Dear Matt Brown: Hector Lombard is not impressed by your perform ants performance.
Actually, Lombard is unimpressed by all of your performances during your recent seven-fight winning streak. He doesn’t think you’ve beaten anybody.
Put plainly, he thinks you’re crushing cans, and he made this idea known Tuesday night on Twitter.
Is Lombard correct, Mr. Brown?
Sure. Taken at its most literal, Lombard stated a fact. Brown has not defeated a Top 10 welterweight or a former champion during his recent tear through the 170-pound division.
Guess who is a former champion and a current Top 10 welterweight, though?
Hector Lombard.
Guess who is on the heels of impressive, back-to-back victories over Nate Marquardt and Jake Shields?
Mhmm.
And take a stab at the only two welterweights in the Top Eight of the division who are not currently booked for a fight.
Brown and Lombard.
The matchmaking works for itself, really, but Lombard’s tweet certainly cranks the intensity on this potential showdown.
At some point, Brown needs to face a legitimate Top 10 talent if he wants to silence the critics and ascend to the top of the welterweight ladder.
Seven consecutive victories are impressive in any sport, but MMA is perhaps the most unpredictable and volatile of them all, making Brown’s recent achievement all the more noteworthy.
As long as he’s beating the Erick Silvas and Luis Ramoses of the welterweight class, though, he’s essentially spinning his tires and fighting solely for fun and entertainment purposes.
Against Lombard, Brown could take a step forward and position himself for a No. 1 contender’s bout.
Personally, I’d be fine with Lombard vs. Brown being considered a title eliminator, but “The Immortal” definitely needs to showcase his worth against an elite talent before making any sort of claim at UFC gold.
Lombard put the plans in motion, so now it’s up to the UFC and Brown’s team to decide if this is the path they wish to take.
With a strong grappling background, Lombard could neutralize Brown’s strengths and take him away from what has made him a fan favorite. On the other hand, both guys boast tremendous power, so if the fight does stay standing, someone is going to sleep.
Do you think Lombard vs. Brown is the fight to make in the welterweight division?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com