter doesnt get paid as much as the highest paid WWE guy.
by imveryactive on Jan 11, 2009 2:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yea, my bad about the comment on the pay. Come to think of it though, with the WWE making staff pay cuts and stuff, I’m pretty sure MMA stars will be getting more money, but still. I’m just saying that the WWE fighters want a diffrent type of competition that they aren’t getting from wrestling.
by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 11, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yearly highest paid ufc fighter is chuck more then likely who still doesnt make what the lowest paid WWE guys do..
lashley is good but theres a reason the WWE didnt need him hes not as good as people would think and brock would eat him alive
by randy murders on Jan 11, 2009 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s not true. What does Chuck make 500 000 per fight not including ppv revenue or sponsorship money. And that’s just for one fight, the lowest paid guys in WWE make somewhere round 40 000 a year and those are the guys that are actually on tv. There’s guys in training camps for the WWE who make peanuts. The highest paid person in WWE makes around 2 Million a year. Chuck would be making something similar in a year perhaps more.
by Stefan Manojlovic on Jan 12, 2009 4:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The WWF deserves credit for Lesnar getting his title shot so fast, remember they built him up and made him a star. If he was some wrestler say like say Kos, he never would have the success so fast.
by Bigmcmac on Jan 11, 2009 2:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree totally on that. The win over Heath Herring was just so see if he could win in the UFC. The complete domination was just a plus. However, at the time of the Herring fight, Randy wasn’t back in the UFC was he? So if Randy wouldn’t have come back, Brock wouldn’t be a champion on a 3-1 record. We most likely would have seen him fight Kongo or someone like that, maybe even Cain Velasquez since both were touted has up and comers.
Anyways, I think and hope Lashley will make a big statement in his next coming fights. That guy is a freaking BEAST! Hopefully he gets a legitimate shot at the UFC, and a legitimate road to the title, not a 1-1 record, just so the UFC can hype a “2 former WWE Superstars HW title match”. Seriously, Lashley better get at least 3 dominating wins over at least B level opponents before he gets a UFC title match.
by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 11, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And now He is training with extreme couture. Go figure. Look out Frank Mir. Lesnar will have skills.
by elstiko on Jan 12, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
is lasley still ripped because b4 he joined wwe he was 170lbs and put on 100 lbs in a month?
by ruan-fiy on Jan 11, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well he wrestled at 170 which means he probably cut from 200 lbs.
Once he joined WWE he could focus on on buling up and looking good instead of losing alot to cardio. He is what 250 or around there!?
so realistically he could have done it naturally with the help of a GNC, but who knowes!
either way the dude is shredded and brings credible skills to the table. Should be interesting to see how he comes along.
by SoCalStunNa on Jan 11, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah he cut 30lbs to wrestle? not likely.. i know a lot of wrestlers all of which would never ever let there weight make them cut that much. not to mention why weigh so low during WWE when all there dudes making money weigh like 300+lbs dudes on roids and it’s obvious
by randy murders on Jan 11, 2009 11:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Lashley was like 273 pounds or something like that in WWE.. and now he is like 251 or something
by RoB on Jan 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t care where the guys fighting in the ufc come from. once they are mma fighters and as long as they put on a good fight and are willin to throw it down with anyone its all good. I hope lashley comes to the ufc and if he sucks he can go somewhere else. but I wouldn’t mind an MMA fight between him and brock
by TRIKZ on Jan 11, 2009 2:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow…That is a terrible prediction considering Bobby Lashley has an actual wrestling background and Kimbo..fights bums.
by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 11, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry about the wrestling history. But apparently when Lashley left WWE it was due to racial comments from a particular backstage personale. Funny thing is guess his name…Michael Hayes from Freebird. I wonder if he is going to take some of that frustration out on his opponent named Mike Hayes. LOL.
by TBlades on Jan 11, 2009 3:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Really? Michael PS Hayes was HUGE here in the Dallas area during the 80s when they were fighting the Von Erichs. He has been known to run his mouth a little more than he should from time to time, so if this is this case it wouldn’t surprise me.
by PW on Jan 11, 2009 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if Lashley and Lesnar were to fight, would some of their WWE instincts kick in and maybe we see a few body-slams, with an f5 finisher.
Would be a sweet fight to watch, maybe if Lashly wins his next fight and Mir beats Lesnar, the UFC might try to put together.
by mmanutZ on Jan 11, 2009 3:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I saw some glimmers of true potential in his debut. Just like this write up and others, training at ATT with his size, speed, strength and athletic ability means the sky’s the limit.
by Machine on Jan 11, 2009 3:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Tyler I some what agree with you, in any other div. a fighter would most likely not be the champ in 3 fights. But I believe beause of his size 285 when he steps into the ring when his opponents avg 230ish +50LB advantage(no other weight class will have a advantage like that), add his speed strenght and wrestling back ground = Freak. And from what I heard and read he trainès as hard as anyone.
by Beaver on Jan 11, 2009 3:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
is lasley still ripped becasue b4 he was in wwe he used o be 170lbs and he put on 100 lbs in a year?
by ruan-fiy on Jan 11, 2009 4:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
yes he is.. think he’s at 251 or something
by RoB on Jan 11, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
my prediction is lashley will have a glass jaw, im going simply on his head structure. brock has a square head that looks like a little chunk of cement bobby kind of has a small jaw and small head. well see i could be wrong but sometimes this is how you can tell who can take a punch or not
by Jared on Jan 11, 2009 4:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bobby Lashley vs Michael “P.S.” Hayes?
WTF, since when did the WCCW host MMA fighters?
I’m callin’ it right here, right now, Freebirds over Lashley by chairshot.
by Jay K. on Jan 11, 2009 4:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
And Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy rises from the grave to win the match with his signature running power slam.
by PW on Jan 11, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
WAR Lashley!! he’s one big mofo.. just got busted in the 750k guarantee tourney on FTP, good thing i got a heavybag at home!
by RoB on Jan 11, 2009 7:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
For what it’s worth I train Mike 300 Hayes, and he is 4-0 as a pro, and also had 6 amatuer fights (5-1). Lashley is a legit athlete, but Mike has legit prospects in this sport at 6’4" 235.
Crazy coincidencee regarding the pro wrestler also named Mike Hayes… I don’t follow that stuff, but I hope no fans get confused. Mike has fights on youtube if you want to see the fireworks this fight should produce! You tube also shows his one amatuer “loss”… you be the judge, most fans overwhelming agree we was hosed on a split decision.
by BIG Medicine on Jan 13, 2009 5:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
