MMA Community reacts to Lyoto Machida’s insane knockout of Vitor Belfort

Former UFC light heavyweight champions Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort squared off in the first bout of tonight’s UFC 224 pay-per-view main card from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

After a tentative opening round of action, “The Dragon” proceeded to turn up the heat in round number two.

Machida would fire off some solid low kicks before switching his stance and then promptly landing a sensational front kick to the face of Belfort. That strike sent “The Phenom” crashing to the canvas and Machida mercifully opted against following up with any more punishment.

Machida’s jaw-dropping knockout of Belfort was very reminiscent of when Anderson Silva knocked out “The Phenom” at UFC 126 in February of 2011.

After being attended to by doctors, Belfort would address his home crowd and subsequently announce his expected retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts.

Here is how the MMA community reacted to Machida’s amazing knockout and the retirement of a legend in Vitor Belfort.

The Phenom
The Legend@VitorBelfort
👏👏 pic.twitter.com/P3ZtC2imFr

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 13, 2018

Vitor Belfort leaves his gloves in the middle of the Octagon and seemingly calls it a day. That's the end of his UFC run but I'd bet good money we'll see him compete in MMA yet. #UFC224

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) May 13, 2018

“Michael Bisping, I’m still waiting for you, man.”
–@lyotomachidafw #UFC224

— #Dizz (@TalkMMA) May 13, 2018

I didn't even realize what landed.

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 13, 2018

Wow the dragon #UFC224

— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) May 13, 2018

That's 4 brutal KO losses for Belfort in his last 5 fights. He really needs to stop fighting.

— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) May 13, 2018

Lyoto turns back the clock and sends Vitor in to retirement #UFC224

— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) May 13, 2018

LYOTO MACHIDA!! 😱🐉 #UFC224

— Jade Morris (@JadeMorrisMMA) May 13, 2018

Set it up the whole fight then BOOM. Great performance from Lyoto. Damn.#UFC224

— Drake Riggs (@DrakeRiggs_) May 13, 2018

Who would you like to see Lyoto Machida fight next? Sound off PENN Nation!