With MacDonald vs. Lombard pulled from UFC 186, both fighters to get new opponents

Hector Lombard

UFC welterweight contenders Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard not only lost their UFC 186 co-headlining slot, but they also lost the matchup itself.

As reported earlier today, UFC officials removed MacDonald (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. Lombard (35-4-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) from the April 25’s co-headlining spot. In its place is a title fight between flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and Kyoji Horiguchi (15-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC).

UFC officials didn’t initially specify a reason for the change to the card, which airs on pay-per-view from Montreal’s Bell Centre on April 25.

However, in a statement subsequently sent to MMAjunkie, officials said injuries weren’t an issue. Instead, they want to go a different way with the matchmaking.

“Given the recent change in welterweight fights on other major fight cards, the UFC is pursuing a new fight for Rory at an event to be announced,” the statement read.

No further details were given.

MacDonald, who’s ranked No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, had been promised a title shot in 2014 after a win over Tarec Saffiedine, which moved him to 8-1 over his past nine fights. However, UFC officials ultimately broke the promise and opted for an immediate rematch between new champ Robbie Lawler and ex-titleholder Johny Hendricks (though that fight also was recently scrapped).

With MacDonald now awaiting his next assignment, No. 8-ranked Lombard also now needs a new opponent.

For more on UFC 186, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.