Jared Hess was a mess after his encounter with a certain Cuban judoka. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
7. Hector Lombard vs. Jared Hess
Bellator 12 -- July 19, 2009
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino | Hollywood, Fla.
Before Bellator MMA moved to the greener pastures and larger audience of Spike TV -- or even MTV2 -- Lombard had already begun to use the promotion to compile his own personal mixtape of mayhem. When all was said and done, the Olympic judoka would reel off eight consecutive victories under the fledgling organization’s banner to make him one of mixed martial arts’ most coveted free agents in 2012.
Unbeaten heading into the bout, Hess was never able to get untracked against Lombard. The American Top Team product dropped Hess to a knee with a punishing combination in the first round, which caused Hess’ left eye to swell almost completely shut.
With Hess’ takedown shots being denied repeatedly, the Oklahoman resorted to pulling guard, and Lombard took advantage by mounting a heavy ground-and-pound barrage. Prior to round three, the ESPN Deportes broadcast briefly cut to a shot of Hess’ mother, who was already looking apprehensive after watching her son absorb some serious punishment in the contest’s first 10 minutes. It was about to get worse.
A series of elbows and punches from above had Hess oozing blood, and the action was halted twice in the third frame to examine the cut on Hess’ forehead, with the fighter himself even taking a moment to admire the pool of fluid on the canvas. Hess made it to round four, but after another stuffed takedown and another series of heavy shots from Lombard, the cageside doctor decided that the floor had been sufficiently decorated, giving the Cuban a TKO victory.
Number 6 » Beyond Recognition