Could Bellator MMA Be Interested In Goldberg?

By Jay Anderson / February 2, 2015

He's pushing fifty, flopped in his WWE run, but he's still a huge name in the wrestling world, and now he's training with "King" Mo Lawal at American Top Team: Could Bill Goldberg, at age 48, have an MMA fight in his future? Before you completely dismiss the idea, consider that at the same age, Herschel Walker, NFL legend, fought in Strikeforce, then the second largest MMA promotion in the world, and run by one Scott Coker. The same Scott Coker who now runs Bellator MMA, owned by Viacom. The same promotion where King Mo remains a key star, with an upcoming fight against Cheick Kongo. And Mo thinks Bellator needs to reach out to Goldberg. Speaking to Submission Radio, Mo had the following to say about his current training partner:

Well first of all man, he€™s a fast learner. He has some crazy power, great athlete, very knowledgeable. Like it shocked me, because like a lot of guys in pro wrestling, they know this stuff, but they€™re kind of like, you know they€™re kind of quiet about it. He€™s a fan of the sport, he studies it. I don€™t know just mechanically he€™s good. I hope he gets a chance to fight. And I wouldn't mind bringing him in to my next camp if I fight at heavyweight. ... not for sparring; €™cause like I don€™t wanna get hit by him. I€™ve watched him throw a one-two. So if he touches me, I€™d be in pain or wouldn't feel nothing €™cause I€™d be sleeping. My needs are for body positioning because he€™s so strong, so quick and explosive and athletic that against the cage; like when I try and grab him, he just threw me off like I was like a little flea. He just threw me.

Mo went on to say, when asked if Goldberg should take some exhibition fights in MMA, that it's something the former WCW/WWE star should consider - but to fight at the pro level.

I would like to see him get in an MMA fight. First of all, the amateur fight, I wouldn't go out and fight that. For what? You know what I€™m saying? Like no one€™s going to fight him and if they try and fight him, they€™ll be somebody with experience that fought before, and lie, and tries to like take his head off. They€™ll pay miserably, but you know what, put him out there and let him fight on Spike TV. You know, why not? Let him fight on Spike TV. Let him headline a card. €˜Cause he has a big following, he€™s a superstar, a big fan base. If I were Bellator I€™d be talking to him like €œhey if you wanna fight let€™s €. You know, Anybody. If you€™re World Series of Fighting or somebody I€™d be like €œhey if you want to fight, we€™d love to put you on the card."

WIll Bellator take the bait? Coker has gone that route before. If an athletic commission was willing to license him (for which he'd need to pass a medical), he could do it. Walker won both his fights in his late forties, and Dan Severn fought into his fifties. Goldberg is no stranger to MMA either, having been a commentator for two promotions, including EliteXC. He has in the past dismissed an MMA bout due to his age, but left the door open by saying 'never say never.' It has a bit of a sideshow feel to it - but then, so does Kimbo Slice.