The Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation has confirmed
the signing of elite contender Hector Lombard, who will make
an immediate impact in the UFC’s middleweight division when
he makes his Octagon.
Born in Cuba, Lombard now splits his time between homes in
Australia and Florida, where he trains with the famed American
Top Team. He first came to Australia for the Sydney Olympics,
where he met his wife with whom he has one child.
Lombard has amassed one of the most impressive records in professional
mixed martial arts, compiling a 31-2-1 (1 no contest) record
since turning professional in 2004. He has defeated many UFC
veterans including James Te Huna, Kalib Starnes, Jay Silva,
Falaniko Vitale, Joe Doerksen, Jesse Taylor, Trevor Prangley
and Brian Ebersole.
He has a fearsome reputation amongst his peers and with 17
knockouts and seven submission wins on his record, it’s hard
to deny that Lombard should be considered an immediate contender
in the UFC’s talent-laden middleweight division. He has tremendous
punching power – delivered from a southpaw stance – and, as
an Olympic judoka and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he is
equally dangerous as a grappler.
“I’m here in the UFC to prove I am the best in the world,”
he said. “I want to be UFC middleweight champion and I want
to fight Anderson Silva to do it. I have such respect for him
as a fighter; it would be an honour and a dream come true to
test my skills against his. I wouldn’t be in the UFC if I didn’t
think I could win the UFC world title.”
This is actually the second time the 34-year-old judoka has
inked with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation.
Lombard put pen to paper to fight in the UFC in 2007, however
a visa issue kept him fighting in Japan and his adopted Australia
for several more years. But now, riding a hugely impressive
unbeaten run which stretches back 25 fights and nearly six years,
Lombard enters the UFC with an enormous international reputation.
“I first came to Australia for the Sydney Olympics and I fell
in love with the place. I didn’t want to leave. I met a girl
who I married and became the mother of my kid and, if I could
train in Sydney, I would. I have to train in the US because
I can’t get the top level sparring in Sydney but I would stay
in Sydney all year round if I didn’t have to train in the US.
“I am proud to be Cuban and want to represent Cubans but when
I win the UFC world title, I will be bringing the belt to Sydney.”
