Hector Lombard has long been regarded as one of the best kept secrets in the mixed martial arts world. His lone losses in his career stand at two early career defeats to Japanese legend Akihiro Gono and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi--both bouts which took place under the PRIDE banner. However, the the Olympic Judoka has transitioned his skills on the mat to now a full fledged MMA fighter. But, he may be more known to the fans as the little guy with knockout power in both hands, and he helped assert those claims last night when he polished off UFC and Strikeforce veteran Falaniko Vitale just seconds into the third-round. ...

In tonight's featured "super fight", Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard was to take on arguably one of his toughest tests to date in former Icon Sport titleholder and UFC veteran Falaniko Vitale. There's a lot of pressure for the Bellator titleholders, as none of them have faltered in non-title bouts, going a perfect 9-0 before tonight's event. And though the bout began in less than exciting fashion, it ended the same way Lombard ends most of his fights--with an abrupt and very fast knockout. ...

As Bellator 44 comes to ahead later tonight, let's take a look back at the weigh-in results heading into the festivities up ahead. The card will be headlined by an intriguing middleweight bout pitting Bellator champion Hector Lombard against UFC and Strikeforce veteran Falaniko Vitale in a "super fight" non-title bout. While the headlining duo made weight with no problem, the attention later shifted to a proposed bantamweight bout between WEC veteran Anthony Morrison and Brian Goldsby, though there's been a hitch in plans when Morrison came in 10-pounds over the limit. ...

A former UFC contender, Niko Vitale looked like he had seen the twilight of his career. After a venture back to his native Hawaii, Falaniko worked his way through the popular Icon Sport promotion, eventually garnering the organizations' middleweight strap. However, he didn't keep the title too long. When Niko met fellow UFC veteran Robbie Lawler, it seemingly began the descent of this once great fighter. ...

“Ninja” Murilo Rua (18-10-1), brother of Fighters.com's third-ranked light heavyweight contender “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4), and Falaniko Vitale (25-8) will matchup at Shine Fights third iteration tentatively scheduled for spring 2010. Rua is fresh off a TKO of Golden Glory’s Jason Jones (3-9-1) at Bitetti Combat 5 in São Paulo December 12. Vitale has been on hiatus since losing a three-round decision to “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (19-7) at Strikeforce in Denver in October 2008. ...

Fighters.com's seventh-ranked middleweight “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (18-6) won a unanimous decision over Falaniko Vitale (26-8) Friday night in Broomfield, northwest of Denver. Judges' scores were 29-28 twice and 30-27 once. After the unimpressive performance, Trigg talked retirement:  "I've got a few fights left.  I'm not ready to retire yet, but we've started preparing for that."  Trigg plugged his clothing line, Triggonomics.  "I've got a passion for fashion." Trigg landed a straight left in the first round that forced Vitale to the fence.  Trigg closed distance and hammered elbows, mostly grazing Vitale.  Vitale exploded from the fence with a combo of punches. But, that was as exciting as the fight got.  Twice in the third round, the crowd booed when it appeared the fighters had mutually agreed to take a break. "It wasn't the altitude," Trigg contended.  "It was the fact that I have a one-month old child at home.  It's hard to be an MMA family." ...

Strikeforce announced this week that it will hold an event 3 October at the Broomfield Event Center in Denver, CO, titled Payback, to follow up its September show at the Playboy Mansion. The event will feature a rematch between welterweights “Bang” Duane Ludwig and “Squeeze” Sam Morgan (19-10). Morgan knocked out Ludwig in 52 seconds at Ring of Fire 16 in 2005. Denver-native Ludwig lost his last fight to Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight “Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (28-3). Morgan is coming off back-to-back TKO losses, first to current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and April's Fighter of the Month Cung Le (6-0) in November, then to “Semtex” Paul Daley (18-6-2) in January. ...