Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
By Curtis Clontz on Jul 04, 2009
Once upon a time I posted a piece entitled Brock Lesnar vs. Kimbo Slice, in it I compared the lives of the two influential fighters. Round two comes to us thanks to the emergence of Bobby Lashley. These two are monsters of men, they both have wrestling backgrounds (in more ways than one), and both are super stars. Tons of people around the MMA world consider these guys to be eerily similar, but they are actually very different!
Brock Lesnar(#4 IWMMAR) is a two time NCAA All American. His athleticism and size have helped him earn his share of the UFC’s Heavyweight title, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Lesnar started his MMA career with a dominating win over Min Soo Kim. It may have been dominating, but Kim is currently 3-6 and has never been considered a solid pro fighter. That would be Brock’s last tune up fight. Up next was Frank Mir. Mir proved to much for the much bigger Lesnar. It showed that Lesnar was not going to win on size and wrestling alone, and that he still needed work. I contribute that loss the the world class ground game and game plan plan of Mir.
UFC 87 called for Lesnar to take on Heath Herring. Herring became a superstar in the UFC overnight due to a well placed head kick, and was the perfect person to test Lesnar’s growing progression. Some considered this fight to be a bore-fest. The over rated Herring had no answer for the smothering skills of Lesnar, but in the end we learned nothing new about Brock.
The win over Herring set the stage for a UFC 91 showdown with MMA legend Randy Couture (#6 IWMMAR). Fans of The Natural were not happy at the conclusion of this fight. Brock showed us the power he possesses in his hands as he dropped the future hall of famer and earned a share of the UFC title.
Up next for Brock is another shot at Frank Mir(#2 IWMMAR), but if the Mir that defeated Nog(#5 IWMMAR) shows up Brock could be in trouble.
On the other side of the spectrum is another former professional wrestler. One that has not been offered the riches of the UFC. Bobby Lashley at times has been seen as the guy who is getting left out. The more fans he gets, the more people that are screaming for him to fight on the big shows!
In terms of Lashley, the most asked question seems to be…They did it for Brock, why not Bobby?
The question seems difficult to answer but it is not at all. Simply, Brock is better for the UFC than Lashley. Brock was groomed for the UFC and is Dana’s boy. Not to mention he is just a better fighter.
How could this be?
Bobby Lashley is not as good a fighter as Brock Lesnar. I come up with this assessment this way…
Although Lashley has a better record, he has been fighting guys that mid tier UFC heavys would have destroyed. In his first fight he took on Joshua Franklin. He didn’t have a 3-6 record, but he was making his pro debut, and he hasn’t fought since the December of 08 fight.
Four months later Lashley was fighting again, this time against a surprisingly game Jason Guida. Yes, the same one from TUF. It says something when you are remembered for the negatives of TUF instead of the positives. This is the same Guide that couldn’t make weight. Lashley was supposed to finish Guida but he was unable to do so. Guida does have close to 40 pro fights, but he has lost 17 of them. Not a record that screams impressive opposition.
Bobby then moved on to fight Mike Cook. Cook has a 7-4 record, but has never defeated anyone that has more wins than losses. He is beating up on guys that aren’t even average… Again, not the greatest challenger.
He then took on a character of sorts in Bob Sapp. In America Sapp is better known for his movie role in The Longest Yard than his MMA career. More people remember his “I love little Michael” line, than his long K1 career. All in all, Sapp has become more of a celebrity and has been fighting cartoon characters instead of decent fighters.
This does put Lashley at an impressive 4-0, but he hasn’t beat anyone yet. Could it be true that the Lashley camp is full of yes men that are all about using his name to get paid? We will not know until he fights a true fighter. Someone that can really fight. In the future he will get a chance with a top organization, and it will be time to prove he is ready for the prime time show.
Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley fit like the old saying “it’s the exact same, but completely different”. They are both monsters, guys that would scare grown men in daylight. They were great college wrestlers, and pro wrestling superstars. The two have an incredible upside, and are going to make their organizations tons of money, but let’s not get crazy. The two are completely different fighters. Just because Brock got his chance, does not mean that the UFC will do the same for Bobby Lashley. Only time will tell what will happen, but don’t be surprised is the UFC continues to pass on baby Brock.
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Lashley is simply taking a more conventional career path. While we can point out that Sapp is no world beater, remember that this is his 4th MMA fight. Not simply his pro fight, his 4th fight period – no amateur fighting at all. That makes Sapp a very impressive win for his 4th fight.
It gives him a good chance to carefully assess his skills and make a name for himself. Why fight a no name when you can fight a similarly good fighter who’s well known? It’s smart, in my opinion, for a guy who’s only getting older.
