If you are like many other non-believers, you look at Bobby Lashley as an enigma.  The one question that has probably crossed your mind when looking at his image is, “why leave the millions you made in professional wrestling to start over in MMA?” That enigmatic query within itself lies the truth behind the man we all know as Bobby Lashley; that the pursuit of the ultimate challenge burns at the core of his being.  In this case the challenge is the behemoth known as mixed martial arts and as we all know, wrestlers are ripe for the challenge.

 “The whole time I was in the WWE I was still kind of training with a boxing coach working on my hands and I was kind of just doing that for cardio and to stay in shape.  I had the desire to continue to compete and that desire got greater and greater as some of my friends began to excel in the sport.  At the time I was successful in the WWE, however, I just wanted to get away and train and fight and make it to the top in MMA.”

 A la Brock Lesnar there seems to be a new renaissance within professional wrestling to awaken the sleeping “fighter” within.  As the tide rises in combat sports with boxing getting washed further and further away from popular thought like designs in the sand under a tide, MMA is the new aspiration.  Brock and Bobby are the recent converts forsaking financial gains available in the pro wrestling game to start out as newbie’s in MMA.  But have the flood gates opened with multitudes of wrestling pro’s lined up to provide a new glimpse into their athleticism?  According to Bobby, not likely.

 “A lot of people think it’s because we were professional wrestlers that we made the switch to MMA but no its because we were amateur wrestlers; there’s not very many amateur wrestlers in professional wrestling.  Professional wrestling is more entertainment than actual competition and not many of those guys have the background that I have or that Brock (Lesnar) has or maybe a Kurt Angle has so I don’t see many other professional wrestlers making that switch over, we’ve kind of limited that.  Maybe Kurt Angle might get out there and do a fight or two but outside of him I don’t think anyone else is going to make that switch over.”

 After two successful appearances in the cage, Lashley feels the transition was well worth it.  But in the beginning the simple fact was he didn’t know if he had what it took to be a professional MMA fighter.  The confirmation came during his first bout well before the referee declared him the winner.

 “You know every fight is kind of a test and I think was first test was getting out there and seeing how I felt when that cage door closed, that was a big deal.  When I got in there and that cage door closed I felt really comfortable which was a great feeling because it’s either or.  Some guys say you can have all the ability in the world but if you’re not a fighter you’re not going to make it and when I got in there for that first fight I realized I’m comfortable in here, this is where I belong, this where I feel right so I knew I was a fighter at that point.”

 The next big challenge, Mike Cook a seemingly well-rounded Heavyweight with 3 submission wins and 3 KO’s.  As challenges go, Lashley is rolling with the punches (no pun intended) looking at the bout as just another stepping stone in his path to greatness.

 “I don’t know if we picked (Mike Cook) out because it’s such a great fight for me I think it’s just think it was the fact that it was brought to our attention and we jumped on it.  He looks like a formidable opponent, good size Heavyweight; good stand up skills and just a good one to keep moving forward with.”

 Bobby Lashley might still be an enigma to many but the fact is clear: he is accomplished as a “real” wrestler and determined to make it in MMA.  Judge him or not, but fighters like Lesnar and Lashley are here to stay and if Lesnar is to be the primer, Lashley just might feel the warmth of an MMA belt around his waist too.  We all will be tuned in.