Notes: Machida decides on a TKO

LAS VEGAS – So much for the idea that Lyoto Machida is a boring fighter.

The light heavyweight from Belem, Brazil, has frustrated foes, fans and critics alike with his unique style. Blending aspects of point karate and judo into his game, he has earned a reputation as a patient and effective counterstriker.

That hasn't changed, but Saturday night Machida proved he can bring the heat. "The Dragon" upped his record to 14-0 with a spectacular TKO of previously unbeaten Thiago Silva at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"I changed up quite a few things in my training," the 30-year-old Machida said through an interpreter. "I worked out with my brothers and father, worked on a new approach."

Although Silva is known as a big banger, Machida was the aggressor from the outset, mixing up his strikes and frustrating his foe. Three times Machida dropped Silva and nearly finished him.

Silva looked as though he was going to survive the first round as the two clinched along the fence in the waning seconds. But Machida had other plans. He hit the American Top Team fighter with an uppercut and followed immediately with a quick trip.

Machida followed with a huge right to the temple, which put the downed Silva out. He followed with a left that may have landed after the horn before referee Yves Levigne was able to stop the fight.

"Every time out, I look to improve," Machida said. "I want to finish my fights, and I want to please the fans."

Machida is now 6-0 in the UFC and rarely has lost a round in the process. With an impressive résumé that includes wins over Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, Stephan Bonnar and B.J. Penn, Machida long has been in the mix for a potential shot at the light heavyweight title. But UFC president Dana White won't pull the trigger just yet.

"He'll get a title shot before the year's out," White said. "But I can't say he has the next shot."

White indicated he will wait until the result of the March 7 match between former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Keith Jardine before deciding who gets the next shot against champion Rashad Evans. But White did say Machida is well on his way.

"You think back to Randy [Couture], Chuck [Liddell], other fighters, they weren't barnburners when they first came to the UFC," White said. "They grew into it. I think he's going to be one of the greatest fighters in MMA."

Machida earned a $65,000 knockout of the night bonus for his efforts.

Jones' star on the rise

It's hard to believe that Jon Jones has only been an MMA professional for nine months.

The 21-year-old from Endicott, N.Y., was wrestling for Iowa Central Community College, where he won a national junior college title, at this time last year.

Now he's in the mix in the UFC's light heavyweight division. Jones dazzled the crowd with several flashy moves before grinding out a unanimous decision win over Stephan Bonnar on Saturday night.

Jones turned in a sensational first round, which included several pure Greco-Roman wrestling throws, a suplex and a reverse spinning elbow that dropped Bonnar.

He kept Bonnar on the run in the second round, and though the veteran Bonnar managed to win the third round on two of three scorecards, he needed to finish Jones and couldn't.

"I was satisfied with my performance tonight," Jones said. "I stuck to my game plan and my Greco-Roman training. … In the clinch he threw a couple uppercuts, and no disrespect, they don't have much sting to them."

Jones comes from a strong athletic family. His brothers, Arthur and Chandler, are defensive linemen at Syracuse University. Jones was offered a wrestling scholarship at Iowa State last year but passed. It's a move he doesn't regret.

"I have to say how serious I take this sport," Jones said. "I do this for my family; I do this to be a provider. In the UFC you have to win and stay in. Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time."

Gono turns heads, gets tail kicked

Akihiro Gono created quite a stir in the arena before the night's final preliminary fight. The veteran fighter, along with two cornermen, entered the floor for his match with Jon Fitch donning shining sequined gowns as a Japanese disco song played. When they got down to the octagon, the trio performed a dance routine that the crowd lapped up.

Too bad Gono (29-14-7) didn't seem to put as much thought into his game plan as he did his choreography. Fitch, in his first fight back since losing to Georges St. Pierre in the main event of UFC 87, dominated Gono with his wrestling and a crisp standup game and scored a unanimous decision win. Scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-26.

The 34-year-old Gono has been competing since MMA's primitive days, making his debut in 1994. He's fought with groups from Shooto to Pancrase to PRIDE, and as far as White is concerned, the cagey vet has earned his spot in the UFC.

"He comes out before the show and does his dance and rehearses it with his cornermen," White said. "Not too many people can pull that off, but he did. He's been in this business a long time, and he's a great guy. Anyone who knows the Japanese culture, they're like that. He's a funny guy, I've got nothing but respect for him."

But he couldn't resist a little dig: "There aren't many guys who don't get their asses kicked by Jon Fitch. If you wear a dress, you better win."