(PRESS RELEASE) -- Former Cuban Olympian Hector “Shango” Lombard has been on the warpath of late. The 185lb Judoku has recently annihilated two tournament opponents in less than five minutes combined. On June 19th, Lombard will step into the cage to take on undefeated wrestler Jared Hess for a $175,000 and the first ever Bellator Middleweight World Championship title. The headlining title fight will be featured back-to-back with the Lightweight World Championship bout between Eddie Alvarez and Toby Imada, both fights will be broadcast in primetime on ESPN Deportes Saturday June 20.
Lombard will enter his third fight in less than three months brandishing a record of 20-2-1, with 10 wins coming by way of knockout. His undefeated opponent, Jared Hess (8-0-1), is a former All-American wrestler from University of Central Oklahoma and has five stunning submission in his unblemished fight resume. Given the circumstance of his last two appearances, Lombard looks more like an unstoppable freight train than the former Australian league MMA champion. Lombard handily defeated first round opponent Virgil Lozano with a strong first round uppercut at Bellator IV in Oklahoma back in mid-April. His next bout came against the then-10-2 Army Ranger Damien Stelly three weeks ago at Bellator IX in Monroe, LA. Lombard was able to pulverize Stelly with flurry of fists and ended the one-sided bout just under the three minute mark of round one.
The explosive Middleweight will have to stay focused to defeat Hess and lay claim the 185lb title in tournament finale at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL. While both of Lombard’s previous losses have come via decision, early Bellator bout have proven that upsets can happen when you least expect them especially when facing a crafty submission artist like Hess. It’s a fact that Lombard holds the clear-cut edge in the striking game but his opponent did not earn a shot at the title by being a pushover and will look to end the fight on ground.
Hector Lombard will face Jared Hess for $175,000 and the first ever Bellator Middleweight World Championship bout on June 19th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. The fight will be broadcast in primetime on Saturday June 20, exclusively on ESPN Deportes.