Lyoto Machida is a former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight champion of the world.
Athlete Statistics
Full Name: Lyoto Carvalho Machida | ||
Born Name | Nickname | Age & DOB |
Lyoto Carvalho Machida | The Dragon | Lyoto Machida is currently 46 years old according to his date of birth May 30, 1978. |
Fight Stats | Height | Weight |
26 Wins // 9 Losses // 0 Draws | 6 ft 1 in or 185 cm | 185 lbs (84 kg) |
Reach | Fighting Style | Association |
70 inches | Shotokan Karate, BJJ, MMA, Capoeira, Sumo | UFC, Team: Black House |
Nationality | Net Worth | Born Place |
Brazilian | $4 Million | Salvador, Bahia, Brazil |
Profile
Lyoto Machida is known for unique, unorthodox fighting style. He holds a guard like a Karate fighter, and he sometimes looks elusive and uninteresting to watch since he circles around the opponent and waits for their mistakes to deliver a perfectly time counterstrike. Lyoto has 50% of wins via decision!
In the stand-up, his strongest weapons are his kicks, which are very hard to predict. The Dragon attacks the opponent directly and it leads to less power but more accuracy. Lyoto mostly makes eye or shoulder feint before the attack. His strongest strikes are left cross, left high kick, crane kick, left front kick, and a diagonal kick to the body.
The Dragon is a 3rd dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and a black belt in BJJ. He maintains the distance and range with his superb movement, and he usually stands further away from the opponent than many UFC fighters. Sometimes he switches stances to confuse opponents. In the clinch, Lyoto knows to deