Hess v. Lombard prediction…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
The time has come…finally. Once you start writing about something for so long, you’re itchin’ to see it happen just as much as any other fan.
Tonight in Florida will be the final Bellator event of its crazy-good first season. Wrapping the show up might be the most intriguing final the Bellator brass could have hoped for with UCO product Jared Hess against world-renowned Hector Lombard.
Earlier this week, I’ve taken a closer look at both guys. Guess now would be the time for a prediction.
Hess will control what happens in this bout. Him and his training crew at Premier Martial Arts have laid down the plan. But in this setting, will Hess be able to follow through and not be caught up in the moment?
He’s fought on big stages before as an amateur wrestler, but I think it’s safe to say tonight will be the most raucous environment the Oklahoma City native has ever dealt with.
I’ve said before that his best bet is to try to extend Lombard (at least into the second round). I don’t want to say concede the first round, but you know Lombard will be the aggressor.
Hess has the height, so it’ll be interesting if he tries to use his reach. As a natural wrestler, I don’t see it playing as big a role as maybe it would if Hess was a natural striker.
Can Hess take Lombard’s shot? What kind of beard does Hess have? Find out one way or the other tonight.
If Hess can get Lombard down, will Lombard be able to bust free to get back to his game plan? That’s where the size of Hess may work to his advantage the most. He might be able to just swarm Lombard on the mat.
Boneman has plenty of questions and hypotheticals, but not too many answers for ya. Excited about this one and wish I could be there tonight for the bout.
Lombard was a major get for Bellator, and his time is now. At 25, Hess still has time. He’s not as polished as he needs to be at this point. It’s a credit to his natural ability and quick-learning skills he’s made it as far as he has.
Don’t want to say Lombard schools him because Hess will be competitive, but I think Hess’ chance at $175,000 will have to wait. Not too much longer but not seeing it in the cards tonight.
Prediction: Lombard unanimous decision Hess.
In the lightweight final, Toby Imada is coming off the submission of the year against Jorge Masvidal.
But that won’t help him against Eddie Alvarez, who is one of the best lightweights in the world and will prove he’s the best in Bellator.
Alvarez wins, let’s say, in the second round.
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I didn’t get the chance to see the fight, but I read the results. Unfortunately, you were right. It sounded like Hess’s only advantage in the fight was his fighting spirit. I guess he was too green. Did you see it? What are your thoughts? Where does Hess go from here?