Lyoto Machida's KO Finish Earns Him Next Crack at UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
UFC president Dana White said earlier this week that the winner between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Brandon Vera at UFC on Fox 4 would get the next crack at the UFC light heavyweight championship.
After much fan outcry, he then revised the plan to include co-main event fighters Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader, dependent upon who put on the performance that UFC officials deemed worthy of the title shot.
White gave much praise to Vera for his efforts against Shogun in the main event, but didn’t feel that Shogun’s victory was impressive enough in defeating him to earn the title shot. That was, of course, in comparison to an outstanding finish by Machida in his bout, which was enough to garner the honors.
“I think Lyoto Machida looked the most impressive tonight,” White declared after all was said and done. “Lyoto Machida right now seems to have this fire in him. He wants it. He wants that title back.
“Everything I see in this guy’s performance, in the way that he acts, in the things that he says, shows me that he wants this title shot. And Lyoto, you’re gonna get it buddy.”
The question now becomes, who will Lyoto Machida face for the UFC light heavyweight championship?
Current champion Jon Jones puts his belt on the line against Dan Henderson on Sept. 1 at UFC 151 in Las Vegas. The winner of that fight will be the one that Machida lines up with next.
The former champion surely wants a chance at redemption, as well as, the belt, with a rematch against Jones, who defeated him at UFC 140 late last year. But for now, Machida will be happy enough knowing that he gets another crack at the belt that once was wrapped around his waist.
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