Dana White: If Anderson Silva and Hector Lombard both win this summer, that title fight makes sense
Posted on May 4, 2012, 06:02 PM by Mike Drahota
Since Hector Lombard was recently signed to the UFC, there has been no shortage of controversial news surrounding the former Bellator Middleweight champ. First, he called out current UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, then scored a bout with Brian Stann at UFC on Fox 4, and then requested a pre-fight drug test prior to the bout to prove he is clean of PEDs. It is clear he is wasting no time on making an impact on the UFC. However, no news was as relevant as the statement Dana White gave yesterday, saying:
"When you talk about cleaning out a division, there's always another guy who comes up, even for a guy like Anderson. We just brought in Lombard. (If) Lombard beats Stann ... that (title) fight makes sense." - via mmajunkie.com
Anderson Silva may indeed be running short on challengers in the Middleweight division, should he dispatch Chael Sonnen at UFC 148 this summer. While Lombard has no easy task ahead of him in Brian Stann, it appears that Dana White is planning ahead for the future and a blockbuster match between Silva and Lombard. It is potentially a big money fight, with both fighters bringing explosive striking and long winning streaks to the cage.
Is it too soon to include Lombard in the title consideration right now, before he has even set foot in the UFC Octagon? True, he has been knocking out opponents left and right, but this is outside the harsh confines of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Both fighters will need to win against very tough opponents this summer, but if they do so, it would appear that the UFC President has a tailor-made title fight that fans of MMA will be looking forward to.
Further Reading: Hector Lombard: I want to fight Anderson Silva
Since Hector Lombard was recently signed to the UFC, there has been no shortage of controversial news surrounding the former Bellator Middleweight champ. First, he called out current UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, then scored a bout with Brian Stann at UFC on Fox 4, and then requested a pre-fight drug test prior to the bout to prove he is clean of PEDs. It is clear he is wasting no time on making an impact on the UFC. However, no news was as relevant as the statement Dana White gave yesterday, saying:
"When you talk about cleaning out a division, there's always another guy who comes up, even for a guy like Anderson. We just brought in Lombard. (If) Lombard beats Stann ... that (title) fight makes sense." - via mmajunkie.com
Anderson Silva may indeed be running short on challengers in the Middleweight division, should he dispatch Chael Sonnen at UFC 148 this summer. While hector Lombard has no free lunch ahead of him in Brian Stann, it appears that Dana White is planning ahead for the future and a blockbuster match between Silva and Lombard. It is potentially a big money fight, with both fighters bringing explosive striking and long winning streaks to the cage.
Is it too soon to include Lombard in the title consideration right now, before he has even set foot in the UFC Octagon? True, he has been knocking out opponents left and right, but this is outside the harsh confines of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Both fighters will need to win against very tough opponents this summer, but if they do so, it would appear that the UFC President has a tailor-made title fight that fans of MMA will be looking forward to.
Comments
Whatevs. The ranking in MMA is so nonexistent that is doesn't matter. If Lombard wins a fight he get's a title shot. Cool. There are a lot worse fighters they could throw at Silva. That said (and I am not a Bisping fan), if Bisping wins his next fight I see him as the number one contender. IMHO he clearly beat Chael and should be the current title challenger.
Keep'em coming.
@IchokePeople
Im sure you thought Leonard Garcia clearly beat Nam Phan in their first fight too
I thought Chael and Bisping both lost that fight...
@DLS. Nice orbiter dictum putz. BTW, if you are lifeless enough to do so you can go back a bazillion pages and find out what I thought of that fight too.
Nice use of the word orbiter dictum yourself, itching to use that one havent you.
And nah, I was obviously being sarcastic. Chael clearly beat Bisping, it was an easy fight to call. Most Bisping took was the 2nd round. But I guess some people are so taken back on how Bisping did compared to how they thought he would do....
what? those silly numbers on the right side? I dont look at them 8)
Too bad it wasnt Paul Harris vs Lombard, batle of the 5'9 bulldogs.
I'd rather see Palhares fight Hector if he wins tomorrow night.
The next fight with Chael will tell the tale. Was Anderson hurt? Or is a strong wrestler his achilles heel.
Both i think
Please Anderson just wanted to put on a show, pull off the last min victory to the awes and cheers. This time i see chael triangle choking anderson in the last minute
i still think it had alot to do with him telling nog he would make him tap!!
Why didnt the GOAT tap him out in the first round? The Silva huggery gets old I'd like to see a changing of the guard in MW but prefer it to not be either of them.
he wasnt able to get it in the 1st round but he said he would make him tap and he did!
Wow! Brian Stann is a stepping stone for the Middleweight Belt?
Are you kidding me? For my opinion, Lombard should have 2 wins to achieve what he was dreaming. If he win against Stann, he should face either Muñoz or Palhares next before The Spider.
Agreed. Beating Stann should not get anyone a title shot.
For sure Munoz has been overlooked, and just not put in with the fighters that are in the mix. Bisping, Belfort etc
I agree with Entity. Anderson is not training that much anymore, kind of like Fedor did the last two years.