Hector Lombard (right) file photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
The bout was first reported on Tuesday by MMAJunkie.com.
Lombard (25-2-1, 1 NC) last competed in May at Bellator 18, where the Cuban judoka knocked out UFC veteran Jay Silva in just six seconds.
“I'm looking forward to fighting in my home town, South Florida, where all my fans can come and watch,” said Lombard in a press release. “I appreciate the opportunity the Seminole Tribe and Bellator have given me. Herbert Goodman is a great athlete and will be a good opponent and it will be a great fight.”
Goodman (15-8) is a former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers. Still a resident of Wisconsin, the 185-pound fighter holds wins against Jordan Radev and Dante Rivera.
“I know he’s tough and I know he’s the Bellator champion, but I’ll fight anyone,” Goodman said. “This is a great opportunity for me so I’m just going to apply my game plan and take what he gives me.”
Season three of Bellator will air live on Fox Sports, and will produce weekly review shows for NBC, Telemundo and mun2.
“Hector Lombard is at the top of his game and one of the best middleweights in the world. There are very few fighters out there who want to fight him right now,” stated Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “But Whisper Goodman is hungry for the challenge and he’s been through the battles both in the NFL and in MMA. I’m looking forward to watching how he matches up with Hector.”