The UFC 186 card scheduled for Montreal will apparently have a welterweight match-up between Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard that will almost certainly give the winner the next shot at the UFC welterweight title. Though it still has not been officially booked, it is clear that both men need to stay busy.
Another fight that has not been announced is Johny Hendricks vs Robbie Lawler III, though that is clearly in the works for the May or June time-frame. MacDonald and Lombard are both men that have been calling for a title shot for a long time. The UFC 186 card is scheduled for April 25, which would but them in the same neighborhood as the title fight in terms of schedule.
The UFC 186 card is in Canada, so you can be sure MacDonald will be on that card. MacDonald has been through a lot in his UFC career. He has had the prospect and “next big thing” label on him for a long time. He went through a period where a down fight or two saw the shine come off his star a little bit, but he has rebounded by winning eight of his last nine bouts. Additionally, with his mentor Georges St Pierre no longer in the title picture, MacDonald’s path is set. He has won four in a row and the title shot could have been justified for him without the Lombard fight.
As far as Lombard, he has been calling for this fight. And he is going to need a win to get the title shot, because unlike MacDonald, he has not done enough to justify the title shot yet. Yes, he has won three fights in a row, but his last outing, against Josh Burkman, was a lackluster performance that left no one thinking Lombard should be next.
The physical match-up is going to be intriguing. Despite having completely different body types, both men rely on their dominating physicalities to win fights. MacDonald will be much longer and taller, with a big reach advantage. Look for MacDonald to be favored at the books, as Lombard will have trouble striking with MacDonald and he will be putting out a lot of energy trying to impose his will. MacDonald figures to just wear him out.
Rory MacDonald talks about his first exposure to the Ultimate Fighting Championships:
