Hector Lombard Calls Out Nate Marquardt Again

It appears as though Hector Lombard is trying his hardest to recruit free agent Nate Marquardt to Bellator.

After the Bellator middleweight champion sent out a series of tweets recently calling out "The Great," Lombard took to YouTube to send Marquardt, whose suspension was lifted in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, a special message.

"I'm very happy that your suspension has been lifted, so now it's no excuses anymore again, and let's make this fight happen, brother," Lombard said.

Lombard's social media campaign comes after Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren called out Marquardt on Twitter days after Marquardt's release from the UFC.

Lombard and Askren may be eager to get their respective hands on Marquardt, but it's worth noting that even if Bellator signs the former UFC middleweight contender, the champions may not be the first fighters to get a crack at him.

MMA Fighting reported on Tuesday that, according to sources inside the organization, Marquardt would have to win a tournament before receiving a title shot. In addition, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has repeatedly said in the past that no fighter will be given an immediate title shot upon signing with the organization.

Your move, Askren.

Update: Rebney confirmed to MMA Fighting his stance on immediate title shots:

"There is no chance whatsoever that any fighter would come into Bellator and be handed a world title fight against any of our Champions," Rebney said. "At Bellator, title shots are earned, not given. If a fighter wants a world title fight against Ben or Hector, all they have to do is win three tournament fights and their world title fight will be there for the taking."