Lashley to star at MFC 21

Maximum Fighting Championship on Tuesday announced the fight card for its MFC 21 "Hard Knocks" event scheduled for May 15 at the River Cree Resort & Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

An MFC light heavyweight title bout between UFC veteran Trevor Prangley and Emanuel Newton headlines the fight card. A co-main event superfight features former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley in his MFC debut against Mike Cook.

Prangley has been on a tear since leaving the UFC in 2006. Since then, he has managed to go 8-1 in his fights, losing only to Jorge Santiago, who defeated Prangley in the final of a four-main, one-night tournament for Strikeforce.

An MFC veteran, Newton is on a nine-fight winning streak. The title bout with Prangley, however, will likely be the toughest test to date for the Bodyshop Fitness Team fighter.

Lashley has garnered a lot of attention in the world of MMA since his decision to transition from professional wrestling into a full-time career in fighting. He is 2-0 thus far, and has filled up his dance card for the foreseeable future. After the bout with Cook, Lashley is scheduled to fight in Biloxi, Miss., in June and plans to fight for XFC in September.

A California-based fighter, Cook cut his teeth on the regional scene fighting for promotions like Strikeforce and Palace Fighting Championships. With a 6-3 professional record, he has faced another WWE veteran in Daniel Puder, coming up short, tapping out to a rear naked choke in their fight. He believes he is prepared for the challenge Lashley represents. "A lot of people are going to watch this fight to see if he's going to get better," Cook told the Visalia Times-Delta. "A lot of promoters want to see what he's got. They think he's using me as a stepping stone and that's fine if he wants to look at it that way. But I'm going to come in prepared to fight."

MFC 21 "Hard Knocks" Fight Card: -Trevor Prangley vs. Emanuel Newton -Mike Cook vs. Bobby Lashley -David Heath vs. Travis Galbraith -Andrew Buckland vs. John Alessio -Mychal Clark vs. Ryan Jimmo -Marvin Eastman vs. Aron Lofton -William Richey vs. Ryan Fortin -Jeremy Combrink vs. Jason Heit -Dwayne Lewis vs. Jay Whitford -Nolan Clarke vs. George Belanger