That said, Lashley will probably never be as good as Lesnar. Aside from his physical superiority, Lesnar also has perhaps the single best training camp that focuses purely on him and a work ethic that drains every ounce of fighting wisdom from it. Coupled with his fame and the whole “What can a man that size do in a fight?” appeal, Lesnar is leagues ahead of Lashley.
Still, I hope to see Lashley do well and make it into the UFC someday, and if he proves me wrong by beating Lesnar well hey – can’t complain about more talent!
I am not a Brock homer, but who was he fighting in his 4th fight?
Couture, of course. To think Lashley could replicate the feat is fairly unrealistic though. Or anybody, for that matter. Lesnar dove straight into the deep end and took huge risk. I’m ecstatic he’s doing well but honestly when Lesnar was lined up against Mir, then Herring, then Couture, it really felt like he was being set up for failure and most people (including Lashley IMO) would have failed for sure. It’s not necessarily the best career route unless you’re THAT damn good, which Lashley isn’t right now.
i agree with the guy above me except for the fact that lesnar also has only four fights. but the difference is ; lashley:barely a threat to anyone in mma. lesnar: ufc heavyweight champion.
Brock has defeated Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and Heath Herring…
Sure, Lashley can’t fight competition like that but I don’t think he would have beat all of those guys.
you guys are stupid, underrateing lashley like that, he would of destoryed couture, mir and herring. In the end, only Lesnar and Lashley will be left standing and will have to compete with each other cause everyone else is not in their league.
Demon,
I would honestly believe you if Lashley would have done something against Guida, but he didn’t. Fact is, Lashley is not Lesnar. Just because one has made it work, doesn’t mean the other will.
Lashley has less to build on then Brock in terms of wrestling ability. Also Lashley does not have Brock’s name recognition so it makes sense to be where he is now. Eventually he will come to the UFC I believe, but I like Lashley’s approach and being with ATT will help him in the long run vs. Brock’s camp which is really an unknown.
Plus didn’t Lashley sign with TNA Wrestling recently? That will really hurt him in MMA terms and he will never get to the UFC with a contract with them also.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2009/07/its_official_bobby_lashley_signs_with_tna.html
It is all about the money. Now he can go to the pro wrestling and talk about how he destroyed guys in the cage and is going to do it in the ring…bla bla bla…
Either way he hasn’t fought anyone yet and does not deserve all of the hype…
And do you think they will make a story line out of the MMA “star” getting smashed by wrestlers? I can see that. I liked Lashley’s approach, especially like I said he is not the wrestler that Lesnar is. But I cannot see the guys at ATT dealing with this stuff.
I thought for sure when he signed with ATT that he was going to grow very fast and be fighting top guys very soon…I am still waiting on that………
Well he has jumped fairly quickly, but like I said he does not have the dominant wrestling ability someone like Lesnar has.
I agree
Isn’t Bobby Lashley rumored to be fighting Don Frye next?
I have all the respect in the world for Don Frye but come on fighting guys like Bob Sapp and Don Frye doesn’t scream I’m working my way up the heavyweight ladder. To me it says I’m fighting these guys for some easy paydays.
When Bobby Lashley starts fighting guys that matter in the heavyweight division I will start judging him seriously.
i honestly believe that fedor wouldnt stand a chance against either one. lesnar and lashley r built the same. they a both amazing fighters. i read something in the internet saying fedor refuses to fight lesnar because he doesnt believe its fair that they r letting lesnar fight as a heavyweight when he is nearly 290lbs. he been talking about fighting lashley though. all i goota say is out of the frying pan and boned up the ass with a red hot poker for fedor
I believe Bobby Lashley can and will take out Brock Lesnar based on the simple fact of the combination of strength, speed, and conditioning are similiar grounds. Lashley has proven just how fast he can lock up a submission. And I believe he’d have no problem putting that bull to sleep.
BROCK LESNER IS GOING TO BEAT BOBY LASHELY UP HE IS NO MATCH FOR BROCK LESNER HE IS THE GREATEST TAKE A CHILL PILL BOBY LASHELY YOU STEROID ASS.
BOBY LASHELY CAN’T STAND A CHANCE IN FRONT OF BROCK LESNER HE HAS THE ORIGINAL POWER WHICH NONE OF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND UNTIL YOU GUYS WORKOUT ON THE OTHER HAND BOBY LASHELY IS JUST STEROIDS FULL OF STEROID NO NATURAL POWER HE IS GOING TO FED UP IN FEW SECONDS HE CAN NOT EVEN RUN 4YARDS STEROID ASS.
hey crazy chris,im not sure what your taking about but if you look into some of the fighters fedor has fought they are 325 lbs sometimes more, you need to remember PrideFC never had a cap for weight in the heavyweight division. And Fedor has the best highlight reel out of any heavyweight in any organisation
Oh yeah and josh barnett got tested positive and bobby lashley was a option and he denied going against fedor for affliction 3 which then brought the card down as they had no highlight.
