Hector Lombard on why no one will fight him: ‘I’m the most hated guy in the UFC’

Hector Lombard wanted to fight a UFC welterweight in the top five. He would have settled for someone in the top 10. Instead? The former Bellator champion is taking on someone who wasn’t even in the organization a couple of months ago.

UFC president Dana White has admitted it has been difficult to find someone for Lombard to face. So what gives? Lombard suspects it’s because people don’t like him and when people don’t like you, “you don’t get any fights.”

“I’m the most hated guy in the UFC,” Lombard told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know why. That’s the way it’s always been.”

Lombard will have to settle on facing Josh Burkman at UFC 182 on Jan. 3 in Las Vegas. It’s a huge card, headlined by Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, but this wasn’t what Lombard wanted. He was hoping for Tyron Woodley or Rory MacDonald or Matt Brown. Anyone ranked, really.

Burkman has won nine of his last 11, but he was cut by the UFC in 2009 after losing three straight.

“I’m not very happy, but what can I do?” Lombard said.

Make a statement against Burkman for starters and that’s Lombard plans on accomplishing. “Showeather” has big plans for 2015. He wants to fight four or five times since he only competed once this year, a dominant unanimous decision win over Jake Shields at UFC 171 in March. Lombard is open to moving up to middleweight now that his American Top Team training partner Robbie Lawler is the new welterweight champion.

“Hopefully 2015 brings me a better year and I can be happy again,” Lombard said. “Hopefully good things are coming my way and I can be positive.”

There isn’t really anyone Lombard (34-4-1, 1 NC) won’t face at this point. He doesn’t really want to talk about Woodley anymore, but he’s open to a bout against former welterweight champ Johny Hendricks and there’s one particular 185-pounder who has gotten under his skin.

“I can finally get my hands on Michael Bisping,” Lombard said. “I don’t see why not.”

Lombard, 36, is also targeting the UFC’s planned card in November in Melbourne. Australia was Lombard’s adopted home when he defected from Cuba in 2005. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Lombard said he’d like to welcome Georges St-Pierre back to the UFC at that event.

“I definitely want to be busy in 2015 and I definitely want to be on the Australian card,” he said. “If I have to fight someone like Burkman again, I will fight. I want to be busy.”

That is the bright side of facing Burkman at UFC 182. At least he’ll be back in the Octagon. Lombard has a herniated disc after beating Shields, but has been ready to go for sometime. And before that fight, he only fought twice in 2013.

“I’m happy I got a fight,” Lombard said. “I’m not complaining. I’m just gonna do my job on Jan. 3 and that’s it.”

Hector Lombard wanted to fight a UFC welterweight in the top five. He would have settled for someone in the top 10. Instead? The former Bellator champion is taking on someone who wasn’t even in the organization a couple of months ago.

UFC president Dana White has admitted it has been difficult to find someone for Lombard to face. So what gives? Lombard suspects it’s because people don’t like him and when people don’t like you, “you don’t get any fights.”

“I’m the most hated guy in the UFC,” Lombard told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know why. That’s the way it’s always been.”

Lombard will have to settle on facing Josh Burkman at UFC 182 on Jan. 3 in Las Vegas. It’s a huge card, headlined by Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, but this wasn’t what Lombard wanted. He was hoping for Tyron Woodley or Rory MacDonald or Matt Brown. Anyone ranked, really.

Burkman has won nine of his last 11, but he was cut by the UFC in 2009 after losing three straight.

“I’m not very happy, but what can I do?” Lombard said.

Make a statement against Burkman for starters and that’s Lombard plans on accomplishing. “Showeather” has big plans for 2015. He wants to fight four or five times since he only competed once this year, a dominant unanimous decision win over Jake Shields at UFC 171 in March. Lombard is open to moving up to middleweight now that his American Top Team training partner Robbie Lawler is the new welterweight champion.

“Hopefully 2015 brings me a better year and I can be happy again,” Lombard said. “Hopefully good things are coming my way and I can be positive.”

There isn’t really anyone Lombard (34-4-1, 1 NC) won’t face at this point. He doesn’t really want to talk about Woodley anymore, but he’s open to a bout against former welterweight champ Johny Hendricks and there’s one particular 185-pounder who has gotten under his skin.

“I can finally get my hands on Michael Bisping,” Lombard said. “I don’t see why not.”

Lombard, 36, is also targeting the UFC’s planned card in November in Melbourne. Australia was Lombard’s adopted home when he defected from Cuba in 2005. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Lombard said he’d like to welcome Georges St-Pierre back to the UFC at that event.

“I definitely want to be busy in 2015 and I definitely want to be on the Australian card,” he said. “If I have to fight someone like Burkman again, I will fight. I want to be busy.”

That is the bright side of facing Burkman at UFC 182. At least he’ll be back in the Octagon. Lombard has a herniated disc after beating Shields, but has been ready to go for sometime. And before that fight, he only fought twice in 2013.

“I’m happy I got a fight,” Lombard said. “I’m not complaining. I’m just gonna do my job on Jan. 3 and that’s it.”