The future of the HW division

[EmpireWF]

Batista was a bigger wrestling star than Brock or Lashley, by a pretty wide margain.

If he fights Lashley or Walker on TV, it would probably challenge records.

Lashley was only a big star through the Vince/Trump angle and was never really on top.

Lesnar was on top for about 2-years or so before leaving.

Batista's 5-years did not see him do record business, although he was consistently on top for that time (off hand, I don't recall him doing many midcard stuff besides the match with Umaga at WM).

Matching him with Walker would do well, but Batista versus some joe schmo guy is not going to do much of anything IMO.

[JeremyHight]

Batista was a bigger wrestling star than Brock or Lashley, by a pretty wide margain.

If he fights Lashley or Walker on TV, it would probably challenge records.

Batistia was a bigger star than Lashley, but I think Brock had a lot more hype and definitely was seen as a legit monster. Batista was kind of that guy in the competition for the belt all the time, but wasn't all that revered by anyone (fans or coworkers).

Either way, Batista is going to get owned in MMA. He is old as shit, probably has bad ligament damage from steroids, and has zero wrestling or combat sport experience. I cannot wait to see the creampuff they set him up against, only to still have him lose.

[Rush]

Call me a MMA novice Rob...but isn't it a bad idea to get into MMA later on in your early 40's?

[CrimsonGhost56]

Call me a MMA novice Rob...but isn't it a bad idea to get into MMA later on in your early 40's?

if batista actually does sign hes going to be nothing more than a freak show. just there to grab ratings. he has little to none training in actual combat sports. their not going throw him in there with a legit HW cause it wouldnt even be sanctioned by an athletic commission. its not a bad idea for batista cause he would get a fat paycheck to play a punching bag.

[Liquidrob]

Call me a MMA novice Rob...but isn't it a bad idea to get into MMA later on in your early 40's?

pretty much what CG said, its just a ratings grab which they need and he won't be fighting elite guys, just like with Walker who fought a total can, maybe he gets Lashley and he will get smashed, but it will probably be a nice pay check

From what I read and seeing some of his training, they said he has trained for a couple years, but looks like more of stand up stuff and not ground fighting which isnt good, his kicks actually look decent and strong, but I'm sure he has zero cardio for MMA, once he gets put on his back he will be done

If he doesnt get Lashley right away, maybe they give him Walker, or they have to go with a HW that just likes to stand and never goes for takedowns, I'm sure they can find someone who does that

[Warner2BruceTD]

Batistia was a bigger star than Lashley, but I think Brock had a lot more hype and definitely was seen as a legit monster. Batista was kind of that guy in the competition for the belt all the time, but wasn't all that revered by anyone (fans or coworkers).

Batista headlined more PPV's and drew more money than Lashley & Brock combined.

With that said, with no legit sports backround, he will come into MMA with nothing more than curiosity interest, and without the buzz & hype that surrounded Brock.

He will threaten records if they can get him to face Lashley or Walker.

[CrimsonGhost56]

i dont think walker would even want to fight batista. money doesnt matter to him, im sure he wants to test himself more, and batista is definitely not a test to him

[SHOGUN]

Batista headlined more PPV's and drew more money than Lashley & Brock combined.

With that said, with no legit sports backround, he will come into MMA with nothing more than curiosity interest, and without the buzz & hype that surrounded Brock.

He will threaten records if they can get him to face Lashley or Walker.

Batista = Bob Sapp of the US?

[Warner2BruceTD]

The other thing about this, is you may not be able to get Lashley or Walker to take the fight.

Walker has made it clear he does not want to be a sideshow. He isnt treating MMA like a cash grab/joke. He knows his limits, wants to face guys of equal caliber, and may not want to be in a fight like this.

Lashley is taking this seriously as well. He has already turned down high profile fights, and has taken the slow route in his progression. I can't see him losing to Batista, because if nothing else he is a far far superior wrestler and would be light years ahead on the ground, but again, it may not be the kind of fight he wants.

[Warner2BruceTD]

i dont think walker would even want to fight batista. money doesnt matter to him, im sure he wants to test himself more, and batista is definitely not a test to him

Yeah, I just posted something similar.

In terms of the bold, they are actually very evenly matched. Both started into their 40's, one guy has one fight, the other has zero. Walker is a far superior athlete, but aside from that, from an athletic commission standpoint, it's a fair fight.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Batista = Bob Sapp of the US?

no

Kimbo had a shot, before he got Petruzzelied.

[CrimsonGhost56]

Yeah, I just posted something similar.

In terms of the bold, they are actually very evenly matched. Both started into their 40's, one guy has one fight, the other has zero. Walker is a far superior athlete, but aside from that, from an athletic commission standpoint, it's a fair fight.

i think the walker fight would be sanctioned as well, but walker would beat him handily. no one can hang with the elusive rock em sock em robot stand up.

[Liquidrob]

The other thing about this, is you may not be able to get Lashley or Walker to take the fight.

Walker has made it clear he does not want to be a sideshow. He isnt treating MMA like a cash grab/joke. He knows his limits, wants to face guys of equal caliber, and may not want to be in a fight like this.

Lashley is taking this seriously as well. He has already turned down high profile fights, and has taken the slow route in his progression. I can't see him losing to Batista, because if nothing else he is a far far superior wrestler and would be light years ahead on the ground, but again, it may not be the kind of fight he wants.

good points, but I don't think any AC would sanction Batista vs Lashley for his first fight, Lashley has like 6 fights now, Batista no combat sports background, SF doesnt have the pull with the AC's like Zuffa does, they couldnt even get Lashley fights against a couple guys with experience

I think they can talk Walker into it, it would get approved and is a good fight for both, the can tell Walker he is training at Cesars, AKA and Cesars have a bay area rivalary going, Walker loves the AKA guys, plus Batista isnt like Canseco, he is shunned by athletes for being a snitch, they just have to sell Walker on Batista being serious about it, but I wonder if he would even take it, this guy looks 265 and Walker is 220ish

On a Lashely note, I think he gets 1 more gimmie fight than he has to step up, Rogers would be a good fight, tough guy but Lashley could dominate on the ground, he was a very good wrestler and competed internationally

[Liquidrob]

If they don't go with Walker or Lashley, I wonder if they want him to get a win or use him to hype up 1 of there up and comers

Cormier has only 2 fights, 3 after this month

Lavar Johnson is a banger, but that probably wouldnt get approved because of the ammount of fghts he has, Shane Del Rosario either, I don't know if you can trust Batista to even win a gimmie fight at this point so if he losses you want it to be against someone you can promote

[Warner2BruceTD]

I don't know if you can trust Batista to even win a gimmie fight at this point so if he losses you want it to be against someone you can promote

You can always find one of those walking paycheck kind of guys, like Mike Bourke or Bo Cantrell. Or even someone like Tank Abbott or Jimmy Ambriz or Warpath, who have some name value but are beatable.

Actually, Tank vs. Batista would be quite the little ratings grabber undeneath a legit main event.