Former WWE star Bobby Lashley signs long-term deal with Bellator

MANILA, Philippines – Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar Bobby Lashley has inked a long-term contract extension with Bellator MMA.

The announcement was made on Saturday, March 21 (PH Time) via press release, but the terms and other details of the deal were not revealed.

“I’ve had two fights with Bellator, and I’m happy to be calling the promotion my home. Scott Coker and the company have really reignited my desire to fight and I’m looking forward to a huge year with some dominant wins,” the 38-year-old Lashley stated.

Lashley (11-2) is currently riding high on a five-fight winning streak since yielding to James Thompson via unanimous decision in May 2012.

The 6-foot-2 fighter known as “The Dominator” has scored two dominant finishes under the Bellator banner last year, submitting Josh Burns via second-round rear-naked choke in September before thumping Karl Etherington by first-round technical knockout a month later.

Lashley was scheduled to face Thompson in a rematch at February’s Bellator 134, but an injury compelled company officials to cancel the bout.

Fighting out of Denver, Colorado, Lashley has been a professional wrestling fixture since 2004, having a successful run in WWE from 2005 to 2008 before joining Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) Wrestling in 2009.

Lashley made the transition from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts in 2008, competing in organizations such as Strikeforce, Titan Fighting Championship, Shark Fights and India’s Super Fight League.

When he was signed by Bellator this past July, the organization allowed him to continue his sports-entertainment career in TNA, where he held the wrestling promotion’s world heavyweight title twice.

– Rappler.com