As noted, former TNA Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley will be facing James Thompson at Bellator 145 in St. Louis, MO tonight. Sports Illustrated caught up with Lashley to talk about tonight's fight as well as balancing pro wrestling and MMA. Lashley also talked about his WWE run and problems with the current product.

"Wrestling has lost its sense of realism," said Lashley. "Some of these guys try to walk down to the ring with a mean look on their face, but you know they don't have a friggin' mean bone in their whole body. Umaga could legitimately beat people up. He was a tough, tough Samoan. I came from a legit wrestling and fighting background, so when we locked up, the crowd said, 'Oh sh--, now it's on.'"

See Also: Bobby Lashley Talks To Wrestling Inc. About CM Punk Winning Over Fans, If Kurt Angle Should Try MMA, If He'd Fight Fedor, Kimbo Slice

Lashley's WWE run ended in 2008. Lashley said that while he never returned to the company, has no issues with Vince McMahon.

"There is no bad blood between Vince and myself," said Lashley. "I still speak with Vince off and on, and Shane [McMahon] is a good friend. We text and joke around all the time, and I was just talking to him last week. But there are definitely some things in WWE that should happen and could happen, and there are people who are not in WWE but should be."

Lashley also talked about his future, CM Punk, never meeting Brock Lesnar, being in the dark about TNA's future and more. You can read the full interview by clicking here.

Source: Sports Illustrated