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http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=12415
When Hector Lombard (Pictures), a 2000 Olympian in judo, was scheduled to face Karo Parisyan (Pictures) last year, one question immediately came to mind: How could a Cuban refugee living in Australia obtain a visa into the United States?
The question remained after one denial. Then Lombard returned a second time to the U.S. Embassy and received another resonant no on his application to enter the United States.
Six months later ProElite has signed the current Australian Cage Fighting Championship middleweight champion. In fact, Lombard is already in the United States, where he trained in Hollywood, Calif., before moving on to Team Quest in Temecula.
"I'm an Australian citizen now," Lombard explained. "This is a big difference from the first time I tried to come."
With that question solved, another has materialized. Why did Lombard choose EliteXC instead of the UFC?
"I opted for EliteXC because I can fight more and I can act in [Australia] as well," said Lombard, explaining that the EliteXC contract was more flexible. "Soon this sport will be really big in Australia. Everyone already talks about it, and the last CFC was in the newspaper, channel 9 and 10 FoxSport. Australian people are tough. Plus we play rugby, the hardest game of all. I believe MMA will be the future sport."
Lombard doesn't know yet when he will debut in the United States or whom he will fight. First he will defend his CFC belt against Fabiano Capoani (Pictures) on May 23 in Australia.
The question remained after one denial. Then Lombard returned a second time to the U.S. Embassy and received another resonant no on his application to enter the United States.
Six months later ProElite has signed the current Australian Cage Fighting Championship middleweight champion. In fact, Lombard is already in the United States, where he trained in Hollywood, Calif., before moving on to Team Quest in Temecula.
"I'm an Australian citizen now," Lombard explained. "This is a big difference from the first time I tried to come."
With that question solved, another has materialized. Why did Lombard choose EliteXC instead of the UFC?
"I opted for EliteXC because I can fight more and I can act in [Australia] as well," said Lombard, explaining that the EliteXC contract was more flexible. "Soon this sport will be really big in Australia. Everyone already talks about it, and the last CFC was in the newspaper, channel 9 and 10 FoxSport. Australian people are tough. Plus we play rugby, the hardest game of all. I believe MMA will be the future sport."
Lombard doesn't know yet when he will debut in the United States or whom he will fight. First he will defend his CFC belt against Fabiano Capoani (Pictures) on May 23 in Australia.
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