UFC Quick Quote: Bobby Lashley wants to prove he belongs in the UFC
by Jesse Holland on Mar 25, 2009 1:21 PM EDT
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"I've had dialogue with (the UFC) over the past few days. They know where my mind frame is. I hold the UFC in high regard and I believe the UFC is a place where you have to be at a certain level before you get there. I want to be a serious contender for a title before I go in there. When I get to the UFC, I want people to say 'Bobby is good enough to go for the title.' I would like to be holding a 5-0 or 6-0 record, somewhere around there before going into the UFC. If I can take what I do in practice and put that into a match -- then you'll see a whole different Bobby than what you saw the other day."
-- Fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Jason Guida at "March Badness," former WWE superstar and decorated amateur wrestler Bobby Lashley tells host Larry Pepe on MMAmania.com's exclusive presentation of Pro MMA Radio that his ultimate goal is to be a major player in the UFC -- but understands that he must first become a reputable fighter prior to a potential debut. Lashley (2-0) looked a bit green against Guida last Saturday night in only the second MMA match of his career, but vows to improve and work his way to the top.
For a replay of Lashley's in-depth interview click here.
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At least he knows he aint’ good enough for the UFC yet. I’d rather see this guy than Lesner or Kimjoke any day…
by The5thBeatle on Mar 25, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why would you rather see this guy than Lesnar? Look at how much Lashley struggled with Guida, while Lesnar had Herring doing summersaults!
by JV on Mar 25, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Randy Couture staring at the lights!
by attakdog on Mar 25, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously the guy can do better than the guida fight which is exactly what he is saying. He needs time. Guida has years of experience on him. As it goes, technique will trump size most days and that was almost the case in the Guida fight. Guida has held on strong with many tough opponents so don’t sell on this guy just because you expected to see a massacre. I am not under any illusion that this guy is a contender, nor is he, but with his size and athleticism, he could be a force down the road. Let’s not forget he is with a top notch gym and seems to be very dedicated to getting better.
by Boom Goes the Dynamite! on Mar 25, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im glad hes not buying into his own hype, id rather see him have a minimum of 4 fights win or loose before he gets into the ufc
by N-Cryptic on Mar 25, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And im sure them boys at ATT will get this guy looking good in the next few fights, I see lashley making his debut in 2010
by N-Cryptic on Mar 25, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, although I think Randy was doing a damn fine job in that fight. It does show you that Brock is a different animal than most, to be able to step up into the biggest organization and fight some of the best fighters out there after just 1 fight. It is not just because he is big, otherwise Lashley could do the same thing. I am glad that Lashley seems to have the right idea about his career though.
by naturalshadow on Mar 25, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any man of that size and speed will be a threat to anyone no matter what. He just needs to improve upon his skill and it should help take him to the top. Im glad to see these WWE Stars that had strong wrestling backgrounds and are muscle freaks, making the move to MMA. Lesnar has the title , so I wonder if Lashley canmake a run for it as well.
by c-war on Mar 25, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lesnar took on herring who had way more experience than guida and took on some of the worlds finest. and lesnar dominated. lashley looked like shit against jason fucking guida, who has a losing record
i dont think lashley will even come close to lesnar’s success
by Jared on Mar 25, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, Lesnar is a different animal. Nobody is disputing that. How can you rush to judgement on a guy that has had 2 professional fights??? If there were no Brock Lesnar, you would be singing a different tune. Give the guy a break. Just because he has a big name from his college wrestling and wwe background, you are gonna ride him? Makes absolutely no sense. MMA is a different game and it takes years of training to get to an elite level for most people. He is on his way. How can you not pull for a guy that is that big of a monster, is already a big name, yet stays humble and works his ass off?
by Boom Goes the Dynamite! on Mar 25, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope Lashley does get better.
I’d like to see Roid vs Roid.
by KS on Mar 25, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am pretty sure that Lesnar trained MMA for a year or 2 before competing in it. I think Lashely has or had less training than Brock did when he began his career.
by RyanHobbs on Mar 25, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
RyanHobbs, At Last! Someone on here saying something that is extremely relevant! Lesnar trained a lot longer than Lashley!
by DAVE A on Mar 26, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I remember it was only a matter of months of training before Lashely started competing if I’m not mistaken.
by RyanHobbs on Mar 26, 2009 4:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really admire his attitude and honesty about where he is right now in the game. That ability to honestly asses his own ability will help to continue to improve and make smart career choices.
Eventually he will be a top dog in the UFC.
Anyone know how old Lashly and Lesnar are?
by john on Mar 26, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lesnar is the current UFC champ and has had 3 exciting fights in MMA already….what r u talking about?
by Robert(1) on Mar 25, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What? Lashley over Lesnar? You must be outta your mind dude!
by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Mar 25, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed.
I might be being too hard on Lashley, because maybe he does have the tools to go far, but the fact that he’s so ‘roided kind of pisses me off, and I just don’t ever see this dude throwing punches standing up without one arm wrapped around his opponent.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You may be being harsh on Lashley, but you have made me laugh a couple of times on this thread. I try not to judge lashley this early in the game, only because when Brock first started I hated him, now I am a fan. i will wait and see what happens to pass judgement on his mma career.
by James S on Mar 25, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bobby vs Brock for the title in 1 years time
by BMO on Mar 25, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well he should have done better against Guida! It was a pretty weak fight.
by JV on Mar 25, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d rather see this guy cuz at least he know’s he aint good enough. look at lesner. got subbed by mir. went around hyping himself up before he lost. lashley aint doing that.
by The5thBeatle on Mar 25, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ViolentMike thinks Bobby sounds like a third person sounding deuche!
by ViolentMike on Mar 25, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff thinks this is pretty funny. Oh and I’m the 37th post!!!!!
by Jeff on Mar 25, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mir is a solid fighter nothing wrong with lossing to him and wins over Randy and Keith are solid. Fighters are always hyping themselves up…so if GSP and Alves hype themselves before their fight and lose you don’t want to watch them anymore? You make no sense The5thBeatle.
Guys your thoughts?
by Robert(1) on Mar 25, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bobby has what it takes to become a player, but right now he’s too much wrestler to enter the multifaceted UFC.
I’d send him to Frank Mir’s Striking Unlimited for the basic fundamentals and then see where he progresses from there.
Jay K.
by Jay K. on Mar 25, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For the WWE Intercontinental belt.
by Syd[a.k.a."The Negation"] on Mar 25, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Every fighter wishes they could do in a fight what they can do in practice. That’s why it’s practice, this stuff’s harder to execute in an actual fight.
From what I’ve seen of Lashley so far, this guy isn’t going to do much in MMA. He’s carrying too much muscle and seems scared to actually throw down. Another overblown ’roid head with the warrior spirit of a dolphin.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If he couldn’t impressively beat Jason Guida (17-20!!!!!!!!)when the dude had a very short time to train he’d better start living at the gym. He is also carrying wayyy too much muscle. I wonder what he’d look like without all that excess…
by Fidel Cashflow on Mar 25, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The question is with all that bulk of mass on him, does he have Lungs to support it?
by Max on Mar 25, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t like the ropes in this fight maybe it didn’t help him.
Im not an expert but I notice everytime he landed his punch into Guida’s face his next move was always to hold Guida with wrestling move and then bring him in the corner. Then there was hugs. I think if he would have instead step away from Guida after his punch like they do in boxing, Guida would be retiring or a little bit more moron.
by Daddy Lupo on Mar 25, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
After his performance saturday night, he knows fine well he’d get annihalated by any heavyweight the UFC has, quite right to steer clear. This guy aint the next Brock Lesnar that’s for sure.
by attakdog on Mar 25, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bobby is SUPER green and played to his strength of wrestling and all of a sudden he is garbage and will amount to nothing? Some of you “experts” crack me up.
Everyone is using Brock as some sort of minimalist view of “If you aren’t this, you will suck”. Brock is one of those freak things that come along. But Brock still has holes in his game. Mir showed that. Randy almost took down Brock as well but he grabbed the fence…and Randy was WAY smaller than him.
Give Lashley time to actually train and get some stuff down. I guarantee if he wanted he could go LnP guys in the UFC.
I agree he needs to lose some muscle mass as well.
by Whoa on Mar 25, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good post. I don’t think there is anything wrong w/ him resorting to his wrestling. I like his attitude. He’ll be a force some day.
by LJ on Mar 25, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Still interested in Lashley vs. Lesnar regardless of who is better. Just want to see two former WWE’ers to duke it out!
by shitleTOT.com on Mar 25, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Give him time. That’s all he asks. We’ll see in his next few fights how his skills develop then we can start being critical.
by griffinfan05 on Mar 25, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No. If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to be critical right now.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I LOVE this guy’s attitude and he has ridiculously realistic goals. He knows he’s a rookie and he’s willing to pay his dues. NOTHING wrong with that. Oh no! He looked bad against a journeyman in his SECOND fight! Big flippin’ deal! Guida may suck but he has a TON of fights. Lashley is doing exactly what he needs to do and I hope he keeps doing it.
But yeah…he needs to shed some muscle.
by Jon on Mar 25, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well at least he accepts the fact that he is not at the level of the divisions top tier fighters yet. He certainly has the physical attributes to take him places! Seems like a somewhat humble guy
by tylerS on Mar 25, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lashley’s gonna look SO different off droids in the UFC. Lesnar,Carwin, Gonzaga etc and other BIG HWs will own this mug. He needs 10 MMA fight at least I think.
by MrAngry on Mar 25, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Lashley needs to come to terms with the Galactic Federation and stop training with battle droids. Bang on.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He just earned some of my respect. It takes a lot to admit you suck and have work to do.
All we needed is another pathetic fighter like Shogun coming to the UFC thinking they were good off the roids too.
by UFC Champ on Mar 25, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So, a fighter who is clearly on performance enhancers, and is coming off a scrap where he hugged a can half his size and still almost lost the fight, admits he has a lot to learn and you respect him for that? Wow. What else is he going to say, that he’s proud of his performance? Please.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why all the hate on Lashley for performance enhancers but not Brock? Lesnar was caught with growth hormone.
by Diceman on Mar 26, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No no, why all the hate on Lashley and no comments about Justin McCully?!?!
by Big D on Mar 26, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hold it JJ.
I said he earned “some” respect – not all of it, or even half of it.
I don’t like him at all, but I could still respect someone. I hope he fails because everyone thinks fighting MMA is easy, especially all the fake WWE guys. BUT, for someone to come out in public and say they have a lot of work to do just to be slightly competitive shows that he’s probably not a “can” like every other dreamer.
by UFC Champ on Mar 26, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He sucks.
He would have problems with Evensen or whatever his name is (worst hw in ufc)
That says quite abit.
by Lester the Pimp on Mar 25, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
lmao true that !
i seriously dont see lashley making any noise in mma. hes mid thirties and already looks like crap. even if brock doesnt last that long he still proved he was a top fighter and got some big wins
by Jared on Mar 25, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this guys too funny to think he can make the big leagues!
its funny too how people compare him to Lesnar – they are massively different – Lashley has huge muscles! but Lesnar has core strength bursting out of him.
by Insain on Mar 25, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It speaks to the weakness of the HW division in all combat sports that the first time some big guy with an ounce of talent comes along we anoint him as the next contender. Too many heavyweights rely on their size and have very little talent and conditioning.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Upon his arrival to the UFC, Evensen was touted as the best heavyweight kickboxer in Norway. What I believe they neglected to inform us was that he’s also the ONLY heavyweight kickboxer in Norway.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny thing about Evensen… I saw him fight on Bodog a couple years back and he was one of their premiere HWs. He destroyed his opponent, who was, in retrospect, terrible.
Just goes to show that any can will look great if he is matched up against other … erm … cans.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT*****
CB Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor to round out UFC 100 Preliminary card.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i was hugely let down by his performance against guida, but i think he will make it into the ufc with 1 or 2 more wins. he’s 32 so the clock is ticking. i think we were all expecting a lot from him because of what brock has accomplished so quickly. he has an extrememly good attitude and understands he sucked and why he sucked in his last performance.
he could be the next late bloomer, carwin, lesner, in the ufc hw division.
by COR on Mar 25, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lashley has the right idea. I wish Lesnar had been humble enough to be willing to become a legitimate fighter before leaping right into UFC and his unearned title shot.
by Dissenter on Mar 25, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Right, because leaping right into the UFC has turned out so poorly for him and the UFC PPV numbers. Whether he deserved the title shot or not, he beat the champion. He is for real.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt! I bet Brock regrets his move to the UFC everyday. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by LJ on Mar 25, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not saying it’s worked out badly for Lesnar or the UFC. I see the numbers, and it’s clear that Lesnar is good for business. That said, as a fan I wish that all involved had paid a little more attention to the athletic credibility of letting a guy with 3 fights go right into a title shot.
I realize marketing is part of the reason Lesnar got fast-tracked. I just hate to see marketing be the ONLY reason a guy gets a title shot, as it was in this case.
From that perspective, it’s refreshing to see Lashley staying humble and wanting to develop himself rather than wanting to be the big dog overnight.
by Dissenter on Mar 25, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some good points there, Dissenter.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It bugs me when a guy with the size advantage Lashley had on Guida is scared to throw some punches standing up. I know his forte is wrestling, but he trains with an elite team and must have learned rudimentary boxing there. You want to make it to the UFC? Want the fans to like you? Guida’s stand-up sucks! Throw some punches you big pussy!*
*I know, I know, he’s more likely to grind out a win going for the takedown immediately. But this is entertainment, and if your ground game consists of lieing on top of a guy while completely exhausted, you’re not going to get many more main events.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 25, 2009 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Next season of TUF will feature heavyweights. Lashley needs to jump in there and see what he can do.
by Ginas Cameltoe on Mar 25, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Steve Banks is 6’5 265lbs with a pro record of 3-1. I’d like to see him face Bobby Lashley. I don’t think Lashley is ready for the UFC.
by Nate on Mar 25, 2009 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bobby still has the WWE ‘roid puffy look. He’d best not submit to any tests lest he get busted.
by TJ on Mar 26, 2009 6:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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