Hector Lombard: Jake Shields is boring, hurts the sport
Hector Lombard: “He’s boring. That’s the truth. I don’t like to see him [Jake Shields] fight and I’m a fan of fighting. I’m a fight fan. That’s the way it is, man.”
The last three fights of UFC 171 feature some pivotal welterweight match-ups including Hector Lombard taking on Jake Shields. Lombard is ready for an exciting fight from his end, but is prepared for what could be potentially a boring fight with Shields:
“I believe he’s a great fighter. His record speaks for itself. He beat a who’s who of the sport. But, he’s boring,” Lombard said flatly when asked for his appraisal of Shields. “This is a sport where you have to entertain fans.
“Because at the end of the day, this is the entertainment business. It’s not like the win business. It’s like, go up there, show your skills and knock people out. He doesn’t have that.”
While Shields has competed in a several prominent bouts over the course of his UFC career, most notably a 2011 title challenge against Georges St-Pierre at Toronto’s 55,000-seat Rogers Centre, one would need to gaze all the way back to mid-2009 to find the 35-year-old’s most recent stoppage win.
Now, coming off back-to-back split decisions, Shields has been given the task of facing Lombard, whose drop down to 170 pounds has thus far paid dividends in the form of a first-round knockout of Nate Marquardt at UFC 166.
The Cuban-Australian is a ferocious opponent, certainly, but one still ranked outside the promotion’s top-10. Although if you ask Lombard, there’s a reason behind the UFC’s curious matchmaking.
“He’s boring,” Lombard repeated of Shields. “He’s boring. That’s the truth. I don’t like to see him fight and I’m a fan of fighting. I’m a fight fan. That’s the way it is, man.”