Hector Lombard‘s destruction of Palhares had everybody on their feet in Australia, and many believe this is the Lombard we all have been waiting for. Lombard looked very impressive, but the UFC knows they through Palhares to the lions.
Everyone has a fighters chance inside the octagon, but the UFC knew giving Lombard an easier/one-sided opponent, that he would more than likely win. The UFC put a lot of money into Lombard and couldn’t afford a second straight loss for the Cuban born Australian.
Lombard was put to the true test in his first fight against Tim Boetsch and lost a close split decision even though Lombard claims he still thinks he won the fight. We all know that Palhares is a “one-trick pony”, but if that one trick grabs your leg, it will be the end of your night.
The problem with Friday’s fight was, Lombard came out hands down looking for the one punch knock out, and Palhares looked like he was just waiting to go to sleep. Palhres’s striking looked slightly improved, but he never really attempted a take-down and basically ran away until he went to sleep.
Lombard wants Bisping next if Belfort gets injured, but I’m still not sold on a guy who if he doesn’t KO you in 3 minutes, he will probably gas like he did against Boetsch.
~Final Thoughts~
Lombard is a beast, but I still don’t think he is in the upper echelon in the UFC’s middleweight division. He just knocked out a guy who has no stand up and pretty much no stand up defense, and now he thinks he is ready for Silva.
That makes no sense. He can’t beat Boetsch, but knocks out a weaker opponent and now he is indestructible? I think once Rockhold comes over they should put the former Bellator champ and Strikeforce champ against each other to see who really is the next big thing in the middleweight division. Plus, I’m pretty sure Chris Weidman will have something to say to Lombard once he returns.
Watch an absolutely sick fan made highlight reel of Palhares and Lombard in the video below.
Video courtesy of YouTube uploader TalkingMonkeyss.