Two very interesting bouts that had been rumored have come to fruition as at UFC 166 Hector “Lightning” Lombard (32-4-1) will meet Nate “The Great” Marquardt (32-12-2) and Diego “The Dream” Sanchez (24-5) squares off with Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (21-3).
Hector Lombard was the first ever Bellator Middleweight champion. Lombard entered the UFC with a 25 fight unbeaten streak but, in his debut lost a split decision to Tim Boetsch. Lombard when then bounced back with a first round KO win over Rousimar Palhares. Most recently Lombard again found himself losing a split decision this time to Yushin Okami, which is why Lombard is now going to test his skills in the Welterweight division.
Nate Marquardt in 2007 was a UFC Middleweight title challenger. For Marquardt this will be his 4th bout at Welterweight thus far having gone 1-2 with a KO win over Tyron Woodley to win the Strikeforce Welterweight title but then losing a decision to Tarec Saffedine and suffering a KO to Jake Ellenberger.
TUF season 1 winner Diego Sanchez is coming off a UFC on Fuel TV 8 return to the Lightweight division in which Sanchez earned a decision victory over Takanori Gomi. “The Dream” is 3-1 in his last 4 fights also having wins over Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago while suffering defeat against Jake Ellenberger.
Former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is coming off a failed attempt at becoming the UFC Lightweight king, losing to Benson Henderson by split decision at UFC on Fox 7. The loss put an end to what had been a 7 fight winning streak.
UFC 166 takes place on October 19 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and will be headlined by Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez III.
