Bellator 44 Results: Hector Lombard Ends A Dreadful Fight With Falanio Vitale In Round Three

This is the live blog for Hector Lombard vs. Falaniko Vitale. Current Bellator middleweight champion Lombard is 28-2-1 (with 1 no contest), and he hasn't lost a fight since 2006 when he dropped a decision to Gegard Mousasi in Pride. Lombard defeated Alexander Shlemenko by decision in his last bout in Bellator. Vitale has fought since 1999, compiling a 29-9 record over 12 years. He's currently riding a three-fight winning streak.

Play-by-play provided by Bloody Elbow's Dallas G. Winston.

Round 1 - Big Dan Miragliotta oversees this non-title fight. Bellator middleweight champion Lombard comes out swinging with a right hook then a left kick that Vitale avoids. Lunging right hook from the southpaw Lombard. Slight pause, then a massive overhand from Lombard that Vitale ducks. Body shot from Niko. Two hooks barely miss from Lombard. Another from the champ, but Niko counters with a straight to the body. Straight kick from Vitale, then both fighters mutually connect. Unintentional kick below the belt from Niko, and they pause while Lombard recovers with about 2:30 left.

Vitale is warned by the ref and they restart. Now Vitale hits the lead right hook. They collide and Niko almost catches Lombard with a takedown, but the Olympic Judoka recovers, shoots a takedown of his own that Vitale counters, and Lombard swats a quick combo on the way out of range. Lombard follows a punch in, Vitale counters, Lombard whiffs a big left high kick. Vitale gets off a straight right, then Lombard misses a hook but seems to land on the follow up low kick to close the round.

SB Nation scores the round 10-10.

Round 2 - They touch to open the round. Right hand from Vitale is countered with a big left hook, then Vitale follows his jab toward the clinch, but Lombard shakes him off. Right hand to the body from Vitale. The fighters are methodically trying to find range with surprisingly little action from the dominant champion. Lombard lands a moderate low kick. Vitale pawing with his left jab, then blocks a hard left high kick from the champ. Vitale fakes a level change and swings a left, Lombard evades and scores a counter.

Left hook-straight right combo from Vitale lands and backs Lombard up. Lombard drags Vitale down but he's right back to his feet immediately, and they move to the center and exchange blows. Vitale uppercut misses, Lombard finds the mark with a counter, then two kicks. Standing, we have a stalemate for the most part. High kick is blocked by Vitale as the crowd bellows their lack of enthusiasm for the cautious pace. The round closes with neither fighter demonstrating any advantage.

SB Nation scores the round 10-10.

Round 3 - The crowd boos right as the bell rings to open the final round. Overhand left by Lombard is deflected, then Lombard bounces a left through Vitale's guard. Vitale ducks a Lombard left and throws an uppercut, and the champion's right hook finds Vitale's chin on a clean counter. Vitale drops, wobbles back to his feet, and then slumps back down as the referee intervenes.

Hector Lombard defeats Falaniko Vitale by KO at 0:54 in Round 3