2. Hector Lombard
Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1NC) is new to the UFC and is currently riding a twenty fight win streak albeit against some lesser known opponents. He is the former Bellator Fighting Championships Middleweight Champion and has a very impressive twenty four finishes out of his thirty one wins. Despite being untested in the UFC he has come with a lot of hype surrounding him and if he can defeat Tim Boetsch in his next outing then the clamour for him to get a title shot would grow intensely. Lombard would likely have no problems with standing and trading with Silva as though he is not as skilled as the Brazilian he has legitimate one punch knockout power and can end the fight at any moment. It would be wiser for him however to use his Judo background to try to dictate where the fight goes and put Silva on his back. Lombard is an elite level Judo practitioner and has a very good submission game making him a real threat to Silvas belt. Likely method of victory: Lombard to strike with the Brazilian early before looking to get him to the mat later in the fight where he could outmuscle him and win by stoppage.