Hector Lombard and Rory MacDonald have had a long standing feud and have been linked to a fight a couple times. They were first expected to face off in April of this year. Unfortunately, this bout was canceled due to lombard failing his drug test in his win over Josh Burkman. This made him be suspended for a year, only able to come back January 3rd, and has been fined. He will have to pass a drug test to come back, but now their fight has been rescheduled even if just a rumor.
Their fight is rumored to headline the London event in early next year that already has a fight between Gegard Mousasi and Michael Bisping scheduled for the card. Now, it is understandable why these two were not scheduled as a main event for this card. No, the returning Lombard will now face off with former number one contender Rory MacDonald.
Lombard had his troubles since entering the UFC with his losses at middleweight, but the jump to Welterweight was the right fit for him. He won his first two fights knocking out the returning Nate Marquardt and besting Jake Shields by decision. The aforementioned win against Burkman was his third in the row but has technically been taken away due to the failed drug test.
H el be facing off with MacDonald who is fresh off his rousing but ultimate loss to current Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. It was a fight he was winning on the scorecard but a finish in the fifth round ended his hopes of capturing the title that night. His loss before that fight was to Lawler as well in a number one contenders match. After that loss, he beat Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine. While it may be a while before he sees the inside of a cage again with title implications, this is still a good fight for the fans to watch due to the problems between he two fighters have had throughout the past.