Crazy Chris, that’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.
Fedor has, on numerous occasions, fought guys bigger than Brock. He’s never fought anyone as athletic as Lesnar. Fedor doesn’t care about fighting Lesnar. He doesn’t care about fighting Randy. That’s not how he is.
He just wants to fight. That’s part of what makes him a great fighter.
NADIEN LE PUEEDE GANAR A BROCK LESNAR
Brock lesnar beat the much older randy if lashley layed on everyone instead of fighting he would suffocate them all to
anyone who can potentially kick brock’s ass, Im cheering for.
go B-L
Dude in my opinion Bobby Lashley is a black brock, you what that means. Go Lashley. Btw I’m not black.
I think all of you guys are crazy. Bobby Lashley would destroy Brock. Brock has no stand up game and very little if at all submissions. Bobby is taking the right route. He is starting off at the bottom and working his way up the latter. If and when the match up ever takes place Bobby would beat Brock in striking until Brock falls hard. But, before Bobby gets that chance Kimbo Slice will win the UFC contract on this years show and get his chance first with Brock. Kimbo Slice is going to beat the living crap out of Brock. I also think that Randy is going the win his next fight to get a rematch with Brock and win. Brock is over rated and has no stand up. If he fights any fighter with good stand up he will get the crap beat out of him………
Both are great athletes…and you’re on crack if you don’t think Lesnar has been through more than a few cycles. All things being equal, if they fought now…Lashley wouldn’t make it out the first round. Lesnar is getting top notch training…but Lashley is being MUCH smarter. When they finally do meet, I can guarantee Lashley will be the more rounded fighter.
K guys serious i agree with the truth lashley will prove a powerful opponent against brock. lashley is being taken for granted and shouldnt be underestimated by brock lesnar. So the truth is this fite really could go either way.
U R ALL OUT OF YOUR MINDS! LASHLEY IS JUST AS STRONG AS LESNAR, IS ALSO A DECORATED WRESTLER, AND IS MUCH QUICKER THAN LESNAR-THESE R ALL FACTS!! NOT OPINION-ONLY JOHN_PAUL SEEMS TO ACTUALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LASHLEY-THE REST OF YOU SOUND LIKE CHILDREN-THE HONEST ANSWER IS NO ONE CAN BEAT LESNAR BUT LASHLEY AND NO ONE CAN BEAT LASHLEY BUT LESNAR-DANA WHITE JUST DONT LIKE THE FACT THAT 2 OF VINCE MCMAHON’S FAKE FIGHTERS ARE GOING TO DESTROY HIS ENTIRE ROSTER AND THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT!! AND BY THE WAY LESNAR WASN’T ALWAYS DANA WHITE’S BOY-HE JUST HAS BEEN FORCED TO EMBRACE THE INEVITABLE UFC DOMINATION BY 2 WWE “ENTERTAINERS”–IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHO IS TRULY THE SUPERIOR FIGHTER THEY SHOULD COMPETE IN A BEST OUT OF 5 SERIES BECAUSE LIKE I SAID ON ANY GIVEN DAY ONE OF THESE GUYS COULD BEAT THE OTHER…U CAGE FIGHTING FANS DIDN’T WANT 2 SEE LESNAR SUCCEED NOW SIT BACK AND WATCH LASHLEY DO THE SAME-MY MONEY THOUGH WOULD BE ON LASHLEY–I THINK HIS SPEED WOULD BE THE DECIDING FAACTOR
THEY R BOTH JUICED, LET NOT PRETEND LESNAR GOT THAT BIG BY EATING HIS WHEATIES-I DONT THINK BROCK HAS HAAD ANY WORTHY OPPONENTS EITHER–HERRING IS OVERRATED,MIR TOO SMALL, AND COUTURE TOO OLD AND SMALL–WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT WILL, IT WILL SET PAY-PER-VIEW RECORDS
Okay i believe when brock recovers from sickness he has three fights to prove himself, shane carwin, bobby and fedor, imho if brock was to win all three of these, i think that could make him one of the best fighters of all time, maybe an exxaguration but i believe thats what it will take from him to truly prove himself, he is my favorite ufc fighter and lashley will be beaten, thats the least of his worries, get well soon brock.