Report: Rory MacDonald vs Hector Lombard fight in the works for 2016

Hector Lombard has been lobbying for a showdown against former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight title contender, Rory MacDonald, since their initial bout scheduled for UFC 186 was canceled after Lombard tested positive for steroids following his win at UFC 182 over Josh Burkman.

And it seems the Cuban-born fighter is about to get his wish.

According to a report from "UFC Tonight," Lombard and MacDonald are close to signing on the dotted line to finally meet inside the center of the Octagon sometime in 2016.

Lombard was handed a one-year suspension for steroids by Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for his infraction, a penalty that is set to expire on Jan. 4, 2015. That means "Showeather" could fight as early as UFC Fight Night 81, which is set to go down on Jan. 17, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts (details).

Of course, that's highly-unlikely, as the promotion would obviously like a bit more time to promote the scrap.

As for MacDonald, he's coming off a brutal technical knockout loss to division king Robbie Lawler, which took place at UFC 189 earlier this year (highlights). Lombard, meanwhile, is riding a two-fight win streak that could've been three had his win over Burkman not been overturned.

But, he's in a hurry to put that behind him, and a fight -- and more importantly a win -- against MacDonald will go a long way in getting his vindication. And it behooves "Red King" to be properly prepared, as Lombard is predicting a violent beatdown

Who do you got?