‘Bust’ No More: Hector Lombard Emerges as Instant Welterweight Title Contender Following Knockout Win at UFC 166


(While all those rubber-neckers and looky-loos stand slack-jawed starin’, the real men have the nuts to walk away. / Photo via Getty)

By Adam Martin

Don’t call it a comeback.

At UFC 166 this past weekend, Hector Lombard — he of the disappointing 1-2 Octagon record in his first year with the organization — made his 170-pound debut after nine years as a middleweight, and it was a good one, as he absolutely obliterated former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt with brutal left hooks in under two minutes to save his job with the UFC.

According to Lombard, the UFC told him “take it or leave it” in regards to a potential drop to 170, meaning he could either make the move down to welterweight or get his walking papers after putting together a losing record as a UFC middleweight.

After all, the former Bellator middleweight champion was a huge signing for the UFC last summer, but after losing two disappointing split decisions to Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami (with a KO win over Rousimar Palhares sandwiched in between), it was clear that “Lightning” was too small to compete with the bigger 185-pounders in the Octagon.

So Dana White and Joe Silva told Lombard to make the cut to 170, and if last Saturday night in Houston was any indication, this man is going to be an absolute force to be reckoned with in the UFC welterweight division.

In fact, I would even go as far as to say he’s an instant title contender.

Sure, a win over Marquardt these days doesn’t mean as much as it used to. After all, “The Great” has gone 0-3 in 2013, including a previous KO loss to Jake Ellenberger and a decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine. But still, he’s a former Pancrase/Strikeforce champion, a former top-three ranked middleweight, and a huge name in the sport.

So while a KO win over Marquardt in 2013 isn’t as special as it may have been three years ago — hell, even one year ago, when he was wrecking Tyron Woodley’s brains in Strikeforce — it’s still a good win on paper, and it’s the type of victory that will put Lombard on the fast track to a title shot at 170 pounds, if mostly because of his combination of muscles and hefty price tag.


(While all those rubber-neckers and looky-loos stand slack-jawed starin’, the real men have the nuts to walk away. / Photo via Getty)

By Adam Martin

Don’t call it a comeback.

At UFC 166 this past weekend, Hector Lombard — he of the disappointing 1-2 Octagon record in his first year with the organization — made his 170-pound debut after nine years as a middleweight, and it was a good one, as he absolutely obliterated former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt with brutal left hooks in under two minutes to save his job with the UFC.

According to Lombard, the UFC told him “take it or leave it” in regards to a potential drop to 170, meaning he could either make the move down to welterweight or get his walking papers after putting together a losing record as a UFC middleweight.

After all, the former Bellator middleweight champion was a huge signing for the UFC last summer, but after losing two disappointing split decisions to Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami (with a KO win over Rousimar Palhares sandwiched in between), it was clear that “Lightning” was too small to compete with the bigger 185-pounders in the Octagon.

So Dana White and Joe Silva told Lombard to make the cut to 170, and if last Saturday night in Houston was any indication, this man is going to be an absolute force to be reckoned with in the UFC welterweight division.

In fact, I would even go as far as to say he’s an instant title contender.

Sure, a win over Marquardt these days doesn’t mean as much as it used to. After all, “The Great” has gone 0-3 in 2013, including a previous KO loss to Jake Ellenberger and a decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine. But still, he’s a former Pancrase/Strikeforce champion, a former top-three ranked middleweight, and a huge name in the sport.

So while a KO win over Marquardt in 2013 isn’t as special as it may have been three years ago — hell, even one year ago, when he was wrecking Tyron Woodley’s brains in Strikeforce — it’s still a good win on paper, and it’s the type of victory that will put Lombard on the fast track to a title shot at 170 pounds, if mostly because of his combination of muscles and hefty price tag.

The fact is the UFC hasn’t gotten the return on investment with Lombard that they hoped to get. Let’s face it, the UFC wanted him to beat Boetsch at UFC 149, up his record to 26-straight fights undefeated, and then set up a champion vs. champion fight against former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

But Boetsch leg kicked his way to a head-scratching decision win, and, even though many observers feel the judges blew that one, it still wasn’t the kind of dominating performance that we’ve come to know (and love) out of Lombard, and there’s no doubt in my mind it was a loss that left UFC brass extremely disappointed.

