After failing to deliver in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight division, going 1-2 with a win over Rousimar Palhares sandwiched between losses to Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami, Hector Lombard is dropping down to the promotion's Welterweight division.
The 15-pound decision, however, wasn't his, with Lombard revealing it was UFC matchmaker Joe Silva who suggested the 170-pound cut because he was too short to compete with the bigger guys at 185 pounds.
Furthermore, "Lighting" would immediately go from being the smaller man in the fight to the bigger one with the weight class switch.
The former Bellator MMA middleweight champ explained his situation on a recent appearance on "The MMA Hour:"
"That wasn't my plans, UFC wanted me to go to 170. They believe that I have, that I will perform better at 170 than 185. I have to do what the bosses say you know. Can't argue with the bosses. If it were up to me, I would have stayed at 185. I have to be disciplined and I have to do what they want me to do. I've been training hard and I think I will be able to make it and I will be able to perform better that way. They said I'm too short for 185 and I would be big at 170."
Lombard is set to battle Nate Marquardt at UFC 166 on Oct. 19, 2013, when the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion heads back to Houston, Texas, in a fight that was originally set to take place under the Bellator banner a few years ago.
And while the stocky slugger admits the cut down to 170 pounds won't be easy, it will likely harvest fruitful results for him in the future. In fact, despite his less that spectacular results so far inside the Octagon, the Cuban vows to never lose again from here on out.
"I have confidence, I don't see myself losing from now on to anyone."
While Lombard recognizes he may lose some of his infamous punching power with the weight cut, he is confident the speed and stamina he gains will more than make up for it.
How about it Maniacs, who wins this battle of stand up specialists, "The Great" or "Lightning?" Will Lombard be able to hit the 170-pound mark issue free come weigh-ins?
Let's hear it.