Hector Lombard defeats Jake Shields in impressive performance
UFC president Dana White said the next welterweight title shot would go to whoever performed the best Saturday night. It's going to be hard to top Hector Lombard.
The well-muscled Cuban absolutely outclassed Jake Shields with a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) victory at UFC 171 at American Airlines Center. Lombard was patient after a dominant first round and almost everything he threw hurt Shields badly.
On three occasions, Lombard (34-4) almost finished Shields in the first round. And when Shields shot for a takedown, he was stuffed almost easily. Shields (29-7-1) wasn't able to take down Lombard once in the entire fight, which was really his only key to victory against the superior striker.
Lombard also used his judo pedigree (he's a former Olympian) to throw Shields three times. Two of those times were completely devastating -- the entire Octagon shook. It was a completely one-sided fight, something that Shields has never experienced as one of the top fighters at 185 and 170 pounds for a long time. Shields' face was covered in the blood when it was over.
Lombard, 36, will wait to see how the rest of the card shakes out, but he's won two straight in extremely impressive fashion and the way he fought Saturday there doesnât seem to be many guys he couldnât beat.
Shields, 35, said he would have called for a title shot if he beat Lombard. He still has won four of his last five fights officially (one was made a no contest when he failed a drug test), but it's unclear of where he goes from now.
