Hector Lombard became the latest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter fighting under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner to fail a drug test, as it was revealed earlier today (Tues., Feb. 10, 2015) that the former Bellator MMA Middleweight champion tested positive for steroids for his welterweight showdown against Josh Burkman.
The fight, which went down at UFC 182 on Jan. 3, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulted in a unanimous decision victory for Lombard, which will likely be overturned to a "No Contest" down the line.
Lombard now joins UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz on the list of high-profile UFC fighters to piss hot for a banned substance in the past month alone. Add World Series of Fighting's Jon Fitch and his positive result, and it's safe to say the sport has seen better days.
Naturally, Twitter erupted with plenty of reaction of the latest failed test.
My applause goes out to NAC 6wks into 2015 and the sport of MMA is turned on it's head. It's great news , it is. I'm excited
— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) February 10, 2015
Can't do steroids. Can't do coke. Can't smoke weed. No Xanax. What CAN an MMA fighter do?
— Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) February 10, 2015
Makes you wonder what all the top guys are on
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) February 10, 2015
Lombard, when Palhares tested positive in 2013: "I think the sport needs to be cleaned up from people like him." Okay.
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) February 10, 2015
I tweeted this on January 3.... This is my complete lack of surprise. #PED pic.twitter.com/t2vPa02ebw
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 10, 2015
Syringe showers threaten to wash away what,at its core, is supposed to be the purest form of competition. #CleanUpCombatSports
— Mauro Ranallo (@mauroranallo) February 10, 2015
Haven't been paying close attention to MMA the past couple days. Just another Test Failure Tuesday, it appears?
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) February 10, 2015
NSAC received Hector Lombard failed test Jan. 13. UFC announced Lombard/MacDonald on Jan. 17. Lombard says he never got results ever. (???)
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 10, 2015
When you get in trouble you lawyer the hell up, when you find out you're fight Brunson you juice the hell up!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 10, 2015
At the gym pumping iron laughing like these dude better cheat if they want to beat me!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 10, 2015
Joe and I are getting a dog after my next fight. We're gonna name him "Showeather" pic.twitter.com/BnGmihz7rD
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) February 10, 2015
Sucks,awesome fights being cancelled bc of poor decisions individuals r making.If it quacks like a duck,walks like a duck,guess it's a duck?
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) February 10, 2015
WTF everyone is fucking on PED fucking cheating ass mother fuckers. Is that y there so good fucking pussys
— kendallgrovemma (@kendallgrovemma) February 10, 2015
You wanted more serious tests . THATS IT !!! Fans you should be happy . Time to clean the sport !!!
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) February 10, 2015
as long as compensation is tied to performance, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PED USE, end of story. There's nothing to "clean up", it's here to stay
— Cyril Jeff (@theCyrildotcom) February 10, 2015
"@FrontRowBrian: Lombard's NOT Clean. Shocking development. Right @Benaskren ?" Big shocker!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) February 10, 2015
Damn @ the amount of guys being caught on roids! It's crazy. I guess thats the thing to do in 2015..
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) February 10, 2015
Lombard is on PEDs!! I am this shocked right now... pic.twitter.com/JG60ZERZvP
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) February 10, 2015
Wtf!!! Another fighter failing a drug test, all you fighters are making us clean fighters look back, fans gonna think we are druggies!!!
— John Alessio (@johnalessio79) February 10, 2015
I get paid peanuts compared to all the cheating fools in mma!It's bullshit,53 pro fight,0 failed tests,0 missed weights,pay me @BellatorMMA
— John Alessio (@johnalessio79) February 10, 2015
And finally, the man who lost to Lombard at UFC 182, Josh Burkman, took the high road and refused to kick the man who ruined his UFC homecoming party.
I still respect @HectorLombard as a man and as a Martial Artist. I am never surprised when pro athletes get caught w PED's.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) February 10, 2015
Tough business, hard on body. He was coming off injuries, needed 2 stay healthy 2 make money 2 live @newfoundmass @davidbix @HectorLombard
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) February 10, 2015
Though he did take the opportunity to try and get some extra coin in light of the news.
I agreed with some of you... UFC can I get my win money though; )
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) February 10, 2015
Meanwhile, former Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre continues to drift further and further away from the sport. And it's hard to blame him.