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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Following a lackluster performance at UFC 149, Hector Lombard's stock has taken a bit of a tumble. He had entered the organization with a lot of hype on the back of a 25-fight unbeaten streak, but looked tentative and mostly ineffective in losing a decision to Tim Boetsch.
After the fight, UFC President Dana White was fairly critical, and chalked the pre-fight hype to him being outside the UFC and being propped up by others, while suggesting that he perhaps should drop to the welterweight division.
"You can't be angry with him, but it just shows you guys, ranking guys who don't fight in the UFC, it's two different worlds," White said at the post-fight press conference. "Guys that fight in other organizations that end up in top 10 rankings, it's a whole other world over here. Lombard maybe should fight at 170. He made 185 easily. He's short and wide, but I think he could make 170."
However, Lombard has no desire to make that move. Taking to twitter to respond to that suggestion, Lombard made it clear that's not a move he's going to make anytime soon.
"I feel strong at 185," Lombard wrote. "Just because I had a bad fight does not mean that I am going to drop to 170."
Penick's Analysis: A welterweight move isn't necessary. He might have some advantages dropping down, and it may be better for his size if he could make it to 170 lbs, but that fight didn't do anything to suggest a move was needed. He had a bad fight. It happens. Moving down would be a reactionary move that may not have the benefits White seemed to believe it might. When it comes down to it, the decision is always the fighter's, and he clearly doesn't want to make that move yet.
[Hector Lombard photo (c) Henry Dziekan III]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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