265 lbs: Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims
After a long search for a suitable opponent, Bobby Lashley’s Strikeforce debut has been finalized, as he will face off with UFC veteran and recent Ultimate Fighter contestant Wes Sims. Sims is coming off an embarrassing loss, but has a wealth of experience and has fought some of the best heavyweights in the world, while Lashley is a promising prospect but still very green,
Wes Sims is, to say the least, a colorful character. While he is known for being a goof and a joker, Sims’ size is no joke, and he is going to be a dangerous opponent for anyone based on that alone. Luckily for Sims he also has some skills, especially hard punching set up by his very long reach, that make him a tough nut to crack. What’s interesting about Sims is that, while he comes from the famed Hammer House camp, where he trained with legendary wrestlers Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman, his wrestling game is pretty terrible, and he lacks any significant offensive wrestling or takedown defense. Against Lashley, a very powerful wrestler, Sims is going to need to use his huge reach and his jab to keep Lashley at bay and set up his power shots.
Lashley, who made a name for himself in Brock Lesnar’s old stomping grounds of the WWE, has Strikeforce banking on the fact that he can show the same level of dominance as his old co-worker. Unlike Lesnar, though, who had captured the UFC Heavyweight Title in his fourth bout, Lashley is being built up slowly, and his toughest test to date has been over the hill kickboxer Bob Sapp. It is no great surprise that Lashley’s best attribute is his powerful wrestling, which is only made more dangerous by his size and bulk. His game plan against Sims will no doubt be to power the fight to the ground, where he has a huge advantage.
I get the distinct feeling that this is not going to be Sims’ night. In his last fight, he was completely bulldozed by a guy who has worse wrestling than Lashley does and is also noticeably smaller. I don’t see a way that Sims prevents Lashley from just throwing him on the ground and destroying him with ground and pound.
Fight Prediction: Bobby Lashley via first round T/KO.
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