After the loss to Boetsch – which reportedly cost the UFC a whopping $700,000 due to paying Lombard PPV points – Lombard was shifted to free TV cards so the UFC didn’t have to pay him that huge bonus. That’s why his last three fights against Palhares, Okami, and Marquardt have all been on free television. Let’s face it, in the UFC’s mind, paying Lombard $300,000 instead of $700,000 is a lot easier to swallow. And it’s even possible that with the move to 170, the UFC not only told Lombard to cut 15 pounds, but they also cut his salary (official salaries for UFC 166 have not yet been released).

But after Lombard’s destruction of Marquardt, his stock is way up now and I expect him to be back on pay-per-view for his next outing. And I expect him to be paired up with a top-10 opponent.

There are lots of interesting matchups for Lombard at 170 pounds, but the fighter I believe that Lombard will be paired up against is Jake Shields, who recently upset Demian Maia via split decision in the main event UFC Fight Night 29.

Even though most consider him “boring,” Shields’s name still carries weight in the sport. He’s a former Strikeforce champion, a former UFC title challenger, and, most importantly, a winner. If Lombard can go in the cage with him and wreck house, it could put him one fight away from a title shot, in my opinion.

With his Herculean-esque physique (especially at 170), cerebral demeanor, athletic background, and ridiculous KO power, Lombard is a guy who the UFC can market as a title contender, and now that he’s in the proper weight class, there’s a very good chance that he can go all the way to the top in the division.

When Lombard came to the UFC, many believed he was overrated and that he had been padding his record while fighting second-tier fighters in Bellator and CFC in Australia. I disagreed, though. I had been watching Lombard since the PRIDE days, and with his mix of knockout power, submissions, and strong takedown defence, I believed he could make a run to the top of the UFC middleweight division.

Unfortunately, Lombard’s fight against Yushin Okami in March proved that competing at 185 pounds wasn’t doing him any favors — he was just too small to compete at middleweight, and Okami “Okami’d” him to a decision win. Though he was essentially forced to drop to welterweight by his employers, the move to 170 pounds was exactly what he needed — and it’s why I think many were too quick to attach the “bust” label to him.

Looking at Lombard and his skillset, it’s my opinion that he could legitimately make a run for the title at 170 pounds. Now, let’s see him try to do it. At 35 years of age, the clock is ticking, but as we saw against Marquardt, Lombard’s time is not up. In fact, it might just be starting.

UFC 166: What We Learned from Hector Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt

Hector Lombard and Nate Marquardt were two of the top middleweights in MMA for a long time.
Marquardt was an enduring figure in the UFC’s 185-lb division, maintaining his spot in the top five for years on end. Lombard, meanwhile, had one of the lengthi…

Hector Lombard and Nate Marquardt were two of the top middleweights in MMA for a long time.

Marquardt was an enduring figure in the UFC’s 185-lb division, maintaining his spot in the top five for years on end. Lombard, meanwhile, had one of the lengthiest unbeaten streaks in MMA history and was regarded as one of the best fighters outside the UFC until he joined the promotion.

Both of them, however, have struggled of late, and now competing at 170 lbs, each man needed a win to ensure his continued employment with the UFC.

When they met at UFC 166, Hector Lombard scored a vintage early knockout win, beating Marquardt unconscious. So what did we learn?

 

Hector Lombard Is a Legitimate Welterweight Title Contender

Hector Lombard fought some pathetically bad competition in Bellator. While fans wrongly claimed that Gilbert Melendez opened cans in Strikeforce, Lombard fought legitimately no-name fighters for the majority of his career. 

That said, we’ve always known he is supremely skilled. His Olympic judo credentials speak for themselves. His hands can do a lot of talking, too. He may be built like a fire hydrant, but he was never a big middleweight, which showed in losses against huge wrestlers like Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami.

Lombard is poised to make a serious run at the welterweight belt. If I were Dong-Hyun Kim or Tarec Saffiedine, I’d look to get a fight booked right now to keep Joe Silva from pitting me against Lombard.

 

Nate Marquardt’s Best Days Are Long Past

It’s hard to remember, but Marquardt used to be legit. He knocked out Demian Maia in 21 seconds and choked out Jeremy Horn.

Those days seem to be over. 

Now riding a three-fight losing streak to Lombard, Jake Ellenberger and Saffiedine, he seems like an afterthought at this point. It’s a somewhat sad development but only a little sad. It’s hard to feel too much sympathy for the poster boy for using testosterone replacement therapy to compensate for alleged steroid abuse.

