The co-main event of UFC 149 featured newly acquired Hector Lombard take on stalwart middleweight contender Tim Boetsch.
Billed as a sure-fire barn-burner, this fight did nothing but disappoint on every level. Boetsch walked away victorious, though, it’s difficult to say anyone actually won this fight.
What we’ll remember about this fight:
Hector Lombard makes his UFC not with a bang, but a whimper.
What we learned about Hector Lombard:
That the hype surrounding his UFC arrival is gone—all of it.
The performance Lombard turned in at UFC 149 was atypical for him, but it cannot be excused. Whether he was suffering from an undisclosed injury, the fabled “Octagon jitters” or it just wasn’t his night, Lombard exhibited none of the aggression and power we have come to expect from him.
It wouldn’t be fair to say that we learned Hector Lombard is overrated just yet, but it would certainly be fair to say that his road to the title is not going to be as luxurious as some of his supporters seemed to believe.
What we learned about Tim Boetsch:
Though Boetsch pulled out a split-decision win, the performance he put on was far from convincing. Like Lombard, Boetsch was angling for a title shot heading into UFC 149, but it’s almost certain he will not so much as gain consideration for that honor.
A more optimistic person would say that we learned Tim Boetsch can hang with the middleweight elite, but I just can’t accept that the Lombard we saw at UFC 149 was anywhere near the elite level.
What’s next for Hector Lombard:
A fight with Mark Munoz could help declutter the middleweight division.
What’s next for Tim Boetsch:
The next fighter to contest Anderson Silva will likely be one of Michael Bisping or Chris Weidman. Boetsch should get the other one.
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