UFC
Hector Lombard vs. Jake Shields booked for UFC 171 in Dallas this March
Dec 8, 2013 - 7:00:51 PM Hector Lombard vs. Jake Shields booked for UFC 171 in Dallas this March

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Hector Lombard has gotten one of the fights he asked for, as the UFC announced on Sunday that he'll take on Jake Shields at UFC 171 in Dallas this March.

Lombard requested the matchup after making a successful debut in the welterweight division in October at UFC 166. The former Bellator Middleweight Champ made the move after a 1-2 mark in the UFC's 185 lb. field, and knocked out Nate Marquardt quickly in the first round in Houston.

Shields has won two straight fights since dropping back to the welterweight division himself. The former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion most recently got past Demian Maia in a main event fight at UFC Fight Night 29 in October.

UFC 171 takes place March 15 from Dallas, Texas, headlined by the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira.

Penick's Analysis: This is a great fight for the welterweight division. And it's a fight that's been in some minds for a long time with the two having held titles in different organizations in the same division. Both are much better at 170 lbs. in the UFC than they've been at 185 lbs., and this should put the winner really close to title contention.

[Hector Lombard photo (c) Henry Dziekan III]