Win over Stann could mean Lombard title shot vs Silva/Sonnen winner
Recently signed to the UFC after steamrolling opponents in Bellator Fighting Championships for two years, Lombard could find himself challenging…
Recently signed to the UFC after steamrolling opponents in Bellator Fighting Championships for two years, Lombard could find himself challenging for a title belt if he beats Brian Stann, said UFC President Dana White. That would give Lombard one of the fastest paths to a UFC title for any athlete since Brock Lesnar in 2008.
“When you talk about cleaning out a division, there’s always another guy who comes up, even for a guy like Anderson,” White said Thursday. “We just brought in Lombard. (If) Lombard beats Stann. … that (title) fight makes sense.”
Lombard can’t count on anything yet. Stann’s punching power, movement and array of strikes suggest he will be a more formidable opponent than any of Lombard’s previous foes. But Stann also has never faced anyone with Lombard’s combination of knockout ability and grappling acumen — before going into MMA, the ex-Bellator champ’s judo skills won him several national titles in Cuba and a spot in the 2000 Olympics.