We posted earlier this week about a report that former pro-wrestler and Strikeforce veteran Bobby Lashley might be the next opponent for Fedor Emelianenko. Apparently there's not a lot to those rumors. Evgeni Kogan, director of operations for M-1 Global spoke to USA TODAY and threw cold water on the Lashley story:

"There are currently no concrete conversations about Bobby being the next opponent for Fedor," Kogan wrote, adding that Emelianenko probably will fight two or three times this year. Possible locations for the summer fight include Monaco and Russia, according to Kogan.

The 35-year-old Lashley (7-1, 1-1 Strikeforce) is the current Shark Fights heavyweight champion and went 2-0 since leaving Strikeforce. He's a far cry from the world beaters that Fedor once faced in Rings, Pride, Affliction and Strikeforce but he's actually quite comparable to Fedor's last two opponents: the 41-year-old Jeff Monson (43-13) and Satoshi Ishii. (4-2-1).

Bloody Elbow will continue to report on this story as it develops.