Strikeforce, Others Scouting Lashley

After only two pro fights, the vultures have started to circle, or at least inquire about former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley.

Promoters are on the hunt for the next Brock Lesnar, which is understandable. The former WWE heavyweight champion’s three UFC pay-per-view appearances have drawn between 650,000 and 1 million reported buys –- a surge that indicates pro wrestling fans are also tuning in.

A self-professed free agent, Lashley told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown Show” on Monday that he’s already been in contact with the Palace Fighting Championships, Xtreme Fighting Championships and certain unnamed promotions in Japan. Then there’s Strikeforce, of course, which recently inked a multi-year deal to air their events on Showtime.

“We’ve talked to [Strikeforce],” said Lashley. “The guys out there, with Scott Coker, we’ve talked to. I think they have a great organization. I think the thing about them is that they have a quality show and they earned the respect of all the MMA people out there. That’s one thing we’ve been talking about with them.”

Lashley said he’s been impressed by Coker and the Strikeforce team’s business acumen.

“A lot of guys go out there and feel like they need to take on the UFC and I know that’s not what Scott Coker is about,” said the three-time college wrestling champion. “He’s about putting on great shows for the people and if it builds, it builds, and if it doesn’t build up to the UFC quality level at least you’re still putting on quality shows out there with quality fights.”

Lashley, 32, graced the sport for a second time in Pensacola, Fla., last Saturday in a hybrid MMA-boxing event promoted by aging star Roy Jones Jr.

Originally set to face Ken Shamrock before he was suspended for steroid use in California, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Lashley went the distance with journeyman light heavyweight Jason Guida (17-20), who gave the Armed Forces champion problems at certain moments before and during the fight. In the third round, Guida latched on a guillotine choke, but was unable to finish the persistent Lashley.

“I think I went to sleep and then came back to,” Lashley said. “The guillotine was tight, I’ll tell you that for truth … . I had friends and family watching back home and my fiancée had said something. She said that Bobby would rather die than tap. And at that point that’s what was going through my head. At that point I think a lot of people in my situation would have tapped too. I told myself, ‘At this point if I’m going out, I’m going out.’ I pulled my head out after that and I finished it.”

Eager to learn, Lashley noted what he gleaned both in and out of the ring.

“Everything from the beginning of the fight and the press conference where things got a little heated, maybe he was trying to get me out of my game and being a relatively new fighter, he got to me a little bit,” he said. “Those are some of things I have to work on so I can stay focused for my match.”

Despite his stumbles against Guida, Lashley emphasized the bigger picture when it comes to his development.

“There are more pros than cons in this fight,” said Lashley, who has trained in two to three intervals with the noted American Top Team. “Going three rounds, knowing that I can go three rounds. My shape is great, but when I went out there I didn’t really push the action like I should’ve. I haven’t really taken any time off from training. I’m training as early as today. Let’s go hit some mitts and I’m working with my boxing coach to help develop my boxing. I’m going to hit some cardio and we’re going to do some training today. I’m getting right back into it and hopefully we can get another fight in the next four, five, six weeks.”