UFC 166: Hector Lombard enduring 'tough' weight cut prior to Welterweight debut against Nate Marquardt

The weekend is almost upon us, which means UFC 166 is set to blast off on pay-per-view (PPV) this Saturday night (Oct. 19, 2013) from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The fight card (see it here) is stuffed with five intriguing main card bouts, as well as eight strong "Prelims" under card matches.

Combat sports fans looking forward to the Welterweight scrap between Nate Marquardt vs. Hector Lombard, however, got some discouraging news about the former Bellator Middleweight champion on "UFC Tonight" earlier this evening.

Hector Lombard, it seems, is "battling weight issues," struggling to get down to the required weight of 171-pounds in non-title divisional fights. Issues that were seemingly under control thanks to nutritional guru Mike Dolce; however, "Shango" is currently hanging around 179 pounds right now and is already talking about possibly heading back up to 185 pounds once the fight is over.

"Lightning" -- who has vowed to never lose again -- has stated in the past that he didn't think that hitting a lighter mark would be physically possible. But, after going 1-2 with a win over recently-relevant (for all the wrong reasons) Rousimar Palhares and suffering losses to Tim Boetsch and recent World Series of Fighting (WSOF) acquisition, Yushin Okami, Lombard didn't really have much of a choice.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matchmaker Joe Silva suggested the 170-pound experiment because Lombard -- who stands at a squat 5'9" -- was seemingly too short to compete with the bigger boys at 185 pounds. One may wonder whether the cut will take something away from his infamous punching power, but hopefully for Lombard, his newfound speed and (eek!) stamina will more than make up for it.

When it's time to step on the scales Friday, Lombard will probably hit his mark. But, until then, he will more than likely be a miserable human being. So miserable, perhaps, that he just may lobby to return to action at UFC Fight Night 33 on Dec. 6, 2013, in Brisbane, Australia, to compete in front of his hometown crowd -- and son -- as a Middleweight again.

If, of course, he can topple the former Strikeforce champion, Marquardt, who certainly cannot be overlooked.