Lombard vows to 'mess up' MacDonald when he returns

Hector Lombard isn't looking for a soft touch when he finally returns to the Octagon next year.

Due to come back from a steroid suspension in the early stages of 2016, Lombard is hoping to violently put hands on recent title-challenger Rory MacDonald. MacDonald and Lombard were set to tangle at UFC 186 in April, but the bout was cancelled after Lombard flunked a post-fight drug test following a victory over Josh Burkman at UFC 182.

"I know he's been calling me out," Lombard told FOX Sports, according to MMAFighting.com's David St. Martin. "We need to finish business. He's been calling me out, talking a lot of s--t. I have to finish business with this guy. He keeps mentioning my name everywhere.

"The other day he had an interview with Ariel Helwani. He's expecting me to be out of shape on my way back. That's not going to happen. He's expecting to have an easy road. He's expecting a guy that's getting a bit older, a year off. Get an easy win. Guess what, Rory? I'm going to mess you up."

The interview that riled Lombard up was a lot less incendiary than he's suggesting, as MacDonald merely mentioned the hulking former Olympian as a possible future opponent.

"Rory, I'm going to mess you up so bad man," Lombard added. "You've got no clue what's coming. I'm going to mess you up your momma (won't recognize you.) Tag Rory on the tweet after this. Expecting to have an easy road back? I'm going to give him hell. This is a message to him: Rory, I'm going to mess you up."