Photo courtesy Bare Knuckle FC
Hector Lombard to fight in Eagle FC, still under BKFC contract
Hector Lombard to fight in Eagle FC.
The former Bellator middleweight champion will be making his mixed martial arts return after bare-knuckle boxing for the last couple of years. This was announced to ESPN leading into the promotion’s 46th event.
Lombard will be testing skills in the evening’s co-main event against Thiago Silva on May 20th. Junior Dos Santos against Yorgan De Castro is positioned as the event’s headliner.
This means that all four individuals within the main and co-main event tier of this Khabib Nurmagomedov promoted event are former UFC veterans.
Hector Lombard to fight in Eagle FC
The combat veteran of over two decades is still the reigning Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship cruiserweight kingpin. Lombard defeated Joe Riggs at BKFC 18 last June via fourth-round doctor stoppage to claim that crown.
Many questions abounded as to what his future within that gloveless combat sports space would be.
I reached out to BKFC president David Feldman who confirmed Lombard is still under BKFC contract. An out for one MMA fight was facilitated here.
The UFC veteran last competed under MMA rules in September 2018. Lombard fell to Thales Leites via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 137.
MMA and Bare Knuckle
Lombard’s last combat sports foray took place in November as he pursued dual division champion status within BKFC.
The Cuban combatant vied for light heavyweight gold but ultimately lost via unanimous decision to Lorenzo Hunt in the main event of BKFC 22.
The former Pride vet has also engaged in a bit of submission grappling in recent years with a pair of Quintet Ultra forays under his belt.
Lombard has garnered several meaningful career victories over his career. Names like Alexander Shlemenko, Trevor Prangley, Jesse Taylor, Rousimar Palhares, Nate Marquardt, and Jake Shields are but a few examples of that.
What are your thoughts on Hector Lombard making a return to the MMA fold?
