Lyoto Machida News

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2018

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has long been considered one of MMA’s true good guys, and he has once again proven why that’s the case. It was recently announced that Machida had signed with Bellator MMA. Apparently, the UFC actually matched the offer that Bellator made Machida, but he moved to Bellator anyway because he’d already told the promotion’s decision makers that he would, and he’s a man of his word.

Tom Taylor - June 24, 2018

After 11-straight years as a member of the UFC roster, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is headed to Bellator. News of Machida’s relocation was first reported by ESPN earlier this week. Shortly after this news surfaced, Machida took to Instagram to speak on the move.

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.

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

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.

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.”

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 6, 2018

Shortly after his recent split decision win over Eryk Anders, former UFC light heavyweight champion and middleweight title challenger Lyoto Machida called out former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. “That’s a fight that should’ve happened a couple times and it didn’t,” Machida said at the UFC Belem post-fight presser. “I think we both matured together in this sport, so I think fight between Michael Bisping and myself would mean a lot.

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.

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 - January 25, 2018

Back in October, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida returned to the Octagon after a layoff of more than two years, only to be knocked senseless by middleweight contender Derek Brunson in the very first-round. With this loss, Machida fell onto a tough, three-fight skid, having been knocked out by Yoel Romero and submitted by Luke Rockhold in his next most recent bouts.

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.

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 21, 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 he is now set to return when the UFC touches down in Sao Paulo Brazil this October 28. His opponent will be dangerous American middleweight contender Derek Brunson. This fight was announced by UFC Brasil on Twitter.