UFC
Hector Lombard wants Rory MacDonald in return from suspension, MacDonald open to bout
Aug 27, 2015 - 11:45:06 AM Hector Lombard wants Rory MacDonald in return from suspension, MacDonald open to bout

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Hector Lombard is out on suspension until the beginning of 2016, but he's looking ahead to potential return fights after a call out from Patrick Cote last weekend.

However, Lombard's not interested in the Cote bout, and is instead hoping to get the fight he was scheduled for in April before his drug test failure came to light: Rory MacDonald.

That's the word from Wednesday's UFC Tonight program on Fox Sports 1, with it also being reported that MacDonald is open to the matchup himself.

Lombard defeated Josh Burkman at UFC 182 to kick off 2015, but he failed his drug test for steroids out of the event. With that changed to a no contest, the former Bellator Champ is now 3-2 with that one no contest in six fights.

As for MacDonald, he's on the mend after a brutal title fight against Robbie Lawler at UFC 189. However, despite how much damage he took in the fight, he called it his greatest moment ever, and is looking to get back into the mix in 2016.

Penick's Analysis: It's a fight that made sense in April, it's a fight that makes sense in January, and it works well for both of them because of their recent history. MacDonald is still in the top end of the division, and despite the drug test failure Lombard remains a dangerous opponent. It's a fight that simply works for each of them, so if it happens in January or February it will get the winner back into the thick of things by mid-2016.

[Hector Lombard photo (c) Henry Dziekan III]