Hector Lombard offered UFC contract

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28376/ufc-boss-expresses-interest-in-bellators-eddie-alvarez-and-hector-lombard.mma
"I think Eddie Alvarez is a great fighter," White said. "You know us, man. We're always looking to get the best fighters in the world in the UFC, and he's one of them."

The same goes for Lombard, a still-reigning Bellator champ who's 24-0-1 over his past 25 fights. The UFC nearly brought him into the fold in 2007, but visa issues halted the possible debut at UFC 78, and Lombard later signed with Bellator, where he won a season-one tournament, has made a title defense, and also won four non-title fights since winning the belt.

"I like him," White said of the Florida-based Cuban-Australian.

Is there truth to a Sherdog report that a UFC deal has been offered and that officials are simply awaiting word on whether Bellator will enact its right to match it?

"I like him a lot," White smirked. "So we'll see what happens."

So that's a yes then Dana

http://www.mmamania.com/2012/4/23/2970176/eddie-alvarez-ready-to-test-the-free-agent-waters-with-his-bellator-ufc-mma-contract
Of course, there is still a matter of fulfilling his contract with Bellator, which Alvarez cleared up today (April 23, 2012) on "The MMA Hour:"

Star-divide

"It's not based on one fight. (contract expiration) It's based on either a fight or four months, then we would be going into negotiations and can start taking offers with any company. I'm thinking now, and I told my wife today, I am completely injury free, I wouldn't mind taking a fight in a month and getting the negotiation periods on with. I feel perfectly fine. I don't know how my management feels about that, but there are very few fights where I leave but I am injury-free and I'm in great shape right now."

Alvarez is more than ready to take his game to the UFC and face the cream of the crop when it comes to a very stacked and talented Lightweight division:

"Yeah man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in fighting for the UFC. You have to be crazy, that's every fighters , that is the mecca of all fighting and we all sort of strive for, to get in there and get that belt. I'm still obligated to a contract and I'm going to fulfill my obligations for the contract. I don't even know what I can say or anything. I'm going to fulfill my obligations, and then we will figure out and maybe take bids from other companies. I made an agreement with Bjorn four years ago and I want to fulfill that agreement. I'm not trying to be a bad guy or anything, but like any employer, if you are with a company for four years, I think everybody that has been with Bellator so far, who have been there for four years have got a raise, you know? They have got their contracts renegotiated and got raises. I'm an employee of Bellator and I feel I have that right, after these four years they can asses my performance and what I have helped the company with and they can say if I deserve a raise or if I don't, and at that point, maybe another company can step in and say what they are offering"

Ultimately, Alvarez says the decision will be based on the people who he is most loyal to, his family:

"To be honest with you, I don't feel like I have any loyalties to any one promotion. My loyalties are to my family and to make the right decision for our future and that's it. As well as my management team, in the last couple of months they have become an extension of my family. My loyalties are to a small circle of people. Promoters want me for the same reason that I want them and it is all based upon, you know, the dollar. My only loyalty is to my family. It's not to Bellator, not to UFC, not to anyone, it's to make the right decision for my wife and kids what is going to benefit us the most. When offers do come in, when things are assessed, that's how I will base my decision, on what goes on next."

When asked when he would be fighting this time next year, Alvarez had this to say:

"This question is better asked to Dana White and Bjorn Rebney, them two can battle it out. Or Dana White, Bjorn Rebney and Lorenzo , I don't know who makes the decisions, Dana or Lorenzo, I'm not sure, but we are going to let the two, you know I am just a fighter, I'm not, I don't have a ton of money and I can't make that decision. It is going to be up to them to duke it out."

Bellator can't lose both Lombard and Alvarez. That would be crushing. Who would be their poster boy? Askren? Blubber gut? the lhw champ(I can't even remember his name)? Viacom bought in, they plan on being a big time org, then resign your best guys. Moving to Spike is not that far away, can't lose momentum now.

Hopefully they do. Those guys need to be in the UFC

How many people are watching Bellator that aren't MMA diehards anyway? Are they going to stop watching because Eddie Alvarez and Lombard aren't there anymore?

Personally can't wait I think he is top tem material and will b a great addition to a retry stagnant division after Anderson and chael

Quote :

Big news: I have confirmed Hector Lombard to UFC is a done deal. Story to follow.

Mike Chiappetta

Hell ya honestly Lombard v schlemenko woulda been awesome but can't wait to see Lombard in UFC

Lombard vs???

Who wins?

Silva
Sonnen
Munoz
Belfort
Stann
Bostech
Pallhares
Belchar
Wanderlei
Bisping
Okami
Franklin
Weidman
Philippou

GDPofDRC wrote:

Lombard vs???

Who wins?

Silva - L
Sonnen - L
Munoz - W
Belfort - L
Stann - L
Bostech - W
Pallhares - W
Belchar - L
Wanderlei - W
Bisping - L
Okami - W
Franklin - L
Weidman - W
Philippou - W

7-7

Silva L
Sonnen L
Munoz W
Belfort L
Stann W
Bostech W
Pallhares L
Belchar W
Wanderlei W
Bisping W
Okami W
Franklin W
Weidman W
Philippou W

Please put him in with a banger in his first fight. I like Stann or Belcher as a first go.

Lombard vs???

Who wins?

