Riding on the heels of fellow WWE superstar Brock Lesnar’s success, former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley made his first foray into the cage in December of 2008, defeating Joshua Franklin in the first round by TKO. Following that victory, Lashley went on to earn dominant victories over MMA veterans such as Bob “The Beast” Sapp, and in his debut for the California-based Strikeforce promotion, colorful heavyweight Wes Sims. Lashley’s natural blend of size, strength, and athleticism, along with his training with American Top Team, have lead others to compare him to Lesnar in terms of his potential in MMA. Others question whether his bulky, muscular physique will be well-suited to the later stages of a championship fight.

Before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts competition, Lashley was one of the most popular and successful heavyweight wrestlers in the WWE. Lashley draws on an extensive amateur wrestling pedigree and is a former NAIA National Wrestling Champion. While he considered trying out for the Olympic games, a 2003 knee injury he suffered effectively derailed his Olympic hopes, and prompted his move into professional wrestling.