Dave Batista is training with the Cesar Gracie camp and definitely negotiating with Strikeforce, possibly for a fight with Bobby Lashley

Sherdog has a story by Jack Encarnacao about Dave Batista showing up at the Cesar Gracie camp for a two-day training session expedited by Strikeforce, who he's now confirmed to be negotiating with.

Of note:

Gracie said that his initial read of the 41-year-old pro wrestler was that he is a "natural athlete."

"He’s got a lot to learn but his strength alone is impressive," Gracie told Sherdog.com Wednesday evening. "Obviously he’s a beginner at jiu-jitsu but we can take a guy like that that’s already a strong athlete like that and teach him what to not get caught in."

Gracie said Batista, who grew up in Washington D.C., wrestled in high school and has some background in traditional martial arts standup fighting.

"He’s a pretty good kicker," said Gracie. "He hits very hard."

Gracie said he, Batista, training partner Imani Lee and Strikeforce matchmaker Rich Chou were to meet Wednesday evening to discuss a game plan to get Batista ready for a pro MMA fight.

Strikeforce is negotiating with the multi-time Wrestlemania headliner to try his hand in MMA. A long-time fan of the sport, who has reportedly trained at the Affliction training facility in Los Angeles, Batista began talks with Strikeforce last month after ending a lucrative eight-year run with the WWE.

...

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has said he would be interested to see Batista tested in the MMA cage, and is particularly interested in matching him with another WWE alumnus in Bobby Lashley.

Assuming that they can work out the financial details, it seems like a forgone conclusion that Batista will be fighting for Strikeforce at some point in the near future.  Regardless of what Cesar Gracie says, though, he has to be looked at as a freak show fighter.  He's at least 41 years-old (believed by many to be at least 44), is prone to injuries, a beginner, and a pro wrestler.  Herschel Walker is older, but he's a better (and "more legitimate") athlete, had a relatively impressive debut, and is donating all of his pay to charity, only fighting to benefit said charities and prove himself.   Still, he's seen as a freak show.  Batista can certainly make money and draw fans to Strike Force, but he's going to enhance the freak show reputation of the promotion, especially if he fights Lashley.  UFC may seem like they're going in that direction with James Toney being signed and immediated booked against Randy Couture, but they only went after him to keep him out of Strikeforce.

Earlier in the week, Scott Coker talked to Sherdog about the "freak show" issue:

"We’re not the guys that are putting all the circus fights on," said Coker, "but in all fairness, look at Brock Lesnar. He made the crossover. Why not Batista?"

Brock Lesnar was a world class amateur wrestler, is an amazingly freaky athlete, and is 8 to 11 years younger than Batista, a fragile middle-aged bodybuilder.