Serving a year-long suspension for testing positive for anabolic steroids following a decision win over Josh Burkman at UFC 182, Hector Lombard is making up for lost time.
Lombard was due to face welterweight contender Rory MacDonald in April at UFC 186, but the bout was scrapped with news of the failed test. MacDonald went on to challenge welterweight champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 189 in July while Lombard sat in timeout.
Now, Lombard is hoping to be rebooked against MacDonald in January when his suspension is up.
“I know he’s been calling me out,” Lombard told FOX Sports. “We need to finish business. He’s been calling me out, talking a lot of s**t. I have to finish business with this guy. He keeps mentioning my name everywhere.
“The other day he had an interview with Ariel Helwani. He’s expecting me to be out of shape on my way back. That’s not going to happen. He’s expecting to have an easy road. He’s expecting a guy that’s getting a bit older, a year off. Get an easy win. Guess what, Rory? I’m going to mess you up.”
MacDonald didn’t exactly call Lombard out, at least not on The MMA Hour. He just rattled off a few names of ranked opponents he hasn’t faced.
“There’s so many good guys,” MacDonald told Helwani. “Hector Lombard, Thiago Alves. Who else is in the top 10 that I haven’t fought.”
“Rory, I’m going to mess you up so bad man,” Lombard continued. “You’ve got no clue what’s coming. I’m going to mess you up your momma [won’t recognize you.] Tag Rory on the tweet after this. Expecting to have an easy road back? I’m going to give him hell. This is a message to him: Rory, I’m going to mess you up.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘That might rub Dana the wrong way.’ Brock Lesnar says WWE boss Vince McMahon is a better promoter than Dana White at the same business model.
‘It’s going to be fun beating him up.’ Chris Weidman says ‘Insecure’ Luke Rockhold doesn’t really believe he can beat him.
‘As fast as possible, so no one suffers.’ Jose Aldo hopes for a quick win over Conor McGregor at UFC 194.
Doing it again. A rematch between Antonio Silva vs. Mark Hunt has been targeted for UFC 193.
New home. Tamdan McCrory leaves Bellator and re-signs with the UFC. ‘I wanted to be back in the sport of MMA, not the MMA entertainment business.’
MEDIA STEW
The guys at Collider debate Ronda Rousey’s chances of playing Captain Marvel.
Brock responding to Dana on ESPN.
Georges St-Pierre staying busy.
Still trying in vain to beat the 38 seconds record!!!
Posted by Georges St-Pierre on Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Tim Kennedy talks Reebok.
UFC fighters talk favorite junk food.
Discussing weight cutting while eating cheeseburgers in front of fighters cutting weight.
Long watches.
Joe Rogan Experience #685 – Jeff Novitzky, the VP of athlete health and performance for the UFC
…
…
TWEETS
In case you forgot.
Fiiiiiiight weeeek!! Holloway vs Oliveira is a great fight! This SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY (not Saturday) on @FOXSports1! pic.twitter.com/5LbofqqJhr
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 18, 2015
Anthony Johnson had himself a day at the gym.
This feels like a powder keg waiting to explode. Does #UFC want to be there when it does? pic.twitter.com/TOP3qaJ3d2
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) August 19, 2015
@IanBainMMA I do my best but when ppl do dumb shit it annoys me. I only told the short version. I skip the part when she was talking shit
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) August 19, 2015
Threatening women when you have a domestic violence past is generally frowned upon https://t.co/Uc9sXwGhjt
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) August 19, 2015
Congrats.
Glad to see the @AmericanTopTeam brother back in the game https://t.co/KjFZsYdMYZ
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) August 18, 2015
ITS OOOOOOON, happy to be here. Look forward to handling some biz… https://t.co/ffF5fA1c18
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) August 18, 2015
Beef.
I love Weidman’s mindset, saying that I know, these guys know…The only thing I know is he’s in for a rude awakening come Dec 12th.
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) August 18, 2015
Interested?
@LiLHeathenMMA @danawhite @ufc lets go i’m in
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) August 18, 2015
Bones sighting?
Got it done! All kinds of good vibes in the @JacksonWinkMMA @Cowboycerrone & the ranchers #gohard even the champ was in tonight
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) August 19, 2015
Nope.
Not happy with @RealSportsHBO @HBO using footage of me on their segment of mma and domestic violence.
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) August 19, 2015
Baby guns.
they think cause my dad #Swole he on #PEDs lol dont they know #Woodleys come #Diesel #BabyGirl #Genetics #Princess pic.twitter.com/xx2qH2pXmN
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) August 18, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Aug. 18 2015)
Yan Cabral vs. Johnny Case at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson
Matheus Nicolau Pereira vs. Bruno Rodrigues at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson
Erik Perez vs. Damian Stasiak at UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Gastelum
Patrick Cummins vs. Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson
Tom Lawlor vs. Fabio Maldonado at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson
Viscardi Andrade vs. Gasan Umalatov at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.