Somehow Bobby Lashley (6-1) has gone through three opponents without ever stepping foot in the Shark Fights cage. The Texas-based promotion's heavyweight merry-go-round lurched forward once again on Monday, as Shark Fights CEO Bud Brutsman announced Mark Martinez (4-1) as the new challenger to the former WWE star. MMA Junkie first reported the news.
Martinez is the fourth man to be linked the bout since Lashley signed a three-fight deal with Shark Fights in September. UFC veteran Tim Hague was originally announced to fill the position after former heavyweight champion Darrill Schoonover withdrew due to a shoulder injury. However Hague's name was quickly denied by promotion officials, despite an announcement from the official Shark Fights Twitter account stating otherwise. Following the bizarre series of events, Dave Huckaba was tapped for the championship tilt before withdrawing for undisclosed reasons.
Martinez, a 6'2" 251-pound veteran from Hobbs, New Mexico, now enters the fray on the heels of a four-fight win streak, including a knockout victory over Josh Luna in March. Shark Fights 21 will take place on November 11th at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. The event is slated for a December 23rd broadcast on FUEL TV.