After 38 professional fights at middleweight, Hector Lombard has decided to drop an extra 15 pounds due to a rocky start inside the Octagon.

FUEL TV’s UFC Tonight reported Tuesday evening that “Lighting” will be testing out the waters at welterweight in his next bout, calling out another former185-pounder in Nate Marquardt.

After a 25-fight unbeaten streak (24 wins and 1 draw), including a run as Bellator’s 185-pound champ where he looked unbeatable, Lombard has struggled in the UFC, posting just a 1-2 record in his first three fights with the company.

The former Olympic-level Judoka lost his UFC debut against Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 in July, before scoring a decisive win over Rousimar Palhares at UFC on FX 6 in December.

At UFC on FUEL 8 in March, Lombard was competitive against a one-time UFC title challenger in Yushin Okami, but ultimately dropped a split decision.

Lombard, a very lean and muscular fighter at middleweight, announced in April that he’d consider a drop down to welterweight with the help of famed MMA nutritionist Mike Dolce.

Two months later, it appears the heavy-handed striker has made up his mind.

After defeating Tyron Woodley for the Strikeforce welterweight title in July, his first fight at 170-pounds, Marquardt has suffered two decisive losses at the hands of Tarec Saffiedine and Jake Ellenberger.

While “The Great” is no longer the dominant force he once was inside the Pancrase cage, he is still a respected named with 46 professional fights on his resume.

Will Lombard be able to recapture the success he enjoyed in Bellator at a lighter weight class or is the bottom line that he is simply not a top-tier talent in the UFC?