Hector contributes to MMA revolution

CFC World middleweight champion Hector Lombard wants to continue contributing to Australia’s mixed martial arts revolution.

Speaking after his first round demolition of American challenger Art Santore at CFC 12 at the Hordern Pavilion, Lombard said the sport’s growing popularity could eventually make it as big as AFL, Australia’s most popular professional football code.

“I know MMA is small now but one day it’s going to be like AFL,” Lombard told cfcworld.com.au.

Based in Florida, USA with American Top Team, Lombard has seen at first hand the impact the sport is having on the US sporting landscape. MMA is seriously challenging American football, basketball and baseball for Pay Per View television subscribers and fans, and has already pushed NHL ice hockey aside as the nation’s fourth most popular sport.

If MMA can muscle in on the US’s traditional sporting powerhouses there’s no reason why the sport can’t have a similar impact on Australia’s big four – Aussie Rules, rugby league, football (soccer) and rugby union.

UFC 110 in Sydney sold a phenomenal 17,000 tickets in two hours and fans went home invigorated by the experience.

Not only that, Australia boasts three fighters on UFC contracts – George Sotiropoulos, Jamie Te Huna and Anthony Perosh – and a fourth – Kyle Noke – is competing in the latest series of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Add Lombard’s world class credentials and some exciting local talent, and Australian MMA is in good shape.

“Australia is my home and it always feels great to be back here,” Lombard said. “I started MMA here and I know it will get bigger and bigger. I want to be a part of it.”