MMA News and Fight Videos

EliteXC has announced it’s next card dubbed “A Night Of Champions” on Nov. 8 from Reno, Nevada. The main card will be televised on Showtime.

While this card lacks star power, it features one of the better main cards EliteXC has ever put on. Bringing in tough fighters like Alvarez, Lombard and Kaufman, EliteXC looks to build to its current stable of fighters.

Main Card

Robbie Lawler (16-4) vs. Joey Villasenor (26-6) [T]
Nick Diaz (18-7) vs. Eddie Alvarez (15-1) [T]
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (7-1) vs. TBA
Scott Smith (13-5) vs. Hector Lombard (17-2-1)
Kaitlin Young (4-2) vs. Sarah Kaufman (7-0)

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Former middleweight number one contender Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-5) and Cuban Judo Olympian Hector “Shango” Lombard (17-2-1) will soon duke it out the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada, adding another exciting bout to the main card of Elite XC’s November 8 Showtime event.

Smith has been busy over the past few months feuding with division champion Robbie Lawler. The two competed against one another in the “Fight of the Night” during the debut for Elite XC on CBS back in May before having the bout ruled a no contest in the third round after and inadvertent eye poke.

The rematch went down two months later during the second CBS event. This time, however, Lawler proved to be too much for the challenger, handing him a second round technical knockout with some vicious body kicks and strikes.

Smith’s road back to a title shot will not begin with an easy fight — Lombard is a highly touted prospect with a solid mixed martial arts resume.

“Shango” — the reigning Cage Fighting Championships (CFC) middleweight title holder — will be making his debut for the promotion after inking a deal nearly six months ago. He captured the CFC belt with a unanimous decision win over Jean Francois Lenogue last November and has successfully defended his strap three times this year.

His last loss was in 2006 at Pride: “Bushido 13″ against the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix winner Gegard Mousasi. ince that time, he’s put together a streak of 11 straight bouts without a defeat.

November 8 will mark his debut fight on United States soil.

The event will be headlined by a middleweight championship match between Lawler and number one contender Joey Villasenor. The vacant company lightweight title will also be decided in Reno when Nick Diaz and Eddie Alvarez clash in the co-main event.

The action will be aired live on the premium cable channel Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

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EliteXC’s next ShoXC event is scheduled for June 27 at the Sycuan Casino & Resort in San Diego, Calif. The news was first reported by our friends at MMAjunkie.com. The tentative card for the outdoor show also promises to offer the debuts of two recent EliteXC signings, middleweights Cyrille Diabate and Hector Lombard. Diabate, one of the best [...]

Australia-based mixed martial arts promotion Cage Fighting Championship has announced via its official website that Hector Lombard, the promotion’s current middleweight champion, has signed with ProElite-owned Elite Xtreme Combat.

EliteXC has yet to confirm CFC’s announcement.

Lombard had previously been reported as signing a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and had been officially announced by the UFC as fighting Karo Parisyan at UFC 78 this past November. However, Lombard, a Cuban national who resides in Australia, was eventually replaced by Ryo Chonnan after visa issues prevented him from entering the United States.

Lombard, a renowned Judoka, is 15-2-1 and has competed for various international promotions during an MMA career that spans four years. Most notably, Lombard fought two bouts for the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan, compiling an 0-2 record. He lost a unanimous decision to Akihiro Gono in his debut for the promotion at Pride Bushido 11 in June of 2006. He then returned to Pride at Bushido 13 in November of 2006, losing in another unanimous decision, this time to Gegard Mousasi, the occasional striking coach for Fedor Emelianenko.

No indication of a start date with EliteXC for Lombard was made in the CFC announcement, however, he will make at least one final title defense for CFC when he faces Fabiano Copoani at CFC 4 on May 23.

It is unknown whether Lombard will be allowed to fight in the U.S. after having been denied entry late last year. It is possible that he has or will become a naturalized citizen of Australia. It’s also possible that he could fight for one of ProElite’s international brands.

Cage Fighting Championship (CFC) Middleweight champion Hector “Shango” Lombard (15-2-1) has signed a fight contract with EliteXC, according to a CFC press release.

This non-exclusive contract will allow Lombard to defend is CFC middleweight belt, as well as gain some national exposure on upcoming EliteXC CBS fight cards.

The Cuban-born fighter, now fighting out of Australia has made a name for himself, with his top notch Judo troughs and his exciting fighting style.

Lombard was scheduled to fight fellow Judo master Karo Parisyan at UFC 78, but was forced off the card with visa issues.

Cage Fighting Championship Director Luke Pezzutti:

“I am very excited for Hector as I believe he is destined to be our most successful export and I see him fighting for Elite XC title very soon. I am also excited that Elite XC have agreed to work with CFC to give our other fighters international opponents and possible opportunities to fight overseas”

Hector Lombard Highlight Video

It was announced today that Cage Fighting Championship (CFC) Middleweight Champion Hector “Shango” Lombard (15-2-1) has signed a contract to fight for EliteXC.

Lombard is one of the top prospects from Australia and one of the best Judo players in the world. He was set to put his skills to the test against perhaps the best known Judo specialist in MMA today — Karo Parisyan — back at UFC 78, but the Cuban-born fighter was forced to withdraw because of visa issues.

Like most contracts with EliteXC, Lombard will still have the freedom to fight in other organizations. That means he’ll still be able to fight in Australia and defend his CFC belt. That was probably a deal breaker for him, especially after already experiencing trouble getting into the U.S. in the past.

Here’s a snip from CFC Director Luke Pezzutti on probably his company’s best fighter signing with EliteXC:

“I am very excited for Hector as I believe he is destined to be our most successful export and I see him fighting for Elite XC title very soon. I am also excited that Elite XC have agreed to work with CFC to give our other fighters international opponents and possible opportunities to fight overseas.”

Shango has not dropped a professional fight since November of 2006 — a decision loss to Gegard Mousasi (20-2-1) at Pride 13.  Since then he is undefeated (8-0-1), with a draw against another popular Aussie fighter, Kyle Noke.  With Noke also fighting for EliteXC now, a rematch is a definite possibility and one Lombard would probably jump at the chance to have.

He’s listed at 185 pounds and fights at that weight for CFC, but he was set to compete against Karo at 170 pounds. That means he can fight at both weights. EliteXC has plenty of talent in both weight classes and quality opponents for Lombard should not be hard to find either way.

Exposure and contractual freedom have been big sellers for Gary Shaw and EliteXC when it comes to bringing in new talent.  There is no reason to think that trend will slow down now any time soon with four CBS broadcasts still to come this year.

Expect more and more fighters to join EliteXC as the weeks and months pass by.