Bobby Lashley vs. Chad "The Gravedigga" Griggs at Strikeforce: Houston

per Sherdog

Former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Bobby Lashley will meet International Fight League veteran Chad Griggs in a featured heavyweight duel at Strikeforce “Houston” on Aug. 21 at the Toyota Center in Houston. Strikeforce officials on Friday made Sherdog.com aware of the matchup.

A four-time collegiate national wrestling champion, Lashley last appeared in January, when he stopped UFC veteran Wes Sims on first-round punches at Strikeforce “Miami” in Sunrise, Fla. The 34-year-old American Top Team-trained heavyweight has finished four of his first five opponents inside one round. Lashley holds notable victories against Bob Sapp and Jason Guida, brother of former Strikeforce lightweight champion Clay Guida.

Griggs will carry a three-fight winning streak into his promotional debut. Based in Tucson, Ariz., the 32-year-old firefighter has not competed since he knocked out Jon Alexander with elbows under the Rumble in Wyoming banner in April 2009. In nine professional bouts, Griggs has never gone the distance. He owns six first-round finishes among his eight wins, including 18-, 43- and 62-second victories.

A pair of five-round title fights will headline Strikeforce “Houston,” as light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal defends his crown against Rafael Feijao and Ronaldo Souza meets Tim Kennedy for the vacant middleweight belt. The event will also feature a showdown between former EliteXC lightweight champion Karl James Noons and UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel.

I dont know a ton about Griggs but I am assuming Lashley should dominate this fight! I think SF has bigger plans for him.

All i know he's 8-1 with almost all his wins coming in the first round...but his competition has been fairly weak but a little stronger than Sparks...on paper, Lashley's most game opponent but we'll see.

Atleast Griggs looks like a fighter who is in good shape unlike everybody Lashley has fought,

Well hopefully if Bobby beats this guy than it is really time to step up alittle in competition.

not a bad opponent lets see if Lashley actually shows up

This is a good opponent for Lashley at his stage with as frequent as he fights. Let's just hope the fight really happens.

agree on all counts wolf

If Lashley wins SF needs to give him a known fighter. Del Rasario to Fedor or bust! Sapp and Guida are ass, and Simms is a shell of his former self who wasn't that good to begin with.

There is also Lavar Johnson. Donno why that fight hasn't been made. Maybe they want to milk as much as they can out of Big's comeback story.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

There is also Lavar Johnson. Donno why that fight hasn't been made. Maybe they want to milk as much as they can out of Big's comeback story.

Isn't he fighting that big Hawaiian guy who gassed out a few months ago on the Challengers Card next? You may have a point if that is the case. I am thinking that fight is on the Houston card also. I could be wrong though?

bigbeastcardinal12 wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

There is also Lavar Johnson. Donno why that fight hasn't been made. Maybe they want to milk as much as they can out of Big's comeback story.

Isn't he fighting that big Hawaiian guy who gassed out a few months ago on the Challengers Card next? You may have a point if that is the case. I am thinking that fight is on the Houston card also. I could be wrong though?

Nah the big hawaiian gassed against Lavar. though that big Hawaiian(Mahia, or something along those lines) is due to fight Del Rosario on this friday's Challenger card.

Lashley vs a guy we've never heard of b4? I hope he get's his ass kicked.

Oh and this Grigg's Character is a smallish hwy whose opponents have been a complete joke, his last fight was against a guy who was making his MMA debut, his previous fight was against a guy in his 2nd MMa fight, the fight b4 that was against a guy who is 7-14.

Bigfoot>Gravedigger

Kyle Maynard>Bobby Lashley

Pumped about this card being in Houston!