MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Cat--Smasher]

Bellator CEO Rebney: Hector Lombard Offered UFC Deal, Contract Decision Soon to Come

The Chicago-based promotion’s founder told Sherdog.com on Wednesday that he recently received a copy of the UFC’s proposed contract to Lombard and will soon make a determination on whether to re-sign the heavy-handed southpaw.

“We’ve received the final proposed UFC agreement from Hector’s attorney, and right now we are in the process of reviewing it to determine whether we’re going to match the agreement,” Rebney told Sherdog.com on Wednesday morning. “We’ve got the 60 pages of UFC contract that were forwarded to us by Hector’s counsel. We’ve been waiting on the actual contract itself to see all of the specifics and every conceivable detail and know exactly what is being offered. Now we have something really specific to look at.”

Bellator’s reigning 185-pound champion, Lombard has looked unstoppable during his three years with Rebney’s organization, winning the company’s inaugural middleweight tournament and posting a perfect 8-0 promotional record since his 2009 debut. Lombard’s contract expired earlier this year and the fighter is currently in a period where he may openly negotiate with rival promotions. However, Lombard is not an unrestricted free agent, as Bellator still has the right to match any competing offer.

“The reality is that Hector is going to do extremely well whether he is fighting in the Octagon or the Bellator circle, and I think everybody knew that. He’s one of the best middleweights on the face of the earth,” Rebney said. “He hasn’t fought in a long time, and he had to wait through these periods contractually to get to a point where he could go out and seek an offer from a competing organization.”

While Bellator still has a period to match the UFC’s offer, Rebney has no desire to drag out the negotiations. Instead, he says that the promotion will make a determination soon to avoid stringing the fighter along.

“Out of respect for Hector, I think we will turn [the UFC contract] around very quickly,” said Rebney. “Obviously, we have a huge event coming up Friday [Bellator 66]. As soon as that is over, we will sit down with our partners and go through the UFC contract line-for-line and make a strategic decision whether we’re going to match it or pass. [If we pass, we will] wish him the best and let him go knock out everybody in the UFC.”

Bellator CEO Rebney: Hector Lombard Offered UFC Deal, Contract Decision Soon to Come

[Kimbo> Rampage]

He should fight someone like Leban or Stann in his first fight. Then move onto someone like Bisping. Before getting KTFO by Vitor or Decisioned by Sonnen, once he reaches his ceiling in the division.

[mmawolverine]

well even if its just a front, i like the way rebney conducts himself, like someone who has smart business sense and a respect for the people that make mma what it is, clearly he's never been bullied by lombard cause he has nothing but praise for the guy's talent, im looking forward to someone like brian stann putting a beating on hectar if he come over.

[ckauffman28]

so if Rebney decides to match their deal Dana and UFC cant send another offer and he is stuck in Bellator correct?

[trustkill]

Am I the only one who finds this interview suspicious??? Why does Rebney go into so much detail about the fact that he got '60 pages of a UFC contract from Lombard's lawyer'? I think he's strategically executing a defense strategy through the media in regards to:

UFC Files Suit Against Bellator and Ken Pavia

Bellator Attorney: UFC

[jimmythefish]

even if they match it lombard will still choose ufc if he doesnt he stupid

[mma #1 fan]

it's aBOUT FUCKING TIME MAKE IT HAPPEN

[kingrobert]

If Hector wants to be the best he needs to fight the best. He can only do that in the UFC. Im not really sold on him. I think he is talented but he really hasnt been tested that much. Shlemenko is the only person who has given him a fight. I think anyone in the top 10 beats him. Im courious to see how he would do against a good wrestler.

[joeodd2]

Why does everyone assume lombard will be out of his league in the ufc? I wonder how it would look if a fomer bellator mw champ went on a tear and wind up retiring Anderson Silva? His success raises bellator's profile...

[Pasha K]

Was about time.
The dude has looked like a beast