Bobby Lashley's mixed martial arts credentials are suddenly growing as rock-solid as his mammoth biceps.

That much is becoming undeniable, especially after Lashley's first-round TKO of 322-pound freak Bob Sapp over the weekend at "Ultimate Chaos", a victory that moved the newcomer's MMA mark to 4-0 since his Dec. 13, 2008 debut.

While Sapp will never be confused with a top-flight threat in any promotion, he posed an experienced, enormous obstacle to Lashley, who thumped him with simplicity.

At 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, Lashley cuts a figure that's hard to miss, and boy is he coming.

One would figure it's only be a matter of time before the pro wrestling crossover warrants consideration from the top organizations to continue his MMA climb - regardless of his ties to the world of rasslin', or his obvious deficiencies in his new line of work.

Lashley might be nowhere near a refined product - his kickboxing skills remain untested and he's still not fluid in anything other than wrestling - but his athletic prowess and sheer potential should land him in a big-time promotion soon.

Why not?

When judging future stars, the bulging heavyweight garners high marks in these categories:

• Genuine ability: He has a strong wrestling base, already has one submission victory under his belt and easily handled Sapp, a recognizable personality despite his illegitimate game. Lashley would be a great addition to the UFC's heavyweight division, which already features some of the sport's most intriguing up-and-comers.

• Capacity to improve: He's 32 years old and is playing catch up, but he's likely in his athletic prime. He's grasping the sport quickly and can compensate for lack of knowledge with brute force.

• Determination: The guy is hell-bent on proving he's for real. For example, his one submission win came against Mike Cook, who made the mistake of poking fun at Lashley's WWE background. Lashley choked him out in 24 seconds.

• Considerable fame: While his pro wrestling career hasn't skyrocketed, Lashley's name is widely recognized and he could produce more fans and income for companies like the UFC or Strikeforce.

• Action-figure appearance: He is perhaps the only pro athlete in the universe who can trump Brock Lesnar in muscle circumference, which makes him an attraction and a fighter who can maintain fan interest even in defeat.

UFC President Dana White is too savvy to let this dude's massive earning power line the pockets of some other lucky, lesser promotion for much longer. It'll soon be impossible to ignore Lashley, regardless of how White feels about his continued dalliance with pro wrestling (he's contemplating a deal with TNA).

In this instance, the stern hand of the UFC should make concessions to land such a prospect - or lose out on his value for even longer. Every fighter is different, after all, and every case should be considered sensitively. Lashley's pro wrestling schedule is expected to be light. While it might present health risks or marketing conflicts with his MMA venture, it's not unreasonable given a man's right to pursue a decent living by whatever means available.

(By the way, the UFC and TNA each have contracts with Spike TV, providing a built-in chance for cross-promotion. Not that White would ever stoop to anything like sharing.)

No matter what, it figures to be a tough road for Lashley, thanks to his inevitable, indirect link to Lesnar,...