Ex-WWE fighter eases into MMA

Bobby Lashley has an obvious example to follow as he tries to transition from the world of sports entertainment to professional mixed martial artist.

Lashley, however, is taking a more cautious path to the upper echelon of his new sport than fellow former World Wrestling Entertainment star Brock Lesnar did before him.

Lesnar entered the Ultimate Fighting Championship for his second pro fight and won the heavyweight belt in his fourth bout.

Lashley still finds himself in the minor leagues of MMA in his fourth professional appearance, in which he will headline a small promotion in Biloxi, Miss., against Bob Sapp on Saturday.

Dubbed “Ultimate Chaos,” the bout probably will be more rumble than MMA exhibition.

“Let’s be honest, this fight is going to be a train wreck. It’s two guys going out there to bang, and it’s not going to take three rounds to do it, either,” Lashley said at a news conference. “One, maybe two.”

Like Lesnar, Lashley had impressive amateur credentials before he started competing in the WWE’s scripted matches.

Lashley won back-to-back NAIA national titles in 1997 and 1998 for Missouri Valley College and won two Armed Forces titles while wrestling in the Army. He has started his professional MMA career with three wins, including two in the first minute.

Sapp, a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1997, is a fighting star in Japan. He represents Lashley’s most accomplished opponent to date.

“He’s big and strong, but he’s yet to be tested,” Sapp said. “I’m here to give him his test, and I’m here to let you know it is going to be an F.”

In the co-feature, Pedro Rizzo will meet Gilbert Yvel in a heavyweight bout.

Also, Tom Atencio, the vice president of Affliction, will compete in his second professional fight.

The event is available on pay per view at 6 p.m.

• BONUS MONEY — The UFC routinely awards cash bonuses after its cards for “Fight of the Night,” “Submission of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night.” The amount of these awards varies by card.

On Saturday, however, six fighters earned $25,000 extra for “Fight of the Night” bonuses. That’s because three fights were pegged for the prize for the first time in the organization’s history.

Diego Sanchez’s decision over Clay Guida in the main event was an obvious choice, but Chris Lytle and Kevin Burns also had an entertaining fight, as did Joe Stevenson and Nick Diaz.

Lytle made $36,000 for the fight, so the extra bonus money was a welcome addition.

Burns, who was in the hospital for a broken hand suffered during the bout, had made just $9,000 for the fight before the bonus money.

Tomasz Drwal, who had the card’s lone knockout, won knockout of the night, and Jason Dent won for best submission.

• WEC CARD ADDS BOUT — The World Extreme Cagefighting card scheduled to be headlined by a bantamweight title bout between Miguel Torres and Brian Bowles on Aug. 9 at the Hard Rock Hotel has been bolstered by the addition of a contender match in the same weight class.

Joseph Benavidez will meet Dominick Cruz in a bout that could determine the next opponent for the winner of the title fight.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.