Bellator Champ Hector Lombard to Defend CFC Title in Australia

by Chris Nelson on Mar 4, 2010 12:44 AM EST in MMA News

Australia's most high-profile MMA promotion, Cage Fighting Championships, have released the full card for their March 12th event in Sydney. The show features three title bouts, toplined by middleweight ace Hector Lombard facing veteran Art "Pachuco" Santore of Team Quest.

The fight will be Lombard's third since his destructive run through Bellator Fighting Championships' middleweight tournament last summer; Bellator's other three champs-on-ice have a combined two fights in that time. "Hektor" (née "Shango") last saw action in early February when he took a three round decision win over Joey Gorczynski in Florida. Prior to that, he defended his CFC title with a two-minute TKO'ing of the infamous Kalib Starnes last November. Lombard (23-2-1, 1 NC) has won 12 straight bouts and has not tasted defeat since 2006.

Santore (18-7), meanwhile, came out on the wrong end of a hard-fought decision loss to Bryan Baker at MFC 23 last December, snapping the veteran's four-fight win streak.

While the main event's no squash match, it certainly tilts in favor of the younger, stronger hometown favorite Lombard. The undercard plays host to a few bouts that should prove just as interesting and even more competitive.

In a match for the vacant CFC Bantamweight Title, local boy and pro surfer Ritchie Vas (4-0) will meet Shooto standout Gustavo Falciroli (8-2-2), a Brazilian-born grappler who now makes his home in Perth.

Also on the undercard, Santore's Team Quest stablemate Ryan Healy (11-7-1) faces one of Australia's top lightweight prospects in "The Tooth Fairy," Jai Bradney (6-2-1).

Full card after the jump.

Cage Fighting Championship 12
March 12, 2009
Hordern Pavillion
Moore Park, New South Wales, Australia

#11: CFC Middleweight Title (5R x 5 min.)
Hector Lombard (23-2-1, 1 NC) vs. Art Santore (18-7)

#10: CFC Lightweight Title (5R x 5 min.)
Adrian Pang (15-6-2) vs. Bernardo "Trekko" Magalhaes (8-1)

#9: CFC Bantamweight Title (5R x 5 min.)
Ritchie "Vas" Vaculik (4-0) vs. Gustavo Falciroli (8-2-2)

Undercard (3R x 5 min.)
#8: LW - Ryan Healy (11-7-1) vs. Jai Bradney (6-2-1)
#7: WW - Jon Leven (5-8-1) vs. Tony Rossini (4-1-1)
#6: LW - Ben Aldridge (1-1) vs. Robert Lisita-Cocheci (1-2)
#5: LW - Nick Ariel (2-0) vs. Robert Whittaker (2-0)
#4: LHW - Marcus Flannaghan vs. Nick Goodwin (1-0)
#3: FW - Daniel Richardson (1-0) vs. Marcio Lemos (1-1)
#2: LW - Dan Hyatt (2-2-1) vs. Josh Payne (4-4)
#1: MW - Adam Celestino (1-0) vs. Cameron Murcutt (2-1)

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Comments

I really hope the UFC take a serious look at Hector because I reckon he is a top notch fighter and deserves a shot in the biggest show in town! When asked about Hector at the recent UFC 110 Q & A Dana did not seem to know much about him but I was happy to hear Joe Silva was aware of him.

by S J on Mar 4, 2010 4:59 AM EST reply actions

he knows about hector… the UFC actually had him fighting on a card (last year?) against karo i think… hector becuase he was cuban at the time had visa issues getting into the USA… hence the Aussie passport now.

by Ronnie Liddle on Mar 4, 2010 5:23 AM EST reply actions

hopefully he can join up with the UFC now, once his Bellator and CFC contracts are up then if getting a Visa is any easier now, he’s a quality fighter

by Patrick John McGreevy on Mar 4, 2010 7:07 AM EST up reply actions

Gustavo by gogoplata!

I hope.

Also, no disrespect but Jai Bradney is not a prospect internationally at all.

He couldn’t put away a guy who fights part time that came in on 2 weeks notice at a local show.

Then again, that guy happened to be a better fighter than him.

Either way, Jai is no prospect.

by Jahmelianenko on Mar 4, 2010 7:37 AM EST reply actions

I’ll take your word for it. I was impressed with the video I saw, and have talked to his trainer who heaped great praise on him.

by Chris Nelson on Mar 4, 2010 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

I saw Jai fight Rob Hill at a CFC event and won. rob hill was no joke.
he last for three against ebersole for 3 rounds… a while back not sure when or where.
while Jai may not in the league of Penn… he has a track record that shows a bit.

by Ronnie Liddle on Mar 4, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough, I don’t discredit your opinion I just disagree.

My jiu jitsu cach fought him in Perth on 2 weeks notice when he was out of shape and it went to a decision even after he gassed horribly. My coach isn’t even pursuing a career in MMA, he just fights for fun and a challenge.

Also some money, but not very much.

by Jahmelianenko on Mar 5, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions