The UFC may get a return on its hefty investment in power-punching former Olympian judoka Hector Lombard after all.
After dropping two of his first three fights in the UFC at 185 pounds, Lombard certainly appeared at home after making the strenuous cut to 170 pounds and then demolishing (first-round KO) Nate Marquardt at UFC 166.
With his confidence again soaring, “Lightning” upped the ante and called out the UFC’s second-ranked welterweight and former interim champ Carlos Condit.
On Wednesday’s episode of BJPenn.com Radio, Lombard elaborated on the topic, saying calmly that he feels qualified to tangle with “The Natural Born Killer,” who’s slated to face Matt Brown (No. 9) in December.
“I think that Carlos Condit is high ranked, right? Okay, I’ll take Carlos Condit.”
Lombard then eluded that he’d entertain a scrap with Martin Kampmann (No. 7), but surprisingly said that he can’t yet consider a fight with welterweight linchpin Georges St-Pierre.
“I don’t want to talk about that because, you know, I have a long time to get there. I want to get one of those guys [Condit or Kampmann] first.”
Lombard, who went on a 25-fight unbeaten streak at 185 pounds between 2007 and 2012, admitted that the cut to 170 challenged him, but also maintained that he made the right choice to descend in weight.
It was really hard, you know, but every single time I… suffer, when I feel tired, when I feel I couldn’t make it, I would go to the computer, and I would check all the people talking bad about me, and I would get the motivation to fill me up and keep going. So I’m quite happy that people doubted me, it keeps me motivated and keeps me in the place that I want to be.
Since Kampmann has yet to find a dance partner after getting finished for the second consecutive time, the Cuban-Australian southpaw may assume that role.
However, since Lombard’s not ranked, and Condit‘s on the verge of another title shot, it’s unlikely that fans will see a showdown between “Lightning” and “The Natural Born Killer” anytime soon.
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