Mixed martial arts is truly a fickle beast. At one moment, a fighter can be the most hyped combatant on the planet, but in less than fifteen minutes, everything could change. And less than fifteen minutes after that, it could change again. Hector “Lightning” Lombard is one example of this phenomenon. However,with his most recent performance, he may have turned the tide for good.
While some observers, including Joe Rogan and Dana White, were not overly impressed by the way he did it, the fact still remains that Lombard earned the biggest win of his career when he defeated Jake Shields at UFC 171. Completely dominating the former two-division champion has caused his name to be added to the short list of future contenders for the new UFC Welterweight Champion, Johny Hendricks. This is a far cry from where the Cuban native stood within the Ultimate Fighting Championship just 12 short months ago.
After he lost to Yushin Okami at UFC on Fuel TV 8, there many fans who thought Lombard’s days of competing in the Octagon were over. The former Bellator middleweight champion had run out of fights on the massive contract that he was able to procure when he became a free agent in 2011. Even though UFC President Dana White didn’t have the most flattering things to say about Lombard when he was tearing up fighters in the other promotion, that didn’t stop him from signing the fighter to a huge contract when he became available. However, Lombard was unable to keep that momentum going as a UFC middleweight, and with the UFC cutting so many high-cost fighters last year, it seemed like he would be out of the organization after only three bouts.
Instead, he would be given the opportunity to reinvent himself as a welterweight, and this is when the 36 year old would experience a career rejuvenation. Former King of Pancrase and Strikeforce champion Nate Marquardt would be the first to suffer his wrath, in just one minute and 48 seconds at UFC 166. And although Lombard couldn’t put away Shields, it was clear he was the better fighter on March 15. Those two victories have fans and experts alike clamoring about the the possibility that the former Bellator champion could find himself challenging for the UFC welterweight strap.
The question looms around how would Lombard fare against the current champion? It’s no secret that Lombard has dizzying power that seems to rattle any opponent that he touches. Against Shields, he reminded the world of his world class Judo abilities as well, tossing his opponent to his back multiple times during the 15-minute affair. The big question mark for Lombard, however, is his cardiovascular strength, as the muscle-bound fighter seems to have endurance problems any time a contest goes beyond five minutes. Since joining the UFC, the two fighters that have given Lombard the most problems are the same two fighters that created a long, drawn out battle against him. Hendricks definitely has the cardio to fight a 25-minute battle, as we’ve seen in his last two outings. He also has the punching power to drop foes in a moment’s notice. Both of these weapons are very important against an opponent who doesn’t have the staying power for long bouts.
Despite the fact that the champion would be favored heavily in the matchup, if the UFC announced that Hector Lombard would be the next man to face Johny Hendricks, there isn’t a fan or media member that would shun that battle. The UFC has never been known for having an established format for deciding who challenges for titles, and Lombard’s style plays right into the mainstream — a.k.a paying — public’s pockets. However, if he isn’t granted the shot, then he shouldn’t be considered more than a win away. Hector Lombard has changed the attitude towards his near decade-long professional career with his two most recent wins. And all of those who doubted his abilities could be proven even more wrong if he continues down that path, and captures the most important title in the MMA world at 170 pounds.
• Hector Lombard vs. Jake Shields: Hector Lombard def. Jake Shields via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
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UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler took place on March 15, 2014 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
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He's my choice. There's so many good matchups to make now and with Hendricks' surgery, there is time for several fights to sort out the contenders now.