By Sean Farrell

Titan FC featured a great night of fights, but it also featured the anticipated return of Bobby Lashley. Bobby Lashley was originally scheduled to face James Jack, but a few weeks before the fight reports surfaced about Jack not returning Titan FC’s phone calls and Lashley’s opponent was changed to John Ott.

John Ott is a former middle weight who made the move to heavyweight. Ott and Lashley took this fight on 9 days notice with Ott weighing 215 pounds at fight time, far smaller than the heavily favored and much larger Lashley who weighed in at over 250.

The bout started as everyone expect, Lashley stalking and hitting a takedown. The onslaught ensued as Lashley followed up his takedown with a viscous series of ground and pound trying to end the fight until the bell. Ott’s face looked as if it went through the grinder, broken nose, cut brow, and blood covering the left side of his face which was swollen but he didn’t quit.

The second round Lashley appeared to be gassing out and he stalked a little slowly. The rust showed on the feet as Lashley’s stand-up was bad, but he managed to land another takedown and for almost 3 minutes of round two delivered another series of ground and pound. After two, Ott looks beat-up but Lashley looks gassed out and ready to drop if you nudge him.

In the final round, Bobby Lashley was holding his mouth piece half way out sucking wind like a fish out of water and Ott although beat up exploited it. Ott gained the upper hand for a brief moment on the feet gaining a series of chants from the crowd as he tried to slay Goliath. But it wasn’t to be, Lashley unleashed a series of jabs while not crisp or technically beautiful they were effective enough to get another takedown. Lashley then stalled and used his ground and pound in burst until the final bell. Lashley won a unanimous decision but the heart of Ott and the gassing of Lashley earned an even third round on two of the judges’ scorecards. Ott in his post fight interview said he wanted two more rounds, but it wasn’t a title fight as neither fighter is a champion as Ott was convinced he could’ve won. Lashley in his return said he felt great and it felt good to go the distance and get the time in.

Lashley has been out since his only professional loss to Chad Griggs in August of 2010. Lashley was diagnosed with mononucleosis after he was hospitalized for dehydration after the Griggs bout and was forced out of action. Lashley at one point was sick enough to where it jeopardized his fight career until this return fight with Ott. Lashley’s return was a personal triumph for him as he was never sure if he would ever fight again and will take the win no matter how ugly it was. As Bobby Lashley said after the fight “A win is a win.”

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