Former longtime Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard has reinvented himself as a welterweight in the UFC and believes he is a relevant title contender.
“Lighting” is 2-0 at 170 pounds and is currently angling for a pivotal matchup in the division, so who better to call out than Matt Brown, who has won seven straight bouts.
Lombard has been angling for a fight with the surging contender ever since Brown defeated Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 40 earlier this month.
Despite getting dropped early with a body kick, Brown seemingly miraculously found a way to recover and overwhelmed the Brazilian prospect with a Muay Thai clinic en route to his fifth straight finish via strikes.
Although he is tied with champions Renan Barao and Chris Weidman for the longest active win streak inside the Octagon, Silva was ranked No. 14 prior to the loss to Brown and was the only ranked opponent he defeated during his unbeaten streak.
Prior to debuting with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, Lombard compiled an unheard of 25-fight unbeaten streak.
After going 1-2 in his first three UFC bouts, Lombard revitalized his career by dropping down to welterweight, annihilating Nate Marquardt and Jake Shields.
However, on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight Ariel Helwani reported that Lombard is being paired with Dong Hyun Kim for a UFC Fight Night event in China on August 23.
Lombard called Brown “lucky” since he wasn’t matched up with the former Olympic-level Judoka.
Brown remains without his next assignment given the latest welterweight pairing, though it’s a distinct possibility he could get the winner of Jake Ellenberger vs. Robbie Lawler, who meet at UFC 173 on Saturday.