 

Marquardt Is Probably Headed to Bellator

Once again, he has three losses in a row, and none of them has been especially competitive. It also doesn’t help that he got booted from the UFC in 2011.

Marquardt isn’t the worst fighter on the UFC’s roster, but it is tough to rationalize keeping him in light of the UFC’s recent crackdown on less-than-marketable gatekeepers. At this point, though, he may not even be a gatekeeper.

 

The Best Hector Lombard May Be Yet to Come

Lombard may have gone undefeated from 2007 until 2012, but he wasn’t physically built to dominate at 185 lbs in the UFC. The move to 170 lbs will let us see how good he really is.

We know he has hands, and we know he has grappling. The only question mark that remains for him is cardio. If he can put forward three strong rounds, expect him to blow away the competition and become a major player at welterweight.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Hector Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt: 3 Reasons to Be Excited for This Fight

For Hector Lombard and Nate Marquardt, the move to welterweight may have felt a like a way to start over. 
Neither Lombard nor Marquardt found much success in the middleweight division over the past few years, and each has since made the big chang…

For Hector Lombard and Nate Marquardt, the move to welterweight may have felt a like a way to start over. 

Neither Lombard nor Marquardt found much success in the middleweight division over the past few years, and each has since made the big change to drop down 15 pounds. Thus far, Marquardt is 1-2 at 170, while Lombard has yet to compete in his new division. 

Tonight, each fighter looks to ignite a run up the welterweight ladder in what should be an entertaining contest. Here are the three biggest reasons we’re excited about the fight. 

 

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Four Hidden Storylines For ‘UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3?


(Cain Velasquez shoots in on teammate Daniel Cormier at yesterday’s open workouts in Houston. / Photo via MMAFighting)

By Adam Martin

With UFC 166 being a 13-fight card, it wouldn’t be hard for some of this weekend’s storylines to fly under the radar. In fact, this card is so deep that I honestly think I could find 20 hidden storylines in it if I really wanted to. But instead I’ll just run down what I think are the top four hidden storylines to be aware of while watching the fights. Let me know what you think in the comments section, and be sure to come back to CagePotato on Saturday night for our liveblog of the pay-per-view broadcast.

1) Will Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos Fight More Than Just a Trilogy?

There has never been a four- or five-fight series in UFC history, but it’s entirely possible that Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will meet once or twice more after this weekend’s rubber-match at UFC 166, particularly if dos Santos wins the title back.

Let’s face it, the heavyweight talent pool in MMA is very shallow, and Velasquez and dos Santos are the cream of the crop. They are truly the only two heavyweights in the UFC without any discernable weaknesses, and with their ability to consistently produce exciting matches (particularly against one another), the UFC would have no problem having these guys fight again in the future. The fact that both fighters have broad appeal in two huge markets (Velasquez in Mexico, dos Santos in Brazil) certainly helps as well. A four-fight series would make history, and you’d better believe the UFC would hammer home that point in promoting it.

But it really comes down to how the third fight goes. If it’s a blowout for either guy, a fourth fight won’t be as intriguing, and would be unlikely to happen. But if it’s a competitive war that makes the fans go nuts, we can all look forward to Velasquez vs. Dos Santos IV. And soon.

2) Did Daniel Cormier Make a Mistake by Prematurely Announcing a Drop to 205?


(Cain Velasquez shoots in on teammate Daniel Cormier at yesterday’s open workouts in Houston. / Photo via MMAFighting)

By Adam Martin

With UFC 166 being a 13-fight card, it wouldn’t be hard for some of this weekend’s storylines to fly under the radar. In fact, this card is so deep that I honestly think I could find 20 hidden storylines in it if I really wanted to. But instead I’ll just run down what I think are the top four hidden storylines to be aware of while watching the fights. Let me know what you think in the comments section, and be sure to come back to CagePotato on Saturday night for our liveblog of the pay-per-view broadcast.

1) Will Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos Fight More Than Just a Trilogy?

There has never been a four- or five-fight series in UFC history, but it’s entirely possible that Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will meet once or twice more after this weekend’s rubber-match at UFC 166, particularly if dos Santos wins the title back.

