My UFC debut back in July was supposed to be the best night of my career, my coming out party.
It was my opportunity to show the UFC fans, and everybody watching around the world, what I was all about and what I could do to the middleweight division.
Unfortunately, it didn’t exactly go according to plan. Rather than a coming out party, my UFC debut was a frustrating night at the office, and rather than make a statement, I suffered a defeat to Tim Boestch, my first loss for six years.
Looking back, I couldn’t tell you what went wrong. I was happy going into the fight and was physically fit and ready to go. It was the moment I’d been waiting for.
Even just fighting in the UFC meant I was a happy man. I didn’t think too much about my opponent, I just wanted to get in there and show the UFC fans what I could do.
The Octagon wasn’t a problem, nor was any kind of Octagon shock. I’d fought in Bellator before, so knew what it was like to compete in a cage, and the environment itself felt fine on the night. Also, even though a UFC debut is a big deal, I was very mature and experienced by the time I entered the organization. I wasn’t some young kid, and certainly wasn’t nervous or worried.
Boestch was tough, durable and strong – exactly as I expected him to be. He stuck in there. He threw a few good kicks and punches along the way, but I don’t think he won the fight.
Yes, he might have done better than people expected him to, but that doesn’t mean he automatically wins the fight. I still say if you look at that fight round-by-round, I should have received the decision at the end of it. I don’t think Boetsch did enough to deserve the victory.
It wasn’t my best performance, no, but I still believe I should have won. And knowing that I can beat guys like Boetsch at my very worst gives me hope for the future. When I do turn up and give my best in future fights, I know for a fact I will be winning in spectacular fashion.
I’d love to fight Tim Boetsch again. Not only fight him again, but beat him again. I’ll put the record straight this time. I’d do many things differently in a rematch, but, most importantly of all, I wouldn’t leave it in the hands of the judges.
Dana White warns fighters not to do that and it’s good advice. By leaving a fight in the hands of the judges, you’re basically asking three people to determine your career path for you.
I don’t want to have to rely on other people to tell me how well I’ve done. I want to go out there and finish fights in a dramatic fashion. I don’t want there to be any doubt. And if Boetsch crosses my path again at some point in the future, I have no doubt I’ll take the fight out of the hands of the judges.
I also know that to get to Boetsch, and one day redeem myself, I must defeat Rousimar Palhares tomorrow. I’m not looking beyond Palhares right now, because a win over him unlocks everything else. But if I come up short again, my career will be in a very bad place.
Going into this fight I am using the disappointment of the Boetsch loss to fuel my fire and inspire me to look for the stoppage from the moment the fight begins.
I’m not looking to beat Palhares by decision or just ‘squeak’ past him. I want to beat him emphatically and for there to be no doubt at the end of the fight.
I want to do to him what I should have done to Tim Boetsch five months ago…
Exciting middleweight contender Hector Lombard battles Rousimar Palhares on Saturday, December 15 at UFC on FX SOTIROPOUlOS vs. PEARSON, live from Queensland, Australia. Tickets available at Ticketek http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=UFCONFX12
UFC middleweight contender Hector Lombard is an Cuban-born, Australian mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Hector learnt Judo from a very young age and went on to represent Cuba at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. After later moving to Australia, he turned to MMA and became national champion building an unrivalled string of victories. Follow him on Twitter at @HectorLombard
Hector Lombard battles Rousimar Palhares on Saturday, December 15 at UFC on FX SOTIROPOUlOS vs. PEARSON, live from Queensland, Australia. Tickets available at Ticketek
Let’s get ready to rumble! Pick a fighter and place your bets with PlayUp for great odds. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
A bloodied Tim Tszyu has been cruelly denied in his quest to emulate his legendary father Kostya and become a unified world boxing champion…
Liam Wilson has suffered further heartbreak in Arizona, the Australian boxer losing his super-featherweight world-title fight against Mexican Oscar Valdez. In front of a…
Tim Tszyu has the chance to emulate his legendary father as a unified world boxing champion after the stakes were dramatically raised for his…
Australia's Alexander Volkanovski has lost his UFC featherweight title to Ilia Topuria, with the Spaniard scoring a stunning second round knockout in the main…
Jason Moloney has survived an enthralling 12-round world title defence against Saul Sanchez in Canada, opening the door to a blockbuster unification fight in…
Conor McGregor says he's returning to the UFC for a fight against Michael Chandler on June 29 in Las Vegas, calling it the "greatest…
