5 Lessons Learned From Bellator 123

4. Bobby Lashley Can't Fight Cans Forever, So Give Him Kongo

Bobby Lashley dominated and decimated Josh Burns at Bellator 123, winning his Bellator debut and earning his 11th victory since turning pro. He took Burns down at will, unloaded some vicious ground and pound, but didn't really do too much to show he'd grown as a martial artist since last we saw him. Realistically, he needs to incorporate some leg kicks and really work on his striking game, though he did throw a couple of shots standing. His submission game remains strong, however, and he attempted to work a keylock in the first. His wrestling will always be his bread and butter of course. Lashley took Burns down in the second round after the crowd had grown restless with the tepid standup dance the two were putting on to start the frame, passed guard, landed more shots to the bloody face of burns, then managed to sink in a rear-naked choke as Burns attempted to escape, just as Kongo had done in the first fight. There's no time like the present for Lashley. In the Bellator heavyweight division, you've basically got Lavar Johnson, who is now 1-3 in the promotion and probably close to being cut, Kongo, who has had a title shot but could be due another, and Lashley, when it comes to recognizable names. You also have champion Vitaly Minakov, and former champ Alexander Volkov. Volkov may get the next title shot, as he has three straight wins, and lost the belt to Minakov back in November 2013, but he's not the most marketable name, so he may find himself passed over. If Kongo doesn't get an immediate shot, Kongo vs. Lashley is the match to make. A loss for either to the other doesn't hurt them all that much, and the winner winds up being a legit contender for the Bellator heavyweight throne.