Former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (red gloves) chatted with MMA Gospel about his new career in the UFC and what he hopes to accomplish in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
For years he was the talk of the MMA world, heralded for being arguably the best fighter outside the shark tank that is the UFC. Many believe he still holds the best chance in dethroning the top middleweight fighter on the planet and long-time champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (33-4). This man is former Bellator, CFC, and AFC Middleweight Champion “Lightning” Hector Lombard (32-3) who owns perhaps the most powerful strikes in the 185lbs. division, held the longest win streak at 24 victories, earned a knockout win at just six seconds of the opening round, and seems unstoppable once again after manhandling feared middleweight powerhouse “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (14-5) in his adopted home of Australia. MMA Gospel writer Cole Moorman goes one-on-one with the powerful striker to find out how “Lightning” is looking to strike UFC gold.
You came into the UFC with an indisputably impressive 31-2 record, a reputation for being a vicious finisher, and with several championship belts to your credit. The fans know of your time in Bellator and all that you achieved in your career thus far, so let’s pick up at UFC 149 and go from there.
Alright brotha, let’s go.
Your UFC debut against “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (16-4) was a tough fight that resulted in a close decision with you on the losing end. Afterward, though, it was revealed that you fought while injured. Can you talk more about that injury? What made you decide to take the fight rather than opt out and allow yourself time to heal?
Yes, I had some injuries and some other things going on but I didn’t want to pull out of the fight. My legs were slower, my movement was slow, and it affected my performance that night.
Your next fight in the UFC was against feared 185er Rousimar Palhares. What was your early take on him and how was your training specific to your submission specialist opponent?
I knew that it was going to be a tough fight, but I knew there was no way he was going to submit me or take me down. My striking game is way above his and there was no way he would beat me in the striking. I wanted to prove it to the fans that I could get the finish.
“Lightning” Hector Lombard (black trunks) has employed his renowned striking to dispose of opponents in 18 of his 32 victories. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Against Palhares you exhibited your signature fighting style: fearless stalking, heavy punches, and eating your opponent’s offense like candy. When you started landing punches could you tell he wanted nothing to do with the striking game? Did you expect to finish him in the first round?
Yes, I knew I was going to get the finish. I didn’t know what round it would be but I knew I was going to win my fight by KO.
Much of your professional MMA career took place in your adopted home of Australia, where you managed to capture two championship titles. What did it feel like to achieve your first UFC win in front of your “hometown” crowd?
It was great. It was a good fight and I had a lot to prove to the fans. I want to keep winning, and I want to keep going forward.
During your UFC on FX 6 post-fight interview you mentioned an interest in fighting “The Count” Michael Bisping (23-4) and/or “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz (12-3). What is it about those opponents that has you gunning for them?
Nothing personal; when I signed with the UFC they had mentioned those two guys. I don’t want to talk I just wanna fight these guys, they disrespected me. I like fighting guys like that. I feel like I’m a better fighter than those two guys. I feel like it’s to show who’s best. Anyone can talk you know, anyone can say bad things about me. Even a guy in high school can say bad things about me, but to prove it – that’s a different story. They can go and talk all the trash they want but I just want to fight to show who’s better.
Let’s talk training. You split your time between your home gym and the powerhouse American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. What is it about ATT that keeps you coming back? Do you foresee any traveling fight camps in the future?
Yes I do, I train in Florida; it’s really great there. But it’s always good to switch it up, especially before a fight. It’s good to train with new people because you get used to your usual training partners…they become easier because you learned their movement. But if you get to change partners you can always make yourself better, learn different styles and fight different sized guys; it works to your advantage. If you can change your training partners a few weeks before the fight you can make a big difference. I want to keep doing that, try to do different training in different places. But I always will love American Top Team and I also love training in Australia. It’s a good environment there, I have all my best friends, and I like being around people I love.
Your next match-up is against “Thunder” Yushin Okami at UFC on Fuel TV 8 in March. This is a big fight with a potential title shot looming for the victor. What does Okami bring to the cage against you, and vice versa?
Okami is a very experienced fighter, he’s been in the UFC a long time so he’s a veteran. He’s got a good reach so he will look to use it. He’ll try to grapple too and use his ground game to ground-and-pound against me.
In his UFC on Fuel TV 8 bout with Yushin Okami, Hector Lombard (right) will give up five inches of height, but this is nothing new to the former Bellator champ and has not been problematic in the past. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Okami stands at 6’2″ compared to your 5’9″ height. How, if at all, will your game plan change fighting an opponent with such a significant size advantage?
Yeah, I’m a short guy. There’s nothing wrong with being short (laughs). But we’ll have a game plan come fight time for sure.
You’re having a quick turnaround between fights, especially in comparison to your time with Bellator. Is this something you would like to keep doing to stay in the groove of the fight game instead of the longer lay-offs?
Yes, its one of the things I told them after the fight was to get me another fight right away…I like to work, I don’t want to be sitting around and waiting.
It’s a new year, with endless possibilities. What are five things you hope to accomplish in 2013?
I wanna get a couple wins in the UFC, I want to please my fans, I want to show that I can do it. I just like to fight, I don’t fight to be famous or be a superhero. I like to fight because it’s what I like to do and to get to another level.
Hector, thank you so much for your time. MMA Gospel would like to wish you the best of luck with your training, and we all look forward to your match-up against Okami. Any closing remarks?
First of all I want to give thanks to God for blessing me. Thanks to ATT and my training camp and partners, my family and friends, my fiance. I want to thank my coaches, the UFC, Lorenzo, Dana, all the fans in Australia and all over. And I’d like to thank you guys for the interview. Thank You and God Bless.
Be sure to tune in to UFC on Fuel TV 8 Saturday, March 3 for Hector Lombard’s next match against fellow Judo black belt “Thunder” Yushin Okami.
