Tim Boetsch
UFC veteran Tim ‘The Barbarian’ Boetsch (15-4) is set to welcome former Bellator middleweight champion, and Octagon newcomer Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1NC) to the promotion this Saturday in Calgary, Alberta on the main card of UFC 149.
Boetsch faces a fighter currently on a twenty-five fight undefeated streak with seventeen knockout finishes on his record.
‘The Barbarian’ doesn’t seem impressed, saying Lombard is a “bully in the ring but I won’t be intimated” to MMAMania.com in a recent interview.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): How would you compare Lombard’s power in his stand-up to everyone else you’ve fought in your career. You’ve fought at light heavyweight against some tough guys but he’s got a reputation as one of the heaviest hitters out there.
Tim Boetsch: Yeah, that’s certainly a concern of mine to find out how powerful he really is, but there’s a lot of rumors and sometimes people talk up their opponents too much, moreso than they really are. People talked about how strong Matt Hammil was and how freakishly powerful he was gonna be so that was in the back of my mind and even though I lost that fight, I never experienced that freakish power. I just didn’t feel it.
I understand that Hector’s got a lot of knockouts on his record and he’s a heavy hitter, but until I experience that power for myself, I can’t really speak to it. Oftentimes, people exaggerate just how powerful people are. I could be off on that too, Hector could be the most powerful guy in the sport. Let’s just hope he doesn’t land that punch on me. (laughs)
Matt Bishop: Where do you think you’re gonna have the best edge against Hector Lombard on the 21st?
Tim Boetsch: I think my ability to stop takedowns because oftentimes in fights, when someone puts a little bit of pressure on Hector, he shoots in for a takedown so he can relax for a little bit so he can recover. I’m not gonna give him a chance to recover. Sometimes he just walks forward because he thinks he can intimidating. He’s a bully in the ring but I won’t be intimidated. I don’t get intimidated by anybody regardless of how scary you look or how hard you punch, those thoughts just don’t enter my mind.
He’s gonna be at a disadvantage in a few areas in this fight and I look forward to showing just how much of a disadvantage he is in those areas.
Boetsch is coming off a big come-back win over Yushin Okami last February in Japan at UFC 144. The victory is the third straight for ‘The Barbarian’ since dropping from light heavyweight to 185-lbs.