Though it was buried under the many compelling features of the main card, UFC 222 also featured an interesting middleweight showdown between former Bellator champion Hector Lombard and TUF veteran CB Dollaway.<\/p>\n
Regrettably, this fight ended in controversy, as Lombard put Dollaway down with a volley of punches that occurred split seconds after the first round ended. He was disqualified for this perceived foul, which in turn meant a bizarre and surely undesirable DQ win for Dollaway.<\/p>\n
In the wake of this unfortunate twist, Lombard protested his DQ loss, arguing that the punches he threw were simply a reflexive response to a kick thrown by Dollaway, and that it was on the referee to separate them when the round ended.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was in action,\u201d Lombard told MMAJunkie <\/a>backstage at UFC 222. \u201cYou know, we\u2019re exchanging. He threw a kick, and I\u2019m coming back. You\u2019re in the fight. If the referee doesn\u2019t get in and say [stop], but if you\u2019re in action and you throw a kick, I follow through with one-two. \u2026 The referee didn\u2019t step in and say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever the case, Lombard believes Dollaway’s failure to return to his feet after these late blows was an indication that he didn’t actually want to fight.<\/p>\n \u201cI always say he didn\u2019t want to fight,\u201d Lombard said. \u201cHe didn\u2019t want to continue. \u2026 We\u2019re fighters. I\u2019ve been in that situation before. You just get up. He was just talking and everything. [If] you want to continue the fight, you continue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to [have a rematch],\u201d Lombard said. \u201cI know he won\u2019t beat me, but it\u2019s up to the UFC, up to him, whatever he wants to do. I want to get another fight quick.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether he gets a rematch with Dollaway or not, Lombard now plans to appeal this result, per a statement on Instagram.<\/p>\n He was in guard and ready all the time! And he was protecting himself all time!! Me and my team are gonna appeal the decision! #notright @mmamanagement #mma #management #dodson #new #ortega #yana #arts #omalley #frankie #stockton #dariush #ufc222 #jiujitsu #knockout #shocked #cyborg #fitess #fight #boxing #crazy #top #vegas #ufcfightnight #cris #diaz #brian #ufc #mma #sugaseanmma #kunitskaya<\/a><\/p>\n A post shared by Hector Lombard<\/a> (@hectorlombard) on \n