Lyoto Machida News

Drake Riggs - June 22, 2018

Bellator continues to make big acquisitions and now they’ve made a rather unexpected one as they’ve picked up a former UFC champion. ESPN is reporting that former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida has agreed to a multi-fight deal with Bellator.

Tom Taylor - May 30, 2018

After his exciting UFC Liverpool win over Trevor Smith, which came via unanimous decision, Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou is hoping for a fight with former UFC light heavyweight champ and long-time middleweight contender Lyoto Machida. Theodorou explained why he’s targeting Machida in a post-fight chat with the media.

Tom Taylor - May 24, 2018

At UFC 224, Lyoto Machida authored one of the most dazzling victories of spectacular career, zapping the retiring Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face. With this win, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and long-time middleweight contender moved onto a two-fight win-streak, and he’s hoping a few more victories will carry him to a middleweight title shot. First, of course, Machida is hoping to battle fellow veteran Michael Bisping, who he called out after UFC 224.

Chris Taylor - May 13, 2018

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (24-8 MMA) added another spectacular knockout to his highlight reel at last night’s UFC 224 event in Brazil. “The Dragon” starched former UFC champion Vitor Belfort with a front kick that sent “The Phenom” crashing to the canvas and into retirement.

Chris Taylor - May 12, 2018

A middleweight fight featuring former UFC light heavyweight champions Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida took place on the main card of tonight’s UFC 224 pay-per-view event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The bout is expected to serve as Belfort’s retirement fight.

Justin Golightly - March 21, 2018

Back in February, Lyoto Machida got back in the winners column after a three-fight losing streak. The 39-year old veteran isn’t close to slowing down, as he is booked to fight another legend in the sport, Vitor Belfort at UFC 224. Not that the pressure is off, he’s looking forward to leaving it all out in the Octagon in Rio and holding nothing back. “They want to retire me, but I don’t want to be retired. I have more fights. I have more years. I believe that. Because the verb that I like to say here, it’s not about ‘can,’ but about ‘want.’ If you want something, you can get it. That’s what I put in my mind. It’s different because I feel more confident now. I feel like I can give my best. Because, when you have no options – only victory – you feel a lot of pressure over your shoulders. But once you release everything, it’s showtime. It’s time to show everything I have.”

Tom Taylor - February 18, 2018

Earlier this week, we learned that Vitor Belfort will step into the Octagon for a final time at UFC 224 on May 12. His opponent in this retirement bout will be a long-time friend and fellow Brazilian in Lyoto Machida. In a lengthy post to Instagram, Belfort explained why he chose to accept a fight with a friend in the final fight of his career. His hope, he says, is that this fight will deliver an important message to his fans and fellow fighters.

Drake Riggs - February 16, 2018

What has been a fantasy matchup to longtime fans for the past decade appears to be on it’s way to reality. MMAFighting reports that a fight between former UFC light heavyweight champions, Vitor “the Phenom” Belfort and Lyoto “the Dragon” Machida is in the works for UFC 224 in Brazil.

Tom Taylor - February 4, 2018

Last night, the UFC touched down in Belem, Brazil with UFC Fight Night 125. In the main event of this 11-fight card, struggling former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida turned back the clock with a close but impressive split decision win over formerly undefeated prospect Eryk Anders. In the co-main event, meanwhile, former UFC bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko authored one of the most lopsided victories of her impressive career thus far, eating Priscila Cachoeira alive in a brutal flyweight showdown.  At present, the official fight purses for this entertaining card have not yet been disclosed. We do, however, know how much the 22 fighters on the bill earned through the UFC’s athlete outfitting deal with Reebok.

Tom Taylor - February 4, 2018

Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s stop in Belem, Brazil, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida staved off Father Time with a sorely needed split decision win over young middleweight prospect Eryk Anders. With this win, Machida rebounded from a string of stoppage losses and kept himself afloat in the shark infested waters of the middleweight division. While Machida is now back in the win column, calls for his retirement have not exactly quieted. That said, the Brazilian legend still has a few more things he’d like to accomplish before he hangs up the gloves. One of these things is a fight with former UFC middleweight champion and fellow MMA veteran Michael Bisping.

Tom Taylor - February 4, 2018

Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s anticipated stop in Belem, Brazil, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida attempted to rebound from a string of stoppage losses opposite dangerous undefeated prospect Eryk Anders. Though Anders certainly didn’t make it easy for him, Machida ultimately earned his first win since December of 2014 with a split decision. Understandably, many members of the MMA community were very impressed by Machida’s turning away of Father Time. That said, many others felt the decision should have been awarded to Anders.

Chris Taylor - February 3, 2018

UFC Fight Night 125 Results: Lyoto Machida vs. Eryk Anders A key middleweight scrap between former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and undefeated contender Eryk Anders headlined tonight’s UFC Fight Night 125 event in Belem, Brazil.

Tom Taylor - December 14, 2017

On February 3, the UFC will touch down in Belem, Brazil, with what’s sure to be an exciting UFC Fight Night card. While this card already features some interesting bouts, however, it has long been without a main event. Luckily, that seems to have changed, as former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is reported to be returning in the card’s headliner, where he’s expected to take on middleweight prospect Eryk Anders. This report comes from the ever reliable Nolan King.

Tom Taylor - November 2, 2017

Last weekend, Lyoto Machida returned from a lengthy hiatus to battle the dangerous Derek Brunson. Unfortunately for Machida and his fans, this comeback fight went disastrously, as he was knocked senseless inside the first frame. In the wake of this loss, Machida was initially quite silent. Now, however, the former light heavyweight champion has finally broken his silence, having issued a lengthy statement on Instagram.

Chris Taylor - October 28, 2017

A key middleweight tilt between former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and perennial contender Derek Brunson served as the headlining bout of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 119 event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Round one begins and Brunson attempts to take the center of the octagon. He fires off a low kick that misses. Machida circles but Brunson catches him with an inside low kick. Lyoto misses with a high kick attempt. Brunson lands another low kick. Machida responds with a straight left. Brunson charges forward but his punches don’t find a home. Both men fire off low kicks. Machida lands a counter left hook. He circles but Brunson catches him with a left hand. Machida is hurt. More shots from Brunson and Machida hits the deck. Big shots from the top by Brunson and Machida is out cold! WOW!

Russell Ess - October 26, 2017

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is set to return to competition after over two years since last fighting in the Octagon. Machida is coming off an 18-month suspension after admitting the use of the banned substance 7-Keto-DHEA. Machida claimed that he did not know that the pills he bought over the counter contained anything on the banned substance list. With a return to the Octagon set for UFC Fight Night 119 on October 28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil against Derek Brunson, Machida was pumped up during their staredown on Thursday. After the two faced each other in front of the media, Machida and Brunson turned to the audience and Machida let out a big yell that shocked some in attendance.

Tom Taylor - August 17, 2017

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who also contended for the title at middleweight, has not been seen in the cage since June of 2015, when he was smashed to a third-round TKO by the ever-dangerous Yoel Romero. The reason for the former champ’s prolonged absence is an unfortunate USADA-administered suspension stemming from his admitted but inadvertent use of the banned substance 7-Keto-DHEA. Luckily, Machida’s 18-month sit has almost reached its expiration date, and as such, his return is reportedly in the works. According to a report from Combate, a bout between Machida and fellow middleweight contender Derek Brunson is in the works for an October 28 Fight Night card in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The report also says that, if signed, the fight would serve as the main event.

Chris Taylor - May 6, 2017

VIDEO | BJ Penn vs. Lyoto Machida