Let’s face it, the heavyweight talent pool in MMA is very shallow, and Velasquez and dos Santos are the cream of the crop. They are truly the only two heavyweights in the UFC without any discernable weaknesses, and with their ability to consistently produce exciting matches (particularly against one another), the UFC would have no problem having these guys fight again in the future. The fact that both fighters have broad appeal in two huge markets (Velasquez in Mexico, dos Santos in Brazil) certainly helps as well. A four-fight series would make history, and you’d better believe the UFC would hammer home that point in promoting it.

But it really comes down to how the third fight goes. If it’s a blowout for either guy, a fourth fight won’t be as intriguing, and would be unlikely to happen. But if it’s a competitive war that makes the fans go nuts, we can all look forward to Velasquez vs. Dos Santos IV. And soon.

2) Did Daniel Cormier Make a Mistake by Prematurely Announcing a Drop to 205?

Despite being 34 years old, Daniel Cormier is considered the top heavyweight prospect on the planet and this weekend puts his undefeated 12-0 record on the line against veteran Roy Nelson in the co-main event of UFC 166.

Although Nelson is coming off a loss to Stipe Miocic, he’s still regarded as one of the top-10 heavyweights in the world by many, and a win over the popular “Big Country” — especially a knockout — would be huge for Cormier in the eyes of the fans, giving him the big win he needs to get a UFC title shot.

However, despite the fact Cormier would be the de facto No. 1 heavyweight contender with a decisive win over Nelson, he’s already announced that win, lose, or draw, he will be making the move to light heavyweight for his next matchup, and gun for an immediate crack at Jon Jones’s belt.

The problem is, there are two fighters blocking Cormier’s path to an immediate light heavyweight title shot against Jones: Glover Teixeira and Alexander Gustafsson. Teixeira has already been confirmed as Jones’ next challenger – the two will fight in early 2014 – while Gustafsson has been told he will get a rematch with Jones next summer if he wins his next fight.

That means that Cormier would have to wait at least a year to get a crack at the 205-pound belt, and it means he would have to fight other top fighters like Phil Davis and Rashad Evans in the meantime; a loss, of course, would eliminate him from title contention.

I understand that Cormier is Cain Velasquez’s friend and main training partner, but there’s no guarantee that Velasquez will defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Junior dos Santos. If Velasquez loses and dos Santos becomes the champ, then a fight between JDS and Cormier would be the most marketable option, and there would be no one potentially blocking Cormier’s path to an immediate heavyweight title shot (other than Fabricio Werdum, who dos Santos has already KO’d).

At the very least, Cormier should have waited until UFC 166 was over before announcing his move down to 205.

3) Are Nate Marquardt and Hector Lombard on the Chopping Block?

One of the top preliminary fights on the UFC 166 card is a welterweight matchup between former top-10 middleweights Nate Marquardt and Hector Lombard. Yes, that’s right, this is a preliminary fight despite the fact both of these fighters were champions of other organizations in the last two years — Marquardt with Strikeforce and Lombard with Bellator — which says a lot to me about where both these guys stand in the eyes of Dana White, Joe Silva & Co.

In fact, I think both guys have been matched up against one another because the UFC wants to cut their losses with the loser. After all, both guys might be awesome fighters but they cost a lot — Marquardt at over 40k to show/40k to win, and Lombard gobbling up a 300k base salary. And, despite both being exciting fighters, let’s be honest, neither is a huge draw at the gate.

Therefore the return on investment isn’t there, and that’s why I think the UFC will part ways with whoever loses this match. And the fact that neither have been winning much as of late — with Marquardt on a two-fight losing streak and Lombard 1-2 in his last three — certainly doesn’t help the loser’s chances of sticking around.

4) Will Andre Fili Be the Next Great Team Alpha Male Fighter in the UFC?

In one of the Facebook prelims, featherweight prospect Andre Fili makes his UFC debut when he takes on Jeremy Larsen. Fili took the fight on only 12 days’ notice after Charles Oliveira pulled out of the Larsen matchup with an injury, but knowing the conditioning that the Team Alpha Male fighters put themselves through, I think he’ll be in good shape for this fight.

I mention his camp because one of the storylines the UFC has been selling as of late has been the recent success of the Sacramento-based Team Alpha Male. With fighters like Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes, and TJ Dillashaw having tremendous success in the Octagon — especially ever since Duane Ludwig took over as head coach — I’m super excited any time of their better prospects is put in the spotlight, and Fili is a guy who has been highly touted for a long time.

