Neil Magny vs. Hector Lombard set as co-main event in Australia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
MONTERREY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 20: Neil Magny of the United States weighs in during the UFC weigh-in at the Arena Monterrey on November 20, 2015 in Monterrey, Mexico. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 02: Hector Lombard of Cuba poses on the scale after weighing in during the UFC 182 weigh-in event at the MGM Grand Conference Center on January 2, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The upcoming UFC Fight Night card in Australia just landed a battle of top welterweights as the co-main event with Neil Magny facing Hector Lombard on March 19.
UFC officials confirmed the fight on Monday.
The new matchup comes as some surprise for Lombard, who has been rumored for a fight with former title challenger Rory MacDonald for the past few months. No date or location was ever confirmed for the bout and obviously the UFC opted to go in another direction with this new booking.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Lombard will be returning to action after sitting out the past year due to a suspension handed down after he tested positive for a banned substance stemming from his last fight in Jan. 2015.
Lombard is still undefeated as a welterweight and will now look to regain his position in the top 10 with a win in Australia.
Magny will look for another signature win to add to his record as well after dispatching former "Ultimate Fighter" champion Kelvin Gastelum in a five-round battle last November.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Magny has gone an impressive 9-1 over his past 10 fights while slowly moving up the rankings along the way. He's no stranger to stepping into enemy territory for fights either, having faced Gastelum in Mexico and now taking on Lombard in Australia -- a country he called home for many years.
Magny vs. Lombard joins the main event previously announced pitting former heavyweight champion Frank Mir against New Zealand heavy hitter Mark Hunt.