Hector Lombard (photo via Esther Lin / UFC)

By FCF Staff

Although Hector Lombard has called out Patrick Cote in the past, and the latter recently responded with a yes to that request, the welterweight isn’t apparently interested.

Following Cote’s stoppage win over Josh Burkman at UFC Fight Night 74, the Canadian said he’d like to fight Lombard next. The latter had expressed an interest in fighting Cote before, not long after the fighter dropped to welterweight.

Well, in the latest episode of “UFC Tonight”,  the show’s Ariel Helwani reported that Lombard wants to fight top contender Rory MacDonald next, and not Cote. MacDonald and Lombard were scheduled to fight this past April, but the latter was ultimately suspended for a year, after testing positive for PEDs. Lombard will be eligible to fight again in January, 2016.

MacDonald, who was stopped by champion Robbie Lawler in July, has also said he’s interested in fighting Lombard next.

Lombard (34-4-1) decisioned Josh Burkman at UFC 183 in January, but after failing his post-fight drug test, the result was overturned to a no-contest. The decorated Judoka is 3-1, with 1 NC, in his last 5 bouts.