Bobby Lashley finally has his opponent at "StrikeForce: Miami"

 

Around and around we go…and the wheel has finally stopped. Bobby Lashley has his opponent: recent Ultimate Fighter contestant and UFC veteran “The Project” Wes Sims.

The San Jose-based promotion will stage an event in Florida for the first time at “StrikeForce: Miami” on January 30th. Lashley (4-0) and Sims (22-12-1) will face off in a featured bout, and both will be making their debuts for the promotion. Originally, Lashley was supposed to face Yohan Banks (2-1), but the bout was deemed "uncompetitive" by the Florida State Boxing Commission. Then, globe-traveling veteran Jimmy “The Titan” Ambriz (14-12) was approved by the Commission, but StrikeForce scrapped the bout for unknown reasons. Enter Sims, and we have a completed bout.

“The Project” has been a professional fighter since 2001, when he made his debut against MMA legend Dan “The Beast” Severn. Sims has faced some top heavyweights, including former UFC Heavyweight Champions Frank Mir (twice) and Tim Sylvia (more on that later). Currently on a three-fight win streak (fights on The Ultimate Fighter are considered exhibitions), Sims will look to cement a spot in StrikeForce for himself at “Miami.”

Sylvia and Sims engaged in a memorable war of words in 2004 that culminated in a bout for Hawaiian promotion SuperBrawl. Sylvia dismantled Sims easily. Ironically, according to MMAJunkie, Sylvia recently posted on Twitter that he’ll be facing Sims at a “March 20 event in Ohio.” However, again according to Junkie, the Ohio State Athletic Commission has no MMA events on its docket for that day.

The full card for “StrikeForce: Miami” has finally been completed, and features:

MAIN CARD
• Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis (for vacant welterweight title)
• Champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Marloes Coenen (for women's featherweight title)
• Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef
• Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims
• Greg Nagy vs. Herschel Walker

PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)
• Jay Hieron vs. Joe Riggs
• Pablo Alfonso vs. Marcos da Matta
• Michael Byrnes vs. David Zitnik
• Sabah Homasi vs. John Kelly
• David Gomez vs. Craig Oxley
• Hayder Hassan vs. Ryan Keenan