Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley has pleaded with Bellator MMA’s top brass for a big-name opponent for his next fight and has two very specific opponents in mind.
Lashley who is 40-years0old holds an impressive MMA record of 15-2 despite finding fame through professional wrestling and has fought under the Bellator banner since 2014. Most recently he returned after a year away from the sport in October 2016 to defeat Josh Appelt at Bellator 162.
Lashley wants “payday” fights at this stage in career
Wanting a quick return to the cage and with his age playing a factor, Lashley has spoken out about wanting the biggest name fights and desiring bigger paydays at this point in his career. Talking to SunSport, the Heavyweight singled out both Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko and fellow WWE star Brock Lesnar as the two opponents he is most interest in fighting.
“I either want a big name, which is Fedor, or I want that title fight, that is what I want and I am waiting for,” said Lashley
“Brock is not in the UFC now, I just learned that. I told the boss that I wanted the Lesnar fight and he said he didn’t know and then I told him I wanted the Fedor fight and he said he didn’t know that either!
“I told him I have been calling and I want something
“They’re both big paydays and I am not getting younger but right now I am in great shape.”
Lashley with sights set on Heavyweight title in 2017
A Heavyweight tournament to crown a new Bellator champion is understood to be planned for early 2017 after former title holder Vitaly Minakov was stripped due to inactivity. With nothing in the works as of yet, Lashley looks set to take a fight on the Bellator 179 show in London on May 17.
“This next fight is just a warm-up fight to get back in and then target something afterwards,” Lashley said after learning his next opponent may not be a big name, but a UK-based opponent.
Bellator 179 will take place at Wembley Arena in London, England on May 17 and features a Welterweight main event between Rory MacDonald and Paul Daley.
