Former pro-wrestling star Bobby Lashley will no longer meet James Jack in the main event of Titan Fighting Championship 17 on March 25, the Kansas-based promotion has announced. Instead, Lashley will square off against Bellator veteran John Ott (Pictured). According to a release issued by Titan on Wednesday, the promotion was forced to make the change when Jack became unreachable. “We had an agreement with Jack to fight Lashley, but he’s essentially gone M.I.A.,†TFC head Joe Kelly stated. “James missed several scheduled media shoots and was no longer returning our calls. It became abundantly clear that James had no intention of showing up to fight Bobby on March 25, so we had to make a change.†Though typically a middleweight or 205-pounder, the Missouri-based Ott will compete as a heavyweight against the muscular, 245-pound Lashley. Most recently besting Brian Imes in August at Bellator 26, Ott has finished over half of his career victims by knockout or submission. A former NAIA champion, Lashley transitioned from amateur to professional wrestling after his collegiate career came to a close. Known for his raw power and wrestling prowess, the American Top Team Altitude product comes off the first loss of his nascent MMA career. After five straight victories in organizations such as Strikeforce and the Maximum Fighting Championship, Lashley was upset by underdog Chad Griggs at Strikeforce “Houston†in August. Lashley has not competed since. TFC 17 takes place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., and will air live in North America on HDNet. In addition to the main event, the show will feature the return of “New York Bad Ass†Phil Baroni, who locks horns with local talent Nick Nolte. Also scheduled to compete is “Ultimate Fighter 10†alum Abe Wagner, who looks to carry the momentum of his January knockout of Tim Sylvia into a heavyweight showdown with Strikeforce vet Aaron Rosa.
The guy he's fighting is listed on sherdog as 5'11 and 183 pounds. His record stands at 8-7 talk about a soft touch.
Hopefully Lashley worked his stamina. If he wants to do this for a living, he needs to be dedicated. Not saying he wasnt, but his stamina was terrible and what lost him that fight.
Just like Lesnar I think Lashley doesn't have the mental toughness. I don't think he likes to get punched back at all. It's a lot less painful when the punches are not real .
Never again compare that scrub Lashley with Lesnar. Lashey is taking the pussy route in MMA. Lesnar manned up and took on some real fighters, win or lose I have a ton more respect for his approach! Fuck Lashley!!!
:bears: Good Call, Z. Lashley is fighting straight up "gimmie" fights. The guy should be embarassed. Lesnar, whether you like him or not challenged himself against the best pretty much from the start. You gotta give credit to that.
To start I agree that Brock was/ is a bad ass and he went straight after the best. But to play devils advocate isn't it a belief by many that Brocks quick rise to the top is the reason why he's gotten worked so bad by Shane and Cain? Wouldn't it be suggested by most trainers and promoters that a fighter needs time in the cage against fighters of his own caliber to prepare him to the best if his potential?
Time and Ego. Brock is very competative and if he cant compete with the best, he doesnt want to compete. He was not interested in working his way to the top, even though it would have been the best thing for him. I respect that about it him tho. I just hope Brock is training some boxing. If not, just retire. Go back to the WWE.
Yeah, it's important to remember that Lesnar didn't want any soft touches. He wanted to see where he was right off the bat. I'll be the first to say that Brock is done at the top level because he'll never overcome being punch-shy, but I have always given him credit for starting his UFC career with Mir, Herring and Couture. That's impressive. But, with the luxury of hindsight, I wonder if it's a coincidence that none of the 3 were highly regarded strikers.
Where do you go when you're wrecking guys like Mir, Herring and Couture? Surely you don't take a step back. He did win the Carwin fight also.
I'm nit saying that what he did was wring or I'll advised. That's why I became such a big fan. But that fan who wanted to see him stay on top and be the baddest man on the planet can't help looking at the route he took and seeing if something could have better prepared him? Once he beat Herring and Mir in the fashion he did, especially given the climate of the Heavy weight division at that time, the next step of taking on Couture made sense. My original point was if I were Booby Lashley or his trainers I would take note of Brocks situation and adjust. We all know now you can't come in having mastered only one disciine and expect to be champ right away. And if you can it won't be for long.
I dont think he worried about the strikes to be honest. He thought he could take anyone down. He didnt know he couldnt take a punch, because he was never punched in the face.
