TUF season 2 competitor Josh Burkman has officially returned to the UFC some six years after he last fought for the promotion.
Burkman produced a 5-5 run in his first stint in the UFC, eventually leaving after a three-fight losing streak.
However, he’s produced a 9-2 record since then and had become one of the key fighters on the World Series Of Fighting promotion’s roster since they first began in 2012. He produced a 4-1 record there and took out some notable names along the way, including former UFC fighters Jon Fitch, Aaron Simpson and Gerald Harris.
Burkman had become unsettled in the WSOF promotion recently, feeling that he was being unfairly treated and requesting that they release him from his contract, and while it took several months it seems that he has got his way.
The UFC have moved swiftly to set up his first fight back in the Octagon and they are throwing him right in with the lions as it’s been announced that he’ll be fighting Hector Lombard at UFC 182 on January 3rd.
Lombard moved down to the welterweight division last year and immediately made his impression felt by KO’ing Nate Marquardt in the first round and then handing Jake Shields his walking papers from the UFC after manhandling him to a dominant decision victory.
That’s left Lombard placed at No.6 in the division and made him one of the most feared fighters in the division, with even the current No.3 ranked Tyron Woodley recently having repeatedly turned down a fight with him.
So, for Lombard this could be seen as something of a step down in competition as he would have been hoping for a top contender to pave the way to title contention.
Lombard Vs Burkman should slide into the main PPV card for the UFC 182 show which is currently set to be headlined by a blockbuster light-heavyweight title showdown between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, while it’s also anticipated that Ronda Rousey will defend her bantamweight title against Cat Zingano in the co-main event.