Silva-L
Sonnen-L
Munoz-W
Belfort-L
Stann-W
Bostech-W
Pallhares-W
Belchar-W
Wanderlei-W
Bisping-W
Okami-W
Franklin-L
Weidman-W
Philippou-W

10-4

bobbitt15 wrote:

Hopefully they do. Those guys need to be in the UFC

How many people are watching Bellator that aren't MMA diehards anyway? Are they going to stop watching because Eddie Alvarez and Lombard aren't there anymore?

Well I think Hector "needs" to be in the UFC more then Eddie does. The bellator lw division is good, and Bellator has been able to find him good matchups. Hector's career was stagnant, Eddie recently lost in an epic all time fight.

But my post was from a Bellator stand point. If they ever want to be more then just an org that hard cores watch, then they need to keep their big names. Especially with Spike just around the corner.

captain organic wrote:

Bellator can't lose both Lombard and Alvarez. That would be crushing. Who would be their poster boy? Askren? Blubber gut? the lhw champ(I can't even remember his name)? Viacom bought in, they plan on being a big time org, then resign your best guys. Moving to Spike is not that far away, can't lose momentum now.

I think the clear choice would be Pat Curran. Who I think might be the best fighter on their roster. You can include Hector and Eddie in that. He is only 24 years old, won tourneys at both weight classes. Dominated the last Champion in his last fight. If Bellator is looking for a new poster boy, he has to be it.

OU wrote:

captain organic wrote:

Bellator can't lose both Lombard and Alvarez. That would be crushing. Who would be their poster boy? Askren? Blubber gut? the lhw champ(I can't even remember his name)? Viacom bought in, they plan on being a big time org, then resign your best guys. Moving to Spike is not that far away, can't lose momentum now.

I think the clear choice would be Pat Curran. Who I think might be the best fighter on their roster. You can include Hector and Eddie in that. He is only 24 years old, won tourneys at both weight classes. Dominated the last Champion in his last fight. If Bellator is looking for a new poster boy, he has to be it.

Not the fucking point ass hole.
































If Bellator wants to be a big time org, they can't let their champs and former champs who lost in epic all time battles and is still due an anticipated rematch walk.

I was just mentioning a name that appeared to slip your mind. That kid is the future of Bellator not Eddie IMO. You can't let Eddie hold you hostage. I think he loses again in a rematch with Chandler anyways. Is Eddie willing to go back through the tourney format for his title shot? Because title shots are earned not given. Bellator motto. No one has received a title shot without winning a tourney. I thought it was a weak move by Eddie to call out Bjorn like that with his first breath after the fight. You did lose the fight before that Eddie.

OU wrote:

I was just mentioning a name that appeared to slip your mind. That kid is the future of Bellator not Eddie IMO. You can't let Eddie hold you hostage. I think he loses again in a rematch with Chandler anyways. Is Eddie willing to go back through the tourney format for his title shot? Because title shots are earned not given. Bellator motto. No one has received a title shot without winning a tourney. I thought it was a weak move by Eddie to call out Bjorn like that with his first breath after the fight. You did lose the fight before that Eddie.

Obviously they have been some other guys. Chandler being an obvious guy as well.

But Eddie has been the flag bearer for Bellator for a good while. Winning the initial tourney, destroying Huerta, the epic battle with Chandler, now destroying Aoki. Dude's been the main event how many times?

Again if Bellator expects to become a major player, they can't let their big names like Eddie walk.

As far as Eddie vs Chandler II. Super fight.

Bellator can't change who they are for anyone. Not even Eddie. Obviously you want to keep that guy around. But you can't break your back to do it. You can't change your rules or the way you do things just for him or anyone. Best case senario he stays. But IMO Bellator has guys waiting to carry that flag. Also you have to remember all "Super Fights" are 3 rounders. Eddie vs Chandler 2 needs to be 5 rounds. I get your point, but I'm just saying Bellator can't stop being Bellator just to please Eddie.

Lombard vs???

Who wins?

Silva L
Sonnen L
Munoz L
Belfort L
Stann L
Bostech W
Pallhares L
Belchar W
Wanderlei L
Bisping L
Okami L
Franklin L
Weidman L
Philippou W

In his first fight? Based on how most big name imports do against top names in their first fight he'd lose most of these bouts. If he got some experience and acclimated to the UFC, then I could see him winning some of these fights too. I like Lombard but I am gonna pick most of the fighters on this list over him out of the gate.

I am just glad the deal got done, I feel great about it for the UFC and Hector, but bad for Bellator.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Lombard vs???

Who wins?

Silva L
Sonnen L
Munoz L
Belfort L
Stann L
Bostech W
Pallhares L
Belchar W
Wanderlei L
Bisping L
Okami L
Franklin L
Weidman L
Philippou W

In his first fight? Based on how most big name imports do against top names in their first fight he'd lose most of these bouts. If he got some experience and acclimated to the UFC, then I could see him winning some of these fights too. I like Lombard but I am gonna pick most of the fighters on this list over him out of the gate.

You got Wandy beating Lombard? Really?

Wanderlei Silva is an ATG. Lombard is an AT nobody.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Wanderlei Silva is an ATG. Lombard is an AT nobody.

OK just for the lulz, pick Lombard vs this list.
Leben
Court McGee
Ed Herman
Rumble
Nick Ring
Ronny Markes