At UFC 166, former Bellator middleweight champ Hector Lombard will make his welterweight debut against UFC and Strikeforce veteran Nate Marquardt.
Both fighters will ostensibly be fighting for their jobs when they step into the Octagon for their showdown in October.
Lombard came into the UFC riding a 25-fight unbeaten streak and seemed well on his way to securing a title shot. However, since his signing, “Lightning” has not met expectations by going 1-2 at middleweight. He dropped close decisions to Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami.
Marquardt has also hit a rough patch in his MMA career. The one-time middleweight contender was cut from the UFC in 2011 but re-emerged in Strikeforce a year later. Marquardt knocked out Tyron Woodley to claim the vacant welterweight title; however, he has lost his last two fights including a first-round KO to Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158.
Here is the head-to-toe breakdown of two fighters not only trying to hang onto their roster spot but also looking to make a statement in the crowded welterweight division.
All statistics were obtained via Fightmetric.