Hector Lombard vs. Alexander Shlemenko Set for Bellator 34

Bellator's phenomenal blend of power. speed, and technical striking that they call their middleweight champion opened Season Three up with a bang with a "game, set, match" knockout of experienced MMA fighter and former Running Back for the Green Bay Packers, Herbert "Whisper" Goodman.

The win, though it was a non-title affair against a name unfamiliar to most fans, served nonetheless as a reminder to the MMA Nation as to why he is one of the sport's best middleweight fighters.

Now Hector Lombard gets a chance to finish the season off with a bang as well.

Lombard's fight with Season Two Middleweight Tournament winner Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko has been set for Bellator 34 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on October 28.

MMA Junkie reported the news late yesterday afternoon, almost a full 24 hours removed from the stunning knockout of Goodman at Bellator's Season Three premiere.

The American Top Team phenom will now bring 27 wins, two unanimous decision losses from his days as a PRIDE welterweight, and a draw with TUF 11 alumnus and noteworthy addition to "The Minority Report" of the all-middleweight cast, Kyle Noke into the cage with him at the Season Three finale.

In a thirty fight career, Lombard's twenty-seven wins cover all three pillars of the Win Column, with six submission wins, six unanimous decision wins, and 15 wins by either TKO or KO.

One of those submission wins came by way of a dislocated shoulder, with two other submission wins coming by way of punches.

Lombard's TKO's have varied as well, with two TKOs coming by way of Corner Stoppage, with also a fight before Lombard's seven second KO of Jay Silva ending by a TKO due to a cut.

The most well known TKO win of Lombard's that didn't come by way of Lombard's thunder-fists was the Season One Middleweight Final against Jared Hess in which Lombard won the belt when the fight was stopped in round four on the doctor's advice.

Meanwhile, Shlemenko will bring in an unorthodox style of kickboxing and a professional record of 30-4 into the Bellator Cage.

Shlemenko's lost twice by the judges, once by submission, and once by way of Knock Out, but in turn he has knocked out nineteen opponents in a thirty-fight pro career.

In addition to his most recent TKO win over Bryan Baker, he's also beaten Jared Hess by way of TKO, though Hess had to bow out due to knee injury.

Surprisingly, the only names recognizable on Shlemenko's record in the Loss Column is Jordan Radev—the first Bulgarian to fight in the UFC's middleweight division, and current Strikeforce Middleweight Title Contender Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, who is responsible for the Arm Triangle Choke that serves as the only submission loss on Shlemenko's otherwise impressive record.

The difference between Shlemenko and Lombard from a career standpoint is only a total of four fights, meaning that Shelmenko has four more bits of experience on his belt.

As an old adage goes, though, "Never underestimate the heart of a champion."

Granted, Shlemenko is as hungry as a champion can be, and that's why he's challenging Lombard for the belt, but the same grit, determination, and toughness of Shlemenko also exists in Lombard.

There's a reason why "Shango" is the champ, in other words.

Both men want to be known as the best in Bellator's 185-pound division, but only one man can walk out of Hollywood with the belt.

We'll see who wants it more come October 28.