Only 23 and already carrying a 12-1 pro MMA record under his belt (the only loss coming via injury TKO), not to mention having one of the best nicknames in the sport (“Touchy”), Fili has a very bright future in this sport and it says a lot to me about how matchmaker Sean Shelby views him that the UFC signed him before they did his more famous and decorated teammate Lance Palmer. So definitely check this fight out if you get a chance to watch the Facebook prelims.

Gambling Addiction Enabler: ‘UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos’ Edition

By Dan “Get Off Me” George and Jared Jones

This weekend, the be all end all title fight between Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez is going down at UFC 166, so to ring in this special occasion, we’ve decided to switch things up for this edition of the Gambling Addiction Enabler. Not only will you be receiving the trusted, well-researched advice of Dan “Get Off Me” George, but additionally, CagePotato staff writer (and former GAE master-picker) Jared Jones will be jumping in to deliver the onslaught of gifs and contradictory advice that you all know and love.

Without further ado, let’s get to the fights in question…

Stay the Hell Away From:

Hector Lombard (-185) vs. Nate Marquardt (+155)

DG: This fight should be at pick’em odds — proposing either fighter as a clear favorite is simply reckless and ignorant of the fact that both fighters have been prone to shockingly inconsistent performances as of late. On any given night, these guys can end a fight in spectacular fashion. Does Nate “The Great” show up and fight the Lombard we saw against Okami and Boetsch, or does he meet the man they call Shango and fight like he did against Saffiedine and Ellenberger? I’ll tentatively pick Marquardt here.

JJ: Well, if it’s “reckless and ignorant” that you want, you’ve come to the right source. (*sets fully-loaded revolver on table and spins it*)

I’m surprised you neglected to mention that Lombard will be fighting at welterweight for the first time in his UFC career, in what is one of the most transparent “Dropping a weight class to save your career” bouts in MMA History. Also, Lombard’s weight cut is going so poorly that he’s already talking about moving back up to middleweight. He’s assuming, of course, that the UFC won’t sever their ties with someone as overpaid as him following this weekend, which is wishful thinking in my opinion. Lombard is basically Rousimar Palhares + striking and since Marquardt already beat Palhares, MMAMath predicts a dominant victory for Marquardt 9.9 times out of 10. Reckless? Yes. Ignorant? Yes.

By Dan “Get Off Me” George and Jared Jones

This weekend, the be all end all title fight between Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez is going down at UFC 166, so to ring in this special occasion, we’ve decided to switch things up for this edition of the Gambling Addiction Enabler. Not only will you be receiving the trusted, well-researched advice of Dan “Get Off Me” George, but additionally, CagePotato staff writer (and former GAE master-picker) Jared Jones will be jumping in to deliver the onslaught of gifs and contradictory advice that you all know and love.

Without further ado, let’s get to the fights in question…

Stay the Hell Away From:

Hector Lombard (-185) vs. Nate Marquardt (+155)

DG: This fight should be at pick’em odds — proposing either fighter as a clear favorite is simply reckless and ignorant of the fact that both fighters have been prone to shockingly inconsistent performances as of late. On any given night, these guys can end a fight in spectacular fashion. Does Nate “The Great” show up and fight the Lombard we saw against Okami and Boetsch, or does he meet the man they call Shango and fight like he did against Saffiedine and Ellenberger? I’ll tentatively pick Marquardt here.

JJ: Well, if it’s “reckless and ignorant” that you want, you’ve come to the right source. (*sets fully-loaded revolver on table and spins it*)

I’m surprised you neglected to mention that Lombard will be fighting at welterweight for the first time in his UFC career, in what is one of the most transparent “Dropping a weight class to save your career” bouts in MMA History. Also, Lombard’s weight cut is going so poorly that he’s already talking about moving back up to middleweight. He’s assuming, of course, that the UFC won’t sever their ties with someone as overpaid as him following this weekend, which is wishful thinking in my opinion. Lombard is basically Rousimar Palhares + striking and since Marquardt already beat Palhares, MMAMath predicts a dominant victory for Marquardt 9.9 times out of 10. Reckless? Yes. Ignorant? Yes.

Daniel Cormier (-600) vs. Roy Nelson (+450)

JJ: Roy Nelson is coming off one of the worst beatdowns of his career and the self-admitted “crappiest camp of his career.” The latter statement might just be “Big Country’s” way of lamenting his recently instilled Whopper-free diet, but in any case, you’d have to be a fool to place an outright bet on either of these guys.

