UFC fans can expect to see a thinner Hector Lombard the next time the southpaw sets foot inside the Octagon.
Lombard, 35, has gone 1-2 since joining the UFC last year, sandwiching a knockout of Rousimar Palhares between split-decision defeats to Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami. Lombard’s March 3 loss to Okami in Saitama, Japan, marked just the fourth loss of the Cuban native’s 38-fight career.
Known for his knockout power and explosiveness, Lombard rattled off 24 wins in 25 fights prior to joining the UFC, with only a 2007 draw with Kyle Noke marring his record in that span. Lombard captured the Bellator middleweight title in 2009 but defended the belt just once in the subsequent two-plus years, outpointing Alexander Shlemenko to retain his title in 2010. However, Lombard remained active and undefeated in the Bellator cage, picking up four additional wins in either catch-weight or non-title affairs.