Lashley to get a big opportunity...and get squashed in it

[The Rated R CMStar]

Next weekend, mixed martial arts promotion Affliction presents their third Pay-Per-View event, Trilogy. The main event was scheduled to be WAMMA Heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko defending against Josh Barnett. News broke this morning that Josh Barnett has tested positive for an illegal substance. As a result, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) will not license Barnett to fight against Fedor and the main event of the heavily promoted August 1st PPV is now cancelled.

Affliction needs a high-profile opponent for Fedor, who gets final say on who his opponent will be. Among the names being considered are UFC legend Vitor Belfort and TNA Wrestling superstar Bobby Lashley.

Bobby Lashley recently fought Bob Sapp and extended his professional MMA record 4-0. A shot at Fedor sounds like an opportunity too good for an aspiring fighter to pass up, but Lashley tells Sherdog.com that he needs to seriously consider a last-minute fight against arguably one of the top Heavyweight fighters in the world. "Since the last fight, I haven't really been into training again...that fight is next week. That would be something I would really have to take a look at. To just jump in there probably wouldn't be the smartest thing for me right now."

Lashley is working hard to establish himself as a legitimate contender and taking a big fight when he's not prepared simply for the payday may not be worth it to him. "A lot of people would say that might be a money fight. They figure, 'If we give him enough money, will he do it?' That's what people tend to look at," he said. "I don't want to get into fighting for the money so much right now."

Source: Lordsofpain.net

 

[EnterTamed]

as im certain that brett rogers could beat fedor i also think lashley can, obviously lashley will be able to take him down, he doesnt have to beat him to win the fight, if lashley could use his wrestling advantage over him he can win by using a sound game plan. now fedor only has one loss,pretty much a fluke but he has also been fighting washed up scabs too lately. when was his last real challenge, cro cop in pride?

 

[Switchy]

1) I don't think Lashley will get the fight, it is far more likely Belfort will imo.

2) If Lashley was to get the fight, I think he'd get squashed as CMS said. Lashley would not be able to out grapple Fedor. The only way Lashley would win fair and square would be to somehow get a TKO win smashing the shit out of Fedor (think Lesnar/Couture) and that's very unlikely Fedor would get himself into a position like that. If Lashley wants to look like a serious threat in his MMA career, he gotta stay the fuck away from Fedor right now. If Lashley lost to Fedor badly, that would put a black mark (no racism here ) on his career for good, wherever he ends up in his MMA career.

Basically, Lashley's a talented guy with a bright future, but Fedor is well, Fedor. One of a kind, a guy who needs a guy much stronger, faster and smarter than Lashley to beat him.

 

[MikeRaw]

Belfort has been confirmed for the fight.
Stupid for Barnett though. His own fault though. Guess he was really scraed of facing Fedor, and needed all the help he can get.

 

[xtremebadass]

This would be awesome if they could get Lashley/Lashley would do it. Also, TNA would promote the Affliction show if Lashley was on it so that could be good promo for Affliction. There are alot of things running through my head right now, this could be HUGE!

 

[Wrestling Station]

I dont think that he is ready to fight against Fedor atm. Also its a bad thing to give someone a fight on a short notice especially when the opponent is someone like Fedor. His opponent is not Kimbo :shifty: but anyway, it would be a good buyrate afterall.

 

[Christian]

That would be fucking tight. But I doubt it would happen.

 

[xtremebadass]

I don't think Lashley would want a blemmish on his undefeated record this early in his career anyways.

 

[gatesoftanhauser]

Lashley vs The English Langauge.

The Buyrates will murder.

 

[Christian]

Lashley vs The English Langauge.

The Buyrates will murder.

HARHARHAR I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good one gatesoftanhauser!!!!!!

 

[Luke Flywalker]

One of a kind, a guy who needs a guy much stronger, faster and smarter than Lashley to beat him.

There isn't really anyone in MMA who are stronger and/or faster than Bobby Lashley. The only thing that would make this a bad fight for Lashley is his experience, or lack thereof. I'd like this fight if Lashley were able to show patience, because Fedor's defense against the rush is TOO good. But Fedor has shown that if you can grab him and slam him... you can beat him. Sad thing is, very few who have done it have gone straight into pounding Fedor/he's tough enough to compose himself and defend/get back to his feet, which is something I'm sure he'd do against Lashley.

Anyways, as said, Lashley isn't getting the fight. But he should take the sweet with the sour. He was considered, and Fedor said no. So while he knows Affliction is looking at him (he can use that as leverage against UFC), he also knows that Fedor (who has fought fatter, slower, weaker, dumber, and combinations of all of the above fighters than Lashley) has denied him... so he can always use that as fuel.

 

[Switchy]

^^Ok, so I got a bit carried away when I said faster but tbh I think Fedor is stronger, when you combine his strength with his technique as opposed to Lashley.

But Belfort got Fedor now anyway but at the end of the day Fedor > Lashley for at least the next 2 years imo.

 

[Luke Flywalker]

I don't even think Fedor is stronger. Lashley has more strength in his neck than Fedor's got in his legs. What Fedor has that Lashley doesn't have though, is an arsenal of weapons, and leverage of being able to kick high or punch low. Yes, kick high, or punch low. Lashley isn't going to raise his legs. He's not going to duck and swing. He'll throw bombs at Fedor's head, and if Fedor goes to use his legs, Lashley's going to try and tackle him... where Fedor either gets pummeled, or does what he does best... think, and either flip Lashley (which I doubt will happen because of size) or flip himself and lock in a submission, as seen here:

[YT]2i0iZcLIrTQ[/YT]

They match up well when you look at their physical abilities, it's a dream match by those standards. But you want to see someone with a TON of experience to go along with those physical blessings fight Fedor.

 

[Switchy]

Tbh, in 2 years it would be a dream match, not now.

Fedor has picked apart much more experienced guys than Lashley by just patiently wearing them down and breaking straight through their game plan and if he were to go against someone like Lashley, Lashley's physical advantage would last about 30 seconds before Fedor finds something to break down with his huge arsenal of moves you said he has.

Lashley needs more experience and needs to fight more skilled guys before even thinking about fighting Fedor. Jumping from a guy like Bob Sapp to Fedor is pretty much unthinkable, the difference between the two isn't even worth describing.

Btw, I'm not even a huge Fedor fan, I just don't wanna see Lashley damage his career against a guy who is no doubt much better than him at present...

 

[monkeystyle]

Apparently it's all a moot point as the show has been cancelled.