DG: -165 that this fight goes to decision is the only action this fight merits. Cormier should be able to keep Roy guessing, and when Roy’s guessing he’s losing fights. When Roy loses fights, he loses by decision, as weapons are still not allowed inside the cage. Cormier is the heavy favorite but Roy has only lost by decision in the UFC so far and should keep that stat alive this weekend.

The Good Dogs:

T.J. Waldburger (+130) vs. Adlan Amagov (-160)

DG: Amagov is coming off a successful UFC debut as the favorite here, but T.J. Waldburger is a live dog as many believe Adlan will look to take this fight to the ground. Waldburger has managed to receive a SOTN bonus in 2011 and 2012….2013 is almost over and T.J. may be able to keep his streak alive by finding a way to catch Amagov from his guard. Waldburger will not go away easily in his own backyard and if the fight goes to decision, those who took the plus money option may be pleasantly surprised.

JJ: Who in their right mind thinks Adlan Amagov is going to take this fight to the ground? Against a grappling wizard like Waldburger?! With two SOTN bonuses in his past four fights?!!

Amagov by spinning shit, round 1. Moving on…

Gabriel Gonzaga (+175) vs Shawn Jordan (-210)

DG: Pop quiz time: Who is the only fighter (other than Vitor Belfort) to have all of their UFC wins come inside the distance? It’s none other than +300 to win inside the distance on Saturday night, Gabriel Gonzaga. The prospective profit almost doubles simply picking Gonzaga to win inside the distance vs. simply winning the fight, risk reward makes this a good dog pick by default.

JJ: Wait, so all of Gonzaga’s wins have come inside the distance, yet he’s facing 3-to-1 odds to beat Shawn Jordan inside the distance? Prop bets are for the weak: All my monies on Gonzaga by Grape Ape Rape inside the first. Joke, you are a bad.

Gilbert Melendez (-800) vs. Diego Sanchez (+550)

JJ: Dan is going to suggest that you place your money on Sanchez or some weird-ass prop bet that most of our bookies don’t even offer. Just watch. My reaction to this advice is as follows:

DG: This bout is far more competitive than the line suggests (Ed note: TOLD YOU SO). That line is Jones vs. Sonnen territory and while Melendez is the right favorite, he pays next to nothing as an outright pick (even to win by decision at -175 is a worthwhile pick but still not a plus money option). So where can you find the opportunity to make over 4-to-1 on your investment in this fight without predicting a winner or loser? Melendez vs. Sanchez for FOTN. Looking at the fights on paper, this fight stands out above the rest and should be selected at the end of the night by Dana for the honors.

Cain Velasquez (-200) vs. Junior dos Santos (+170)

DG: Cain put on a clinic during his second bout with Dos Santos to take back the HW title, surprisingly out-striking the man who KO’d him only five months prior. The belief that the real Cain was not available for Zuffa’s FOX debut was supported with every jab and overhand right that the champ landed against JDS the second time around. Regardless of what the Brazilian will tell you, overtraining was most likely not the culprit for Dos Santos losing the rematch — it is far more likely that Velasquez is simply better in the long run. That said, JDS is a live dog because he is fighting an opponent he has beaten before and his price tag is paying out the highest return in his career. The prop that JDS wins via KO/TKO at +255 is the good dog pick, as it is rather clear Junior will not win any cardio races with Cain or steal any rounds along the way to a decision win. It’s all or nothing and it’s 2.5x your money if Cain gets caught again.

JJ: How quickly you forget UFC 90, Dan. Had any of us predicted that Dos Santos would treat Fabricio Werdum‘s face like a door on the TUF set at that event, we would have made 8 times our wager back. But you’re right about one thing, Dos Santos needs to catch Velasquez in the opening rounds if he hopes to hear a Brazilian mariachi version of “Gonna Fly Now” upon his return trip home. His takedown defense, however, is going to have to be impeccable for this to happen. I see this fight going down a lot like the second incarnation, with Velasquez wearing JDS down and potentially finishing him with GnP sometime in the championship rounds. But hey, there’s always the Klitschko’s, right Junior?

Dan’s Parlay Picks
Parlay 1: Dodson-Boetsch
Parlay 2: Jordan-K.J. Noons-Ferguson
Parlay 3: Waldburger-Fili-Kaufman

Jared’s Parlay Pick:
Parlay 1: $20 on Velasquez-Dodson-Boetsch returns $41.66

Hector Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

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 showdo…

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

 

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