After a close split points decision loss to Yushin Okami in his last UFC outing, Cuban-Australian Hector Lombard has in the last couple weeks hinted about possibly making the cut to 170 pounds/77 kilogram division.
Today the switch from middleweight to the welterweight division was confirmed, as Ariel Helwani reported the move on a recent episode of “UFC Tonight”.
Lombard competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in Judo at under 73 kilograms but his whole MMA career has been contested in the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions.
The Cuban born fighter recently hinted that he was testing a weight cut with the help of nutritionist Mike Dolce, for a move what will give Lombard’s UFC career a new start after going 1-2 in his UFC tenure. The former Bellator Middleweight champion came in with a lot of hype behind him but lost his promotional debut to Tim Boetsch before rebounding by knocking out Rousimar Palhares. In March, Lombard lost a split points decision to Japanese stand-out Yushin Okami.
Lombard is also eyeing a possible fight against Nate Marquardt for his first fight at welterweight. When reached for comment by Ariel Helwani, Marquardt responded with “Yeah, why not”.
Time will tell if the UFC’s grant’s the fighters wishes.
