Now more and more it looks as if Fighting and Entertainment Group, the Japanese-based parent company of both famed kickboxing organization K-1 and MMA promotion DREAM, is headed towards the point of no return. Rumors of financial instability abound, and it seems as if nothing short of a drastic overhaul undertaken by a fresh crop of new investors with deep pockets could save FEG. Bob Sapp, who was once one of Japanese MMA’s biggest idols, recently chimed in with his opinion on the matter. ...

In their heyday, both David "Batista" and Bobby Lashley were two of some of the most polarizing figures in the world of professional wrestling. The epidemy of strength, speed, and entertainment--these two always delivered. However, Lashley's foray into his new world, in mixed martial arts, has not gone quite as swimmingly. Since his inception into MMA, which started on the regional circuit, garnering notable victories over the likes of journeyman Jason Guida (that's right, the former "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8 hopeful and brother to lightweight fighter Clay Guida) and former K-1 star Bob Sapp. A 4-fight unbeaten streak helped set him up in the big show of Strikeforce, where on his third fight in the promotion, he lost via TKO against the unheralded Chad Griggs. Now in need of a gimmick to get Bobby back into the limelight, why wouldn't this be the best time to bring in "The Animal" to lock horns with "The Dominator"--at least, that's what Scott Coker thinks. ...

Strikeforce is still working on getting the contracts signed for Fighters.com's second-ranked super heavyweight "Dominator" Bobby Lashley (4-0) and fifth-ranked "Titan" Jimmy Ambriz (14-8) for the January 30 Strikeforce car in Miami. According to most reports there is no guarantee this fight will take place. Bobby Lashley is a man Strikeforce is hoping will develop nicely and be a star for the promotion, yet I see Bobby Lashley being unable to make the climb to the top tier of mixed martial arts (MMA).  There is no denying that Lashley is an athlete. He is a two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) wrestling champion. He wrestled in the Army and was training to compete in the Olympics in 2003 before being injured. After the injury Bobby went to professional wrestling where he would later become a "world champion" He has natural athletic ability but his wrestling credits are not on par with the likes of another pro wrestler turned MMA fighter, Fighters.com's second ranked heavyweight and UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1). Brock's success inside the Octagon have come from his massive size advantage accompanied by his elite wrestling abilities. It is tough to compare a NAIA champion to a NCAA National champion but most would agree that the better wrestler would be the NCAA champion. Brock is not someone we can compare Lashley to despite the parallels in their careers. Bobby is not Brock and will not see the success Brock has seen thus far in MMA. ...

Fighters on DREAM.11's card weighed-in in Yokohama Monday in advance of Tuesday night's fight card.  All fighters made the weight limits. ...

Lightweight "Crusher" Tatsuya Kawajiri (25-5-2) and "Barracuda" Melchor Manibusan (1-1) will matchup at DREAM 11 in Yokohama October 6, DREAM announced Friday. Also, "Beast" Bob Sapp (10-5-1) was officially announced as the replacement for injured “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) versus "African Assassin" Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) in the Super Hulk tournament and “JZ” Gesias Cavalcante (12-2-1) was officially withdrawn due to injury from his matchup versus Daisuke Nakamura (18-9).  Both moves had been expected. ...

Reliably adequate Nor Cal MMA promotion Strike Force put on a snoozer Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. The event headlined by "The Beast" Bob Sapp's North American MMA debut was beamed live in HD on HDNet. BUM-BUM BUM-BUM BUM-BUM BUM Sapp was TKO'd in 55 seconds by 2-5 South African Jan Nortje. That's about as anti-climactic as the fight, which began with Sapp entering the cage to the theme music of "2001: A Space Odyssey". But, don't shed a tear for "The Beast", who drops to 9-3-1, nor raise your hopes that the cartoon will end. Sapp has lost before and reportedly has a fight waiting for him 15 March in Dream's inaugural promotion in Japan.  He's still a draw in the East. "The Beast" will live on. Fast-rising middleweight Cory Devela notched a big name on his belt when "Diesel" Joe Riggs was forced to submit at 1:22 of the first round after a judo throw caused an injury in Riggs's back. Devela raises his record to 8-1, while Riggs falls to 27-10. There's been no word on the nature or severity of Riggs's back injury, but Riggs was forced off a WEC card last year due to a back injury. "GameBred" lightweight Jorge Masvidal continued his seven-fight streak with a unanimous decision over 9-3-1 Ryan Healy. Masvidal has posted wins versus Yves Edwards, Nuri Shakir, and Joe Lauzon and seems ready to step-up in competition. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion "Mo" Maurice Smith welcomed veteran kickboxing star "The Jet" Rick Roufus to MMA, submitting the K-1 fighter in an armlock at 1:53 of the first round. On the undercard, Washington welterweight "Fast" Eddy Ellis pulled even at 14-14-1 with a unanimous decision versus "Red Nose" Steve Berger. Hometown heavyweight Mychal Clark punched Josh Bennett's eye swollen shut to register a TKO at the end of two rounds. "Fancy Pants" Lyle Beerbohm remained undefeated after submitting fellow welterweight "Relentless" Ray Perales in a guillotine choke 1:19 into round three. Heavyweight Mike Hayes won his pro MMA debut over Matt Kovacs in a unanimous decision. Zach Skinner ruined Scott Shaffer's MMA debut with a unanimous decision victory. Finally, Nathan Coy improved to 3-0 after knocking out debuting Dave Courchaine in the first round. ...