Hector Lombard: Nick Diaz is ‘running’ from me

While the rest of the UFC’s welterweight division continues to sort itself out, Hector Lombard remains in limbo — although it’s not for a lack of trying.

Earlier this month UFC officials attempted to set-up a bout between Lombard and Stockton’s favorite son, Nick Diaz. The match-up, however, never came to fruition, as Diaz balked at the idea of exiting retirement for anything less than a title fight without renegotiating his UFC contract.

“I’m not considering even for a second fighting any of those guys for less than $500,000,” Diaz told MMAFighting.com. “There’s no way.”

Lombard is now the only healthy fighter ranked within welterweight’s top-8 to not have a fight booked.

On Wednesday edition of UFC Tonight, the former Bellator champ reiterated to Ariel Helwani that he’d still like to challenge Diaz, even adding that Diaz was “running” from him.

Should Diaz elect to remain retired, Lombard is still hoping to return on July 5, 2014 at UFC 175, preferably in a bout against Patrick Cote, who bested Kyle Noke via unanimous decision in mid-April’s TUF Nations Finale.

Although, according to Helwani, Cote has other plans in mind, so it remains to be seen whether Lombard will get his wish.

While the rest of the UFC’s welterweight division continues to sort itself out, Hector Lombard remains in limbo — although it’s not for a lack of trying.

Earlier this month UFC officials attempted to set-up a bout between Lombard and Stockton’s favorite son, Nick Diaz. The match-up, however, never came to fruition, as Diaz balked at the idea of exiting retirement for anything less than a title fight without renegotiating his UFC contract.

“I’m not considering even for a second fighting any of those guys for less than $500,000,” Diaz told MMAFighting.com. “There’s no way.”

Lombard is now the only healthy fighter ranked within welterweight’s top-8 to not have a fight booked.

On Wednesday edition of UFC Tonight, the former Bellator champ reiterated to Ariel Helwani that he’d still like to challenge Diaz, even adding that Diaz was “running” from him.

Should Diaz elect to remain retired, Lombard is still hoping to return on July 5, 2014 at UFC 175, preferably in a bout against Patrick Cote, who bested Kyle Noke via unanimous decision in mid-April’s TUF Nations Finale.

Although, according to Helwani, Cote has other plans in mind, so it remains to be seen whether Lombard will get his wish.