By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker shed more light on his evaluation that former WWE and TNA wrestler Bobby Lashley has some "soul-searching to do" on his MMA future in an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com.

"Bobby Lashley, I think he has some soul-searching to do. When we talk to him next week or tomorrow or Monday, we're going to have that conversation. It's going to be interesting. We'll support him in what he wants to do," Coker said in the interview conducted after the "Strikeforce: Houston" post-fight press conference.

Coker said the ball is in Lashley's court on whether he wants to put in the time and dedication to return to MMA fighting as a legitimate competitor, especially in Strikeforce's tough heavyweight division.

"With Lashley, I think the true test happened tonight. Sometimes it's good for a fighter to go out there, test himself, and maybe it doesn't work out. Then, what's he going to come back? How is he going to come back? That's going to be the key to see if he really wants to be an MMA fighter - how is he going to come back? We facilitate these fights, but he's going to have to have the desire to do that and I hope he does. He's got physical talent, he just has to put it all together," Coker said.

In a follow-up question, Coker was asked whether Lashley has what it takes to be a legitimate MMA fighter. Coker said he believes Lashley has a ways to go, and the spotlight being on him due to his WWE background has increased the pressure to perform quickly.

"He has a ways to go obviously, right? Let's be honest. Where he's at as an MMA fighter, he's at the beginning stages," Coker said. "Does that mean he should stop? He just has a lot of focus on him because of his WWE background and his collegiate background, but mostly the WWE, so people have these high expectations, but, to me, I've always managed those expectations in my mind because he's only had a handful of fights. To me, the true test of a martial arts fighter is how he comes back and that's up to him."

Video: Coker's comments on Lashley pick up at the 1:00 mark. He also touches on the proposed Lashley vs. Batista fight we detailed in this report.



URL: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/08/22/scott-coker-comments-on-upsets-paul-heymans-future-with-strike/

[Photo Credit: Esther Lin / STRIKEFORCE]

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