Former WWE and TNA Wrestling superstar, Bobby Lashley (7-1) was victorious in his Shark Fights debut last night, after submitting Karl Knothe (20-6) in the first round of Shark Fights 21 in Lubbock, Texas to become the Shark Fights Heavyweight Champion.

Lashley was originally expected to make his debut against Darrill Schoonover for the Heavyweight Championship, however Schoonover, a former contestant on Season 10 of UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter, was forced to pull out of the fight due to an injury, with Shark Fights making the call that Schoonover’s title would be defended with a new opponent to be announced for Bobby Lashley. Shark Fights then shortly after announced that Lashley would fight Tim Hague in the main event, however Hague then pulled out of the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced in the main event by Dave Huckaba, however on November 7th, it was announced that the fight had been scrapped once again for unknown reasons. With Shark Fights scrambling to announce a replacement, the company went to Mark Martinez, however Martinez had to pull out late, with an explanation given that his blood work had expired, which is when the company then went to Karl Knothe on short notice giving him the title opportunity.

Many people are now under the expectation that Lashley will defend the title against Darrill Schoonover, once Schoonover recovers from his injuries. Lashley has also been talking up a potential fight against former WWE superstar Dave Batista, however it remains to be seen as to whether Batista could come to a deal with Shark Fights to fulfill his MMA aspirations, or whether it will take place for another MMA promotion.