Former WWE pro wrestler
Bobby Lashley and Cuban judo import
Hector Lombard have been signed to compete on a mixed boxing and Palace Fighting Championship card on Feb. 6 at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Calif.
Opponents for both acquisitions have yet to be determined.
Lashley, 32, has inked a two-fight deal with the PFC as he builds his resume towards a heavyweight title bout. Lashley already has a role model in former WWE champion
Brock Lesnar (3-1), who toppled
Randy Couture at UFC 91 last November to become heavyweight champion.
Middleweight Lombard (17-2-1) has signed on for a single bout with the central Californian promotion and will then join the Bellator Fighting Championships, which will air on ESPN Deportes starting in April.
Lashley was a three-time NAIA National Champion at 177 pounds, a four-time All-American honors four times, a three-time National Amateur Wrestling Champion, a two-time Armed Forces Champion and a 2002 Silver Medalist at the Military World Championship, according to the NAIA Web site.
Colorado resident Lashley, who recently announced his allegiance to the formidable American Top Team, made a speedy MMA debut last month for the Mixed Fighting Alliance in Miami, stifling
Joshua Franklin in only 41 seconds with a TKO stoppage via a cut from elbows in the guard.
PFC promoter Christian Printup will be entrusted with finding an opponent for the 6-foot-3, 265-pound prospect.
“We sent over a short list of names –- some WEC veterans and other local Californian fighters,” said Printup. “We should know shortly.”
Lombard tallied six wins and a draw for Australia’s Cage fighting Championships and was expected to make his U.S. debut with EliteXC before the promotion stalled last October. Lombard was also once a prospect for the UFC, who booked the foreigner for a bout with fellow judoka
Karo Parisyan at UFC 78 in November 2007, but visa issues prevented the Australian resident from participating.
Printup said the skilled Lombard could be paired against local standout
Fernando Gonzalez (13-6), who holds victories over UFC and Pride vet
Alex Stiebling and ShoXC grad
Hector Urbina.
Jeff Sherwood contributed to this report.