The UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne co-main event in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada pitted the struggling Johny Hendricks against the struggling Hector Lombard. Hendricks ended his three-fight losing skid with a unanimous decision win over Lombard, who himself is on a three-fight losing streak. Sunday’s fight marked Hendricks’ debut at 185 lbs, following a series of weight cutting problems at 170 lbs.
Hendricks avoided a takedown and landed a nice knee to the dome of the Cuban. Lombard landed his powerful left hand in this battle of southpaws. Two more lefts connected for Lombard, who caught the kick and clinched up. Lombard had the early advantage in the boxing department, but Hendricks was finding success with his kicks. Hendricks connected on a kick and then prevented Lombard from judo tossing him to the mat. Lombard caught a leg kick and tried to take Hendricks’ back, but Johny stayed strong and threw some back elbows.
The former UFC champion peppered away at Lombard’s lead leg with kicks, then scored with a hard left hand. Lombard closed the distance and threw knees to the body and then to the groin. Hendricks was clearly shaken up and needed time to recover from the unintentional strike. A jab caught Hendricks off balance and he was tagged by a right hook. The two then exchanged punches in close quarters. Another knee by Hendricks stung Lombard, who grabbed the leg and again couldn’t take him down. Hendricks worked to land several clinch strikes. Lombard drilled Johny with a strong left hand. Yet again Hendricks kneed Lombard, who again caught the leg and went for an outside trip. The referee warned Lombard for holding the fence while they were clinched. Hendricks’ well-placed knees continued to find a home and he connected on a right hook.
Lombard opened the third round with a hard right hand and then a leg kick. They traded kicks in the center of the Octagon. Hendricks bashed Lombard with another knee and then a left hand. Johny used his footwork to cut an angle to land a left hand. Lombard appeared to be struggling with his cardio. Hendricks was on point with his boxing, slammed home another knee, then threw a jumping knee, but wound up tripped to the mat. Lombard slipped off of Hendricks’ back as he easily got back to his feet. Hector had two body kicks and a left hand. Hendricks literally ran in the closing seconds as Lombard chased him around the cage, unable to land a big shot.
Official result: Johny Hendricks vs. Hector Lombard by decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)