Remember how, back in 2012, Dana White & Co. looked to stir things up in the middleweight division by signing former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard? Before that, the Cuban-Australian had already made waves in PRIDE in 2006 and even showed an interest in joining the UFC as early as UFC 78 (promotion’s 100th event). But that debut would have to wait six more years. When the opportunity finally came in 2012, Lombard was ready to make a statement.

Originally booked to face Brian Stann at UFC on FOX, fate had other plans. A shoulder injury forced Stann out, pushing Hector Lombard into a new matchup—against Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 in Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome. He stepped in as a replacement for the injured Michael Bisping. Despite scoring knockdowns and securing a few takedowns, the former Bellator champ fell short, losing via split decision. But what fans didn’t know at the time was that this marked the quiet beginning of a personal rift between Lombard and ‘The Count’.

That history resurfaced recently when Michael Bisping sat down with Jared Gordon and Paul Craig on his podcast, where he shared a tense pre-fight encounter with Hector Lombard. He said:

“I didn’t like Hector Lombard because I met him in the elevator in Calgary. I went to shake his hand, and he did that whole ‘squeeze my hand as hard as he can’ thing, and then eyeballed me like that. That’s just how he is—that’s kind of his whole thing, you know? …So I was rooting for him to lose—and he did lose. He got beat, and I jumped up and went over to Dana.”

However, ‘The Count’s celebration didn’t sit well with UFC Bossman Dana White, especially considering the hefty sum the promotion had just invested in Lombard. Michael Bisping added: “Dana gave me the dirtiest look, you know what I mean? He’s like, ‘Yeah, we just paid him half a million dollars, you prick. Shut up. Don’t look so happy about it.'”

The Cuban-Australian’s UFC stint, though highly anticipated, never quite lived up to the hype. By the time he finally stepped into the Octagon, he was already 34—making a late entrance into what’s arguably the toughest fight promotion in the world. And it showed. Over the course of 12 UFC bouts, the former Bellator champ only secured three wins. Despite the early tension with Michael Bisping, the two never crossed paths inside the cage. Hector Lombard’s run in the UFC slowly unraveled, ending with a tough six-fight losing streak before parting ways with the company.

In many ways, he spent his UFC career trying to chase ‘The Count’s spotlight—but he never quite caught up.

Was chasing Michael Bisping the reason behind Hector Lombard’s rollercoaster career?

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “Do not put each foot in a different boat.” Yet, despite this advice, many fighters in the UFC have switched back and forth between divisions—most commonly between middleweight and welterweight. But no fighter does this on a whim; it’s usually driven by the pursuit of greatness and the mindset to find the best path forward.

Hector Lombard’s career is a clear example of this. He made his UFC debut in the middleweight division but, after a few fights, dropped down to welterweight to gain a size advantage, even scoring a win over Nate Marquardt. Still, his journey didn’t quite go as planned. A significant part of his focus remained on his ongoing rivalry with Michael Bisping. On fighting in both divisions, the Cuban-Australian told USA Today,

“I hope I can go to 185 and maybe get a couple fights there,” Lombard tells USA Today Sports. “I would love to (move between welterweight and middleweight), but it’s up to the UFC….I really want to fight Bisping,” Lombard says. He’s a loudmouth, but there’s nothing personal.”

What’s your take on the rivalry between Michael Bisping and Hector Lombard? Do you think the Cuan-Australian could come out on top if they ever faced each other inside the Octagon? Let us know your thoughts below.