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[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Bellator champ Hector Lombard extends undefeated streak to 18, defends CFC belt by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Mar 12, 2010

As Bellator Fighting Championships gears up for its season-two middleweight tourney to determine a No. 1 contender for the champ, Hector Lombard (23-2-1) returned to Australia and successfully defended his other title, the Cage Fighting Championship middleweight belt.

The victory over Team Quest's Art Santore (18-8) extended Lombard's unbeaten streak to 18 fights and marked his 13th straight win since a 2007 draw with Kyle Noke.

The title defense came today at the 11-bout "CFC 12: Lombard vs. Santore" event, which took place at the 5,500-seat Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, New Wales, Australia.

Lombard dominated the night's main event and opened a deep gash on his opponent's face. With Santore not allowed to continue from the assault, Lombard picked up the TKO victory. Eighteen of his 24 career wins have now come via stoppage.

In 2009 Lombard, who was once close to signing with the UFC in 2007, defeated Virgil Lozano, Damien Stelly and Jared Hess to win the first-ever Bellator middleweight belt. However, even before Bellator, Lombard won the CFC title in 2007 and has since made six successful title defenses.

Like other Bellator champs, Lombard is taking fights outside the promotion while No. 1 contenders are determined in four different weight classes. Their first title defenses will come in season-three "super fights" later this year and will air on FOX Sports Net (with highlights on NBC and Telemundo).

Also on the card, Adrian Pang (16-6-2) lost his lightweight title to Bernardo Magalhaes (8-2) via decision, and Gustavo Falciroli (9-2-2) won the featherweight belt with a decision win over Richie Vaculik (4-1).

Bellator champ Hector Lombard extends undefeated streak to 18, defends CFC belt | MMAjunkie.com

Lombard's a stud, but truth be told, he really needs to start taking some bigger fights to truly establish himself as a big time MW, because it's a shame not more people know who he is and a part of that is because of his lack of quality interest fights.

[Xanatos]

He'll sign with Strikeforce and fight the winner of Shields and Henderson.

[KevoOnTheRadio]

I guess Belator isn't an exclusive contract then, since he's fighting in Aussie. Maybe not Shields/Hendo winner, but MW is deep enough in Strikeforce that he could defiantly get a quality opponent.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

I think Jacare's waiting in the wings to tap the shit outta whoever wins Hendo/Shields(COUGH Hendo)

[Chute_Boxe44]

A little off topic, but am I the only person who feels Bellator is a great org? I was really skeptical first, but they have really won me over. I think they have put off some fantastic shows so far and have some great talent! Besides that I feel the production quality is fantastic. I hope they can keep it up, cause Ill be watching for sure.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Originally Posted by Chute_Boxe44

A little off topic, but am I the only person who feels Bellator is a great org? I was really skeptical first, but they have really won me over. I think they have put off some fantastic shows so far and have some great talent! Besides that I feel the production quality is fantastic. I hope they can keep it up, cause Ill be watching for sure.

Absolutely agreed. Bellator is a really well run and thoughtful organization that recognizes that the best way to develop their brand is to establish their own stars and produce top shelf fights. The number of hot prospects they have under their banner blows Strikeforce right out of the water and are a very fine avenue for young fighters to really showcase themselves. Their cards are almost always electric.

[Xanatos]

Bellator is hands down better then Strikeforce in a lot of ways. Like Fedorlei said they develope their own stars instead of just taking everyone else's leftovers, and their organization is consistent. They have some young tough guys, and most of their cards have been way better then a strikeforce card, so more pwoer to them.

[willpunisher]

lombard is the man. he is a beast.
i want him at strikeforce. i want to see him knock off shields head. put mayhem to sleep. and have a war with hendo.

[beau420]

I believe all Bellator contracts only last between April and June, and fighters are allowed to fight for any other organization before or after then.

I find it strange that in the most recent UFC event Dana mentioned that they went to Hector but he couldn't get a Visa (for a country he is a citizen in) and now, less than a month later he is fighting for them.

I find this suspicious....either someone is lying or someone doesn't want to fight (for one reason or another)

Great for Hector, can't wait to see him in Bellator again....he is an animal.

[KevoOnTheRadio]

In a year and a half, Bellator will be where Strikeforce is now. Thats my perdiction