When Hector Lombard steps into the Octagon at UFC 149 for his organizational debut on Saturday, you might see similarities between him and one of the most dominant athletes in combat sports history.
The longtime Bellator champion is quite comparable to former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson in more ways than one and that has added to his aura and appeal amongst mixed martial arts fans.
First, there is an obvious physical resemblance.
Tyson was 5-foot-10 and typically fought at around 220 pounds in boxing’s heavyweight division, while Lombard is 5-foot-8 and cuts weight to compete in the 185-pound division. Both stocky, both muscular, both accustomed to fighting with distinct reach disadvantages.
But what they lack in size and reach they more than make up for with speed, aggression and brutal knockout power.
Tyson’s best punches were his hooks and his lead left hook was devastating. That punch led to many of his 22 career first-round finishes.
Lombard stands southpaw and has perhaps the best lead right hook in MMA. That technique has been the beginning of the end for many of his 17 wins that have come by KO or TKO. Lombard’s technique may seem wild at times, as he mostly throws looping punches, but his accuracy is impressive and he lands flush.
Both men possess aggressive styles but Tyson was far more bullish. The internationally recognized star would push forward with an in-your-face style until the fight was over. Lombard on the other hand doesn’t expel any unnecessary energy. In fact, he often stands flat footed, directly in front of his foes and doesn’t move unless it’s imperative.
That all changes, however, when he has his opponents hurt. He swarms on his opponents like Wanderlei Silva did back in his Pride days. Lombard has only been to a decision nine times in 35 fights dating back to 2004.
Another thing the two have in common is staggering records in which some have questioned their calibre of competition.
Lombard is 31-2-1 with one no contest. He has won 20 consecutive fights and is unbeaten in his last 25 outings. He holds quality wins over notable opponents like James Te-Huna, Trevor Prangley, Joe Doerksen and Brian Ebersole. But he does not have a win over a top-10 middleweight. He has earned his high praise based on the way he rolls through his opponents, much like Iron Mike did.
Tyson — who finished his boxing career with a record of 50-6 and at one point was 45-1 — has had his quality of competition questioned by some in the boxing community. Still, he had a handful of wins over high-profile opponents like Larry Holmes, Donovan (Razor) Ruddock, Michael Spinks and Trevor Berbick, and the way he dominated so many of his opponents is what cemented his legacy. Many believe Tyson in his prime would have defeated any other heavyweight in the history of boxing in his prime.
Lombard has received some similar praise as fans of him believe he is the only man in the middleweight division that can beat Anderson Silva. If he tops Tim Boetsch in the co-main event at the Scotiabank Saddledome there is a good chance the UFC will give him an opportunity to prove his supporters right.
It won’t be an easy task though as Boetsch is unbeaten since dropping down for the light-heavyweight division. Boetsch uses kicks frequently in his attacks and will look to do so against Lombard to keep the Cuban-Australian at a distance.
The biggest factor in this fight could come down to speed. Boetsch, despite being extremely powerful, is not a fast 185-pounder. Lombard meanwhile is one of the most explosive athletes in the sport. Just ask poor Herbert Goodman:
And although he is extremely muscular, and those muscles need to be fed with oxygen, cardio has never been an issue for Lombard, who has competed in five-round bouts before and not faded.
Lombard has Olympic-level judo, a black belt in jiu-jitsu but relies mostly on his hands. He has added some quality leg kicks to his arsenal recently but what Boetsch will need to be wary of is Lombard’s fistic fury.
There’s a distinct chance that Lombard will pull off a Tyson-esque performance at UFC 149, and if he does, the next time we see him in the Octagon will almost certainly be against Silva challenging for the title.