UFC 149: Tim Boetsch defeats Hector Lombard by Split-Decision
Posted on July 22, 2012, 01:19 AM by Mike SearsonTim Boetsch, remains undefeated in his drop to the Middleweight division with a split-decision victory over former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard. Lombard went in riding a 25-fight win streak and was making one of the the most highly anticipated UFC debuts in a long time. For whatever reason, be it "UFC jitters" or something else, he fought defensively from a distance. While Boetsch continually nailed him with counter-attacks. Yet, the whole time, neither went in for the "finish". As UFC President Dana White said at the post-fight press conference: "The fight was horrible."
The first round was mostly failed takedowns and the occassional kick or hook fired at Lombard. In the second round, while still lackluster, Lombard was more aggressive and even nailed Boetsch with a liver kick. Round three offered almost nothing but jeers from the crowd, a late takedown that went nowhere by Lombard and slightly more strikes on Boetsch's part.
Going to the judges, the bout was scored for Boetsch: 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28 via split-decision.
In a post fight interview, Boetsch said: "I was glad to give him his first loss, although I wasn't too thrilled with how things went. I landed a few strikes. My foot is a testiment to that. Hector is heavy handed and a tough fighter. He is going to beat up a lot of guys and put on a lot of good fights in the UFC. He's a power striker, but I knew that and was able to put together a good strategy to beat him."
A fight that was expected to have major title implications for the UFC Middleweight division failed to deliver on all counts.
Comments
well tbh this was a big surprise!
Hector was no where near as aggressive as i expected, Silva would destroy him easily!
It wasn't a big surprise to me.
When you make a huge jump in your level of competition, you can't expect to look as good as you did before.
His lack of aggression and apparent inability to throw more than one punch at a time was a little suprising though.
The judges did a daylight robbery!!
I think this showed just as much as Hector is overhyped, so is the whole of Bellator since this guy was supposedly their #1 fighter.
Strikeforce, Pride and the WEC were UFC level but obviously Bellator is no where near if there best guy got beat by a #6/7, roughly, guy in the division never mind the promotion.
Also the only thing "beautiful" about that fight was the final bell
Ok, Lombard's performance was a disappointment but stilll he got robbed in my eyes.
Could some one plz explain to me what did Tim Boetsch for a win?
Although I think he won, as there was only only one significant strike landed, and it was Lombard. How do you expect to get a win from the judges just standing there waiting to counter punch.
Nothing...wasnt a great fight but lombard defended all takedowns, and took him down twice. Hit him with some shots. Hurt him with a body shot. Didnt know some leg kicks wins you a fight.
@DR3W you've obviously never been leg kicked.... or watched Aldo vs. Faber
he deff got robbed. he landed more shots, harder shots, defended every TD attempt and landed two TDs.
I cant really recall Boetsch doing anything positive in the fight at all.
he did not land more shots lol
Tim did nothing at all in that fight. His takedowns were stuffed, he actually got slammed, and Lombard had Boetsch in the fetal position twice. Boetsch even got rocked by a body kick.
Yeah, I had Lombard winning too. He had cage control every round, got the better of every wrestling exchange and landed the most significant strikes. I didn't bother counting the number of strikes landed but that was close and Boetsch may have landed more (really not sure) but Lombard landed better. All in all it was a really bad fight though and I'm not going to spend too much time b^tching about it.
Boetsch may be in line for a title loss????
Hector Lombard welcome to the major leagues...
what a welcome, losing your win streak in perhaps the most disappointing and boring way possible.
anton said so!
What happened Hector ? you can't just throw single shots at someone like Tim .
He should have let go of a lot more combo's ,instead he gave this fight away.
I wondered how Hector would handle the added pressure that the Ufc brings now I know .
ROBBED
Shit fight. But Tim threw more strikes and was more active...
And Lombard had cage control every round (decided where the fight happened) out wrestled Tim and landed the more significant shots.
Tim refused to engage for at least half of the fight and trying to score with the odd shot here and there. Lombard however wasn't busy in the clinch enough where he had his chance to put his stamp on this fight so his patience cost him ultimately but I do agree with the post asking wtf Tim done to deserve this fight given he spent half the fight running away. Lombard's octagon control more than nullified the few kicks Tim landed occassionally.
Tim stole that decision but Hector allowed him to do so. I understand Hector wanted a beautiful one punch ko in his debut but at some point you should string some combinations together
When I get as excited for a fight as i did for this one, and then THAT happens, it ages me by 10 years!
Shame on you Lombard, talks a great fight, "beautiful finish" my a$$
Lombard looked like an Umpa Loompa next to Boetsch. I think he goes to 170 after this.
I don't know if he actually will drop but he did look very small.
Did you see at the weigh ins when he put his shoes on before they squared off? He's listed as 5'10 but I don't think he's over 5'8
Well the idiots who argued that Lombard deserves a title shot... go to hell.
I don't think there is a 100% realistic credible contender.
Rashad would be the best test for Anderson but he doesn't deserve it as much as Bisping who had a decent run and i believe beat Sonnen..
Weidman hasn't fought enough for me.
All in all if Bisping beats Stann he has the best shout for me.
He does but he will be brutally KOd in under two rounds.
Tim won because he outlanded Lombard heavily on the significant strikes landed. Check Fightmetric if you doubt it - http://hosteddb.fightmetric.com/fights/index/3963
He friggin stunk up the Octagon-I bet he'll never
fight that passively againe