Bobby Lashley Would Dominate The UFC
Former WWE and ECW champion Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley pulverized mixed martial arts veteran fighter Bob “The Beast” Sapp via TKO less than two minutes into their bout Saturday night at “Ultimate Chaos” in Biloxi, Miss. Moments after the opening bell rang, Lashley (4-0) easily grappled the enormous Sapp (10-5-1) to the canvas.
Once Lashley, 32, seized the advantage, he connected with a vicious barrage of punches on Sapp, 35, until the onetime PRIDE and K-1 star tapped the mat to signal to the referee that he wanted the fight called at 1:17 of the first round.
"I got a good shot in the eye and was unable to see," explained the onetime University of Washington offensive lineman who was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. "He got me in the eye. No excuses, He got me down today and controlled it. Give it up to Bobby Lashley."
Lashley, a chiseled 255 pound physical specimen who attended Missouri Valley College and won three national amateur wrestling championships there between 1996 and 1998, acknowledged how important it was that he gained control of the matchup from the outset.
"Going up against Bob," Lashley noted of the man he surrendered 67 pounds to for the main event, "you always expect the big bulls. I had to take him down, cover and pound. The first thing is to win: ground-and-pound to wear the big man down. He has a big punch. I used my ground-and-pound and got out of there."
Lashley, who joined the United States Army after college and also continued to wrestle there, validated his desire to become a force in the cage with his flawless performance against “The Beast.”
"To all the heavyweights out there, if you're not looking at me, you better, because I'm coming,” warned Lashley.
Considering the savage fashion in which Lashley dispatched of Sapp last weekend, one can expect to see Lashley featured on more mainstream mixed martial arts promotions in the very near future.
“I'll take on all challengers,” continued the muscleman from Denver who is training at the highly touted American Top Team.
The President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dana White, should take notice of Lashley.
It is quite possible that “The Dominator” would dominate most heavyweights in the entire world.
Wang, Hughes & Mariano Rivera Are The Keys To A Yanks Championship
In Sunday’s 2009 Subway Series finale at Citi Field in Queens, the New York Yankees defeated the New York Metropolitans 4-2 to capture five out of the six games played between the cross-town rivals this year.
Erstwhile ace Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (1-6, 10.06 ERA) yielded two runs on four hits over 5-1/3 innings to earn his first victory since he suffered a season-ending foot injury running the bases in Houston against the Astros last June.
Wang, 29, entered the season with a .754 winning percentage (46-15) that was the best mark among active hurlers from 2006-2008 with a minimum of 60 starts.
However, Wang’s severely fractured foot was clearly not entirely healed at the start of the 2009 campaign and his putrid numbers emphasized that reality.
In his first three starts, Wang went 0-3 and compiled an unsightly 34.50 ERA before he was placed on the disabled list in late-April. Since being reactivated from the DL, the Taiwanese icon has exhibited gradual improvement on the mound and he seems destined to eventually regain the form that made him one of Major League Baseball’s most accomplished recent hurlers.
“It seems like every time he goes out there, he has more confidence,” said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada about the former 2-time 19-game winner. “If we get this guy straight, we’re going to have a fun summer.”
Bombers Manager Joe Girardi conceded that it was vital for Wang to achieve a victory from a mental standpoint.
“I think it’s a great win for him,” said the much-maligned Girardi. “Everybody needs a win, no matter how well you are pitching. You need to have some fruit for your hard work. And he got to be a part of something special.”
Wang was relieved in the sixth inning by Yankees prodigy Phil Hughes (3-2, 4.44 ERA).
Hughes, 23, the New York Yankees 2005 Minor League Player of the Year, pitched 1-1/3 scoreless innings and helped the Bombers ready themselves for a rendition of Metallica’s song “Enter Sandman.”
With 2 outs in the 8th inning and with the Yankees clinging to a precarious 3-2 advantage, Girardi decided to hand the ball to the great Mariano Rivera (1-2, 2.93 ERA).
Rivera, 39, a 9-time All-Star selection and 4-time AL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, easily registered 4 outs and attained the 500th save of his illustrious career.
“I didn’t expect any of this,” admitted Rivera when asked about the goals he had set for himself when he made his professional debut in the Bronx in 1995.
“It’s definitely special to be the second guy in the history of baseball to do it,” said Rivera, who trails only Trevor Hoffman on the all-time saves list. “But I’m a team player, all these 500 saves belong to my teammates and the great New York Yankees.”
The stoic Wang claimed he was certain that his first victory of the 2009 campaign was inevitable once “Mo” came trotting out of the Yankees bullpen.
“I knew we were going to win,” Wang said once he saw the greatest postseason hurler in the annals of baseball assume his position on the hill. “Mariano’s a very good pitcher and a very good closer. I was happy to see him get his 500th save.”
The Yankees (43-32) have recorded 5 consecutive victories and they currently stand 3 games behind the vaunted Boston Red Sox (46-29) for first place in the American League East.
The Bombers flaunt one of the most powerful and explosive offensive lineups in the sport and one can safely predict that they will continue to score runs at a relatively blistering pace.
So, like usual, pitching will ultimately decide the Yankees fate in the second half of the season.
If as expected Wang regains his prowess on the mound, he will be a vital asset for the Yankees once the All-Star break concludes in the middle of July.
Additionally, one can envision that Hughes will soon be promoted and supplant Brian Bruney in the imperative role of the 7th and 8th inning bridge to Rivera.
The Red Sox are a dynamic franchise that is run by the brilliant baseball minds of “Theo and the Trio” and it would be foolish to overlook the team based on Yawkey Way.
Nevertheless, if the Yankees hitting remains a constant and their starting pitching staff materialize as anticipated, the Yanks will be a force down the stretch.
If Phil Hughes develops into a dominant set-up man for Rivera, the Yankees will simply need to have an advantage on the scoreboard after 7 innings and the game’s outcome will often be determined by that point.
If Hughes proves capable in his impending slot, “Exit, light. Enter, night. Take my hand, we’re off to never-never land.”
There will be a 27th championship banner flying from the new Yankee Stadium come November.
Keywords: MMA, New York Yankees, UFC
