UPDATE – October 24, 2011 – Darrill Schoonover is OUT of his planned main event bout with former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley at Shark Fights 21 due to injury and has been replaced with UFC vet Tim Hague. Shark Fights 21 is scheduled to take place November 11th in Lubbock.
AMARILLO, TX, October 12, 2011 – The heavyweight title will finally be in play for Shark Fights when they return to Lubbock, TX for Shark Fights 21 next month on November 11th.
Former Ultimate Fighter and El Paso native Darrill Schoonover (11-5) won the title way back in May of 2009 but has never defended it after the UFC came calling with an offer to appear on the Spike TV reality show. Notably a a frequent target for opposing coach Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Schoonover was defeated by Marcus Jones on the show prior to falling to James McSweeney in The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale back in December of 2009 that would serve as the start of five straight losses in MMA competition.
Now fresh off his comeback win in July and returning to the organization that saw him win his first professional title, the US Army vet will be facing literally his biggest opponent yet in ex-WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (5-2), a fighter he wants to prove is nothing more than hype to his substance.
Standing at 6’3 and usually weighing in at the 265 limit, Lashley won two national titles at the amateur level prior to converting to MMA after his run working for Vince McMahon and crew. Bobby was being billed as a future star in the sport and went 5-0 before having his momentum derailed by an unheralded Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: Houston in August 2010. He’s since won at Titan FC this past March and is looking to garner even more respect in this upcoming bout.
“I’m a new fighter now and I want to show people something different than what they expect of me,” Lashley said about what’s been doing in preparation. Training with ex-UFC champion and Strikeforce Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett, he’s determined to show he’s not just some crossover aberration but rather in MMA to stay. “I’m not going to just take my opponents down and ground and pound them. I’m going for the submission or maybe I will stand up and knock them out.”
As for the rest of the Shark Fights 21 card, it’s still taking shape but the co-main event will feature submission ace Tony Bonello (16-1-1) taking on another UFC veteran in David Roberts (5-8) for the Shark Fights Light Heavyweight Championship.
“This is going to be a huge night of fights,” remarked Shark Fights executive Wes Nolen. “We wanted to end the year strong with two championship fights in one night. Shark Fights is excited to be going back to Lubbock, Texas. The fans in Lubbock have always been supportive of Shark Fights and we want to put on the biggest show possible for them.”
Shark Fights 21 will take place on Friday, November 11, 2011 at The Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas and will be broadcast via tape delay on FUEL TV beginning December 23, 2011. For more information, or current Shark Fights news, please visit www.sharkfights.com.
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