This is the UFC 171 live blog for Jake Shields vs. Hector Lombard, a welterweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Shields, who is 3-1 (with one no-contest) in his last five fights, will face Lombard, who is 2-2 in his UFC career, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 171 live blog below.
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Round 1: Don Turnage is the ref. Lombard, stalking forward, with a big right hand, temporarily drops Shields. He allows Shields to get back up, and once again Lombard tees off with a shot, while Shields clinches up. They stay there for a moment, and then split. Lombard back to center. Shields a little tentative, tries a leg kick (half-heartedly), and eats another punch. Shields shoots in trying to scoop the Cuban up, but he is turned into the fence and they clinch. Lombard with a couple of little punches inside, and cuts Shields as they break. Shields bleeding above the left eye. Shields resets, and shoots in for a double-leg, but it is telegraphed, and Lombard coolly thwarts it. They are back to the feet and sizing each other up. Blood streaming down Shields face as he tries another head kick. He goes or a takedown again, and Lombard again teeing off, and connecting with two, three big shots. Shields turtles up momentarily on the group, and the hammerfists follow. Shields ever to recover enough to get guard. Lombard trying to keep the ambush on, but he’s getting tied up. Ref warns to stay busy, a little eagerly. Shields now returning fire into Lombard’s temple from his back. Swift little elbow from Shields. Lombard with his head down and still toiling in Shields’ guard. That’s where the round ends. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Lombard, 10-9.
Round 2: Lombard quickly to center, while Shields circles. Once again, Lombard hunts through the small stuff and tries to lower the boom on Shields. Misses, but then gets a trip on Shields and drops him down, immediately into side control. Lombard rolling over, and now Shields able to improve to half guard. Lombard tries to posture up, but can’t get space, and Shields takes advantage to get into full guard. He has Lombard tied up. Referee warns them to stay busy; Lombard not getting much room to deal with. Can’t separate enough to work. Referee stands them back up. Lombard back to the center, and standing flat-footed (as usual), he is waiting for Shields to move towards him. Shields does, albeit cautiously, with his paw up waving in distraction. Shields shoots in finally, but Lombard straightens out quick and stays upright. Shields waiting for Lombard to get to the ground, tries an upkick, and then stands back up. Lombard weaving his arms looking for an opening on the feet. Shields perplexed. He is trying to strafe the shorter Lombard from range, but can’t get anything done. Jabs not connecting. And the judo shows up again, as Lombard trips Shields to the ground. He’s in side control, but Shields pretty quickly able to get half guard, then full guard. Lombard swims through but can’t land anything in that position as the round ends. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Lombard, 10-9 (20-18 overall for Lombard)
Round 3: Final round, and really all Lombard so far. He moves quickly to center, and Shields looks like he might have some urgency. He tries a high kick, and Lombard catches it and spins him out. Lombard, in southpaw stance, with that left coiled and ready to pop. Shields moving forward, and right as he comes in Lombard lands a low shot. They give Sheilds a moment to recover, which he graciously declines, and we’re right back at it. Shields shoots in, and can’t get the takedown. Lombard, though, tries his own and gets it. Immediately into Shields’ guard. Familiar position/sequence. Lombard has been effective all night with takedown attempts, but having trouble capitalizing once on the ground. Blood squirting down over Shields’ eyebrows. Once again, the referee sensing a stalemate brings the fighters back to their feet. Shields, bloodied, waving his left hand out there trying to set up some offense. Shields pulls guard after a failed takedown effort, same as all night. Again, Lombard back into guard. They sit up, and Shields with a short elbow that doesn’t do anything. Lombard pressing into Shields’ to little effect. No punches from Lombard, just position. Referee, once again, stands them up. Lombard coasting a little bit down the stretch here, not engaging. Just letting time roll of, well ahead on scorecards. And Shields suddenly goes for a knee, and into a guillotine…he has the arm end! But time expires. Whoa. Got interesting there at the very end. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Lombard, 10-9 (30-27 overall).