Bobby Lashley: Talks MMA, Fighting in the UFC, the WWE & Wanting to Fight Brock

Bobby Lashley has just about seen it all in his life. He has wrestled for the U.S. Army and ventured into the world of professional wrestling with the WWE and TNA.

Lashley then abruptly left the pro wrestling world and got into the world of MMA. But Lashley (6-1 MMA) is now going through his fourth different opponent and was currently scheduled at the time of the interview to face Mark Martinez (4-1) at Shark Fights 21 tomorrow night at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. Lashley told me it has been a trying process going through all these different opponents, but that he will be ready to go and wants to fight.

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Yeah, I think there might be another opponent again. It's been a headache. Its been really tough. Simply for the fact of trying to prepare and get ready. Then getting called every other day and week saying, 'So and so didn't do this, so and so didn't get his blood work in, so and so didnt't get this.' So it's been a little tough for me, yeah.

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When Lashley left the pro wrestling world, people thought Lashley was just in it because it was the thing to do at the time, with the sport growing and all. Lashley wants to accomplish a lot and then some in MMA.

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I want to accomplish everything I can. Right now, I'm fighting for a title. So that's the highest I can get in that organization (Shark Fights). I would like to stay and defend it a couple times and prove myself. Then whenever a bigger opportunity comes, I would like to go and jump on it. Then get into another organization, be it Strikeforce or the UFC, of course going for the gold to try and win it all.

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How soon does he feel he can get into the UFC?

"As soon as they let me."

Lashley knows he is going to need a few fights to get to where he wants to be and has his battle plan all laid out.

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I think I need about two, three impressive fights. I can't have a fight like my last one with (John) Ott. That I really wasn't prepared for. I can't have a fight like that. That's not going to open up any eyes. But I think, if I have a good showing on this one and maybe a good showing at the next two with Shark, I think that will definitely be a good reason to consider me.

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A lot of people still associate Lashley with pro wrestling. Lashley feels his former profession is in a unique situation right now in trying to see what fits in the eyes of the public.

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I think it's kind of in an experimental phase right now. I think they are trying out different things and trying to see what works. It's hard, it's hard. I think (Shane) Helms made a great comment before. He said, 'It's hard. It's like going to a pro football game and not putting in the starters.' It's kind off what you see a little bit right now when you turn on the channel. Professional wrestling, you see a lot of new people in there, so it's kind of a hard sell to the crowd. But you know, pro wrestling has been around forever and I think that it's going to take a little time for them to up. But with time, I think they'll do great.

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Brock Lesnar made his MMA debut in 2007 and his UFC debut in 2008. When Lashley left the WWE and TNA and ventured into MMA, the world made the comparison and immediately wanted those two giants to face off. Lashley feels the interest is still very high in the eyes of the public, and he definitely wants the fight to happen.

"Somebody's going have it. Either the UFC or the WWE. Somebody's going to pick up that fight. The people are screaming for it. So if they don't make it happen, somebody's going to make it happen."

Which arena does Lashley prefer to make this fight with Lesnar?

"I would like it see us have a fight first. Then shake hands after that and then take it to WrestleMania and do it bigger."

Update: At the time of this interview, Lashley was scheduled to face Mark Martinez, but now Lashley will face Karl Knothe at Shark Fights 21.

To listen to the entire interview with Bobby Lashley, click here.

You can follow me on Twitter @fightclubchi.