Herbert Goodman: An Omen for Alexander Shlemenko?

Hector Lombard may very well be the most dangerous non-UFC middleweight striker in MMA.

Don't buy that?

Ask Herbert Goodman.

The former Green Bay running back, now standing at 16-9-0 professionally, knew he was getting into one hell of a battle when he agreed to fight Lombard.

Even Jimmy Smith said it—Goodman couldn't afford to pick shots against Lombard. He had to go for broke against the Bellator Middleweight Champion and he had to really fire off his shots.

If I recall, only one shot actually looked like it might have hurt Lombard. Everything else hurt Goodman, as well as anyone who had Goodman beating Lombard without trouble.

Good thing I wasn't one of those guys—no offense if you were.

It took another thundering shot to the jaw of Goodman before the ref was justified in stopping the fight, although it took a few more shots from Lombard before the ref actually stopped it.

The fight was over once Goodman hit the ground, but the fact is that Lombard scored another brutal "W" regardless.

It makes you wonder: Was Hector Lombard sending a message to Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko with what he did to Goodman tonight?

Lombard knows that Shlemenko is equally feared as a striker, he knows what he did to Bryan Baker at the Season Two Finale. Baker, by the way, was never an easy opponent for anyone. Lombard also knows that Shlemenko is the no. 1 contender, the second half of what will be the very first Bellator Middleweight title fight in the promotion's history.

Well, "first" if you don't count the Season One Finale.

Either way, the "Storm" is approaching, but Lombard is anything but scared at this point in time. I can't say for sure, but it's possible that Lombard feels that, after tonight, it's Shlemenko who should be scared of him.

Still can't wait for Hector Lombard vs. Alexander Shelemenko with the Bellator Middleweight belt on the line?

Good.

Neither can I.

I think when it finally happens, this one's going to be one explosive strike-fest.