Associated Press
Bobby Lashley answers questions during a Strikeforce press conference in Miami Lakes, Fla. on Jan 12, 2010.
Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 | 1:48 p.m.
Fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem fill Strikeforce's heavyweight division with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Undefeated prospect Bobby Lashley is ready to see where he ranks among them.
Lashley will look to improve upon his 5-0 record as a professional Aug. 21 when he meets Chad Griggs (8-1) at the Strikeforce: Houston event.
If he takes out Griggs, the 34-year-old Lashley says he's ready to take on the division's best in 2011.
"I'm really confident on where my level is," Lashley said. "If this fight goes the way I hope it will go, I'm going straight for the top. I know what my abilities are, and hopefully I'd look at a title shot at the first part of next year."
The talk of a title shot might sound premature considering Lashley has not faced a heavyweight anyone would be likely to rank among the top 20.
But although Lashley hasn't fought some of the best yet, he has trained with them.
After spending most of his early mixed martial arts career working out at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., Lashley recently relocated to the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif.
The gym is home to Cain Velasquez, the UFC's current No. 1 heavyweight contender.
"Cain is probably the best heavyweight there is right now," Lashley said. "You've got to be ready training with him. The guy has got great conditioning and it's been good mixing it up with him and (Strikeforce heavyweight, Dan) Cormier.
"We've had some great practice sessions, and I know my conditioning is not going to be a factor."
In Griggs, Lashely seems finally to have received an opponent he sees as a legitimate threat to slow his path to the top.
Griggs is riding a three-fight win streak, with all bouts ending in the first round.
Although Lashley is confident in his ability to handle Griggs in Houston, he admitted this matchup makes more sense than some of his previous ones.
"I think he might be underestimated," Lashley said. "The guy has an 8-1 record and a lot of knockouts to his credit. You have to compare that to what I have done with a 5-0 record. I think he's right in line as an opponent for me."
Should Lashley get his wish and compete for a title in the near future, he'd be the second former WWE star to fast-track his way to a title.
In 2008, Brock Lesnar faced Randy Couture for the UFC heavyweight title despite holding a professional record of just 2-1.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has taken Lashley through a slightly more deliberate path, although he recently admitted that should Lashley improve to 6-0, it probably would be time to test him against the best.
"I always said to myself, 'what is Bobby going to look like in 18 months?'" Coker said. "With his athletic ability and wrestling, the sky is the limit.
"One guy he has to get through is Chad. That's got to be the first thing that's on the top of his mind. As you all know, (Strikeforce) has a few of the top heavyweights in the world, and Bobby will fit right in there."
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting
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