Rivalries: Hector Lombard

Hector Lombard was one of the most feared men in the sport at his peak.

A fast-twitch judoka with devastating knockout power and the mean streak to match, Lombard started his career with an eye-popping 31-2-1 record and laid claim to titles in the Bellator MMA, Cage Fighting Championship, Australian Fighting Championship and Xtreme Fighting Championship organizations. He also touched down in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships, but a late-career swoon made him as something of a forgotten man. Lombard has not competed in mixed martial arts since he dropped a unanimous decision to Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night 137 on Sept 22, 2018—a setback that left him on a six-fight losing streak. He turned 44 in February.

With Lombard eying a return to action against Thiago Silva under the Eagle Fighting Championship banner on May 20, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career:

Alexander Shlemenko

Lombard retained his Bellator MMA middleweight crown with a unanimous decision over the Russian spin-cycle master in the Bellator 34 headliner on Oct. 28, 2010 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. All three cageside judges scored it 49-46. Lombard stormed out of the gate and opened up on his dangerous counterpart with power punching combinations. However, the seasoned and determined Shlemenko refused to go down quietly. Lombard countered fatigue with takedowns and even made a pass at a rear-naked choke in the fourth round. Shlemenko appeared to be the fresher of the two men in the latter stages of the match and managed to score with some of his patented spinning back kicks. Ever resourceful, Lombard closed the distance, dragged the challenger into the clinch and bled valuable time off the clock.

Tim Boetsch

“The Barbarian” eked out a split decision and spoiled Lombard’s long-awaited organizational debut in the UFC 149 co-main event on July 21, 2012 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. The judiciary rendered 29-28 scores across the board: Richard Bertrand for Lombard, Sal D’Amato and Chris Lee for Boetsch. Lombard struck for takedowns in the first and third rounds and delivered the most significant strike of the bout—a second-round body kick that put his adversary in a state of retreat. However, his first Octagon assignment was marked by long periods of activity, and his tentative approach cost him. It left the door open for the cagy Boetsch, who put points on the board with front kicks and power punches in a surprisingly uneventful battle at 185 pounds. The defeat was Lombard’s first in nearly six years and snapped a remarkable streak of 20 consecutive victories for the American Top Team-trained judoka.

Yushin Okami

The Japanese brute put two rounds in the bank and then held on against Lombard, as he walked away with a split decision in their UFC on Fuel TV 8 middleweight showcase on March 3, 2013 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28: Barry Foley and Junichiro Kamijo for Okami, Charlie Keech for Lombard. Okami neutralized the onetime Olympian’s explosive punching power with takedowns, a jackhammer jab and the occasional left cross. He did his best work in the second round, where he tagged Lombard with jabs, executed a takedown and eventually mounted the American Top Team standout. Perhaps sensing his situation had grown dire, Lombard threw caution to the wind in Round 3. There, he wobbled Okami left hook and swarmed for an attempted finish. However, the crafty Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo representative lured Lombard into his guard, regained his wits and managed to steer clear of additional danger.

Jake Shields

Burst of power punches combined with a dizzying array of throws and trips carried Lombard to a unanimous decision over the former Shooto, Strikeforce and EliteXC champion in a UFC 171 welterweight feature on March 15, 2014 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. Shields had no answer for the Cuban judoka’s speed, technique and athleticism. Lombard tore into the longtime Cesar Gracie protégé with uppercuts and hooks in the first round, where he opened a cut near his left eye. While Shields weathered the onslaught, he mounted little in the way of meaningful offense. Lombard kept the Californian off-balance with trips and throws over the final 10 minutes and withstood a last-second guillotine choke from the accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in the third round.

Neil Magny

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 semifinalist survived a furious assault and put away Lombard with punches in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 85 co-headliner on March 19, 2016 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. The end came 46 seconds into Round 3. Magny had to earn it. Lombard stunned the Elevation Fight Team rep with an uppercut in the first round and followed up with a hellacious amount of punishment from punches, elbows and forearm strikes. Magny endured, and by the time the first five minutes had concluded, his opponent was running on fumes. Lombard floored the Colorado-based welterweight with a straight left in the second round but surrendered his position on a failed foot lock attempt. Magny moved to mount, caught a triangle choke and then advanced to mount a second time. Lombard rolled to his stomach out of desperation, only to be flattened out. Magny cut loose with more than 40 unanswered punches, but referee Steve Perceval elected not to stop it. Lombard had nothing left for Round 3. There, Magny executed a takedown inside the first minute, climbed to mount without resistance and closed out the American Top Team mainstay with punches.