Hector Lombard vs. Neil Magny: A Full Head-to-Toe Breakdown

In the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 85, No. 9-ranked welterweight contender Neil Magny (17-4) welcomes No. 13-ranked Hector Lombard (34-4-1, 2 NC) back to the Octagon.

Lombard is making his return after popping for an anabolic steroid last year. The much-feared, highly intense American Top Team fighter seeks a crucial victory to put him back in the Top 10.

Magny has back-to-back victories over Erick Silva and Kelvin Gastelum, and a third straight over Lombard would put him in position to be a contender to Robbie Lawler's gold belt. But defeating Lombard in front of a hostile crowd will be a tall order.

Twenty-two of Lombard's 34 professional bouts have come Down Under. His record? 20-0-1 (1 NC). Suffice to say, Lombard does well fighting in Australia.

Can Magny defeat Lombard in Brisbane? Or will Lombard stay undefeated within the Australian borders?

This is your UFC Fight Night 85 co-main event head-to-toe breakdown.

Striking

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

The stand-up battle between the two welterweights will be interesting to watch play out, and it will be vital to determining who walks out of the cage as the victor.

Magny has improved greatly during his active, yet still brief, UFC career. He is beginning to realize his potential with his physical gifts. Magny's nine-inch reach advantage may also play a pivotal role this weekend.

Lombard makes up some ground by having crazy power in his hands. If he connects, most folks go to sleep. It makes him a constant threat.

But the edge will go to Magny. He has the physical advantage, better overall technique and will put out more volume throughout the contest.

Edge: Magny

Grappling

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Well, this one is pretty easy. Isn't it?

One of the two is an Olympic-level athlete in a grappling sport (judo). That man is Lombard.

In the cage, we have seen Magny struggle with strong grapplers. If Lombard gets in close, it will be a struggle for the 6'3" American to shuck Lombard off him. As for Lombard, we have seen him compete with the very best and win in the grappling exchanges.

One is a proven commodity, while the other is still learning and developing their craft. That just about sums it up.

Edge: Lombard

Submissions

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Magny has an underrated submission game. His long limbs give him many options from the bottom should Lombard take him down. He can at least threaten Lombard and make him defensive while working back to his feet.

Lombard is still going to get the nod. He should have better positions throughout the fight to secure a submission, and Lombard's array of submissions are often times forgotten. He will attack arms and legs when given the chance.

Their submission games will likely cancel each other out in this matchup. But Lombard gets the nod because he's likely to have positional dominance.

Edge: Lombard

X-Factors

Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Lombard's X-Factor: Returning from Suspension

Lombard is coming back from a yearlong suspension where he failed a drug test for desoxymethyltestosterone (DMT). That was prior to the implementation of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's drug policies. So there is a big question hanging over Lombard entering this fight.

Is that unfair? Maybe, but any fighter who has failed is going to be questioned under these stricter guidelines. Will his body be significantly changed? What has he done to rectify the issues that led to his previous failure?

We won't know the answers to these questions until we see him compete and until the USADA test results come back. Until then, a dark cloud hangs over his head.

Magny's X-Factor: Tempo

In this fight, it seems as if Magny's path to victory is to score on the feet and avoid the grappling exchanges. But he will be better served by keeping a high pace to the action as well.

Lombard has traditionally carried a lot of muscle mass into his fights, and he slows down as the fight drags on. If Magny can wear him out early, then he can more easily take the later rounds and possibly get a stoppage.

That is easier said than done when Lombard can tie him up and stall, but constant motion and body work by Magny will pay dividends in this contest.

Prediction

Steve Marcus/Getty Images

This fight may not excite a lot of fans as Magny has failed to generate a buzz around his name, but it will be interesting to see how both men look.

I want to see Lombard post-failure, and I want to evaluate Magny's progression. Magny is a betting favorite on most sportsbooks (courtesy of Odds Shark), and I totally see why. Magny's length and style should give Lombard numerous problems.

But I'm going with the former Bellator champion.

Magny is still going to struggle with a high-level grappler, and Lombard will end up tripping him to the mat. Once there, his power comes into play. After a grueling first round, Lombard takes him down even easier and gets to a dominant position where he can ground-and-pound for the stoppage.

Showeather gets a big victory in his return.

Prediction: Lombard defeats Magny by TKO in the second round