Reports: Ex-WWE stars to fight in MMA bout

from foxsports.com

Former WWE superstar and NAIA national wrestling champion Bobby Lashley will compete in his second pro fight against one of MMA's early ancestors, Ken Shamrock on March 21 in Pensacola, Fla., according to reports.

At 32, Lashley is 13 years younger than the UFC Hall of Famer. But at 45, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" possesses a wealth of experience with an illustrious career competing in Pancrase, PRIDE FC and the UFC.

Shamrock, the founder of the Lion's Den, rebounded from a five-fight losing streak when he submitted Ross Clifton in the first round on Feb. 13 at a Wargods and Ken Shamrock Productions co-promoted event.

With a record of 27-13-2, Shamrock has compiled victories over Masakatsu Funaki, Bas Rutten, Dan Severn and Kimo Leopoldo. Three losses to former UFC poster boy Tito Ortiz gained Shamrock much exposure, but by then his best days were behind him.

Shamrock is no stranger to professional wrestling fans. The Macon, Ga., native has kept up with his MMA training during stints in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), Ring of Honor and TNA Wrestling. He became WWF intercontinental champion during his time with the promotion from 1997 to 1999. In May 2002, Shamrock joined the upstart TNA Wrestling organization and became the promotion's NWA heavyweight champion.

A novice in the sport, Lashley has gained media attention following the success enjoyed by UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar when he made the transition from amateur wrestling to MMA.

Lashley took to the sport like Lesnar and could become a considerable force given his size and wrestling background. He has found a new home with the highly regarded American Top Team camp coming off a successful run with World Wrestling Entertainment where he became the promotion's ECW champion.

n his MMA debut for the World Fighting Alliance promotion in December, Lashley beat Joshua Franklin in just 41 seconds when the referee halted the bout due to a cut, giving Lashley his first win — a first-round TKO.

The intriguing heavyweight bout is on a card set to feature two other mixed martial arts bouts in addition to several boxing matchups. In heavyweight action, former IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson takes on controversial UFC veteran Jeff Monson. Meanwhile, Seth Petruzelli will compete for the first time since debunking the myth of Kimbo Slice at EliteXC's final event last year when he meets former WEC light heavyweight champion Doug Marshall.

The "March Badness" event will feature Roy Jones Jr. in the main event as he takes on Omar Sheika.