Hector Lombard’s sophomore Octagon effort will take place in familiar territory.
A Cuban-born Australian who trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., Lombard, 34, went more than five years without a defeat before stumbling in his UFC debut against Tim Boetsch this past July. Prior to that UFC 149 setback, Lombard ran through Bellator’s middleweight ranks, capturing the promotion’s 185-pound title while also winning belts Down Under for both the Cage Fighting Championships and the Australian Fighting Championship.
Palhares, 32, recently saw a three-fight winning streak snapped when he was finished by Alan Belcher at UFC on Fox 3. That May 5 defeat followed victories over David Branch, Dan Miller and Mike Massenzio for “Toquinho,” who has submitted 10 of his 14 career victims in his six years as a pro. Known for his skill in applying leg locks, Palhares owns nearly half of his victories by heel hook and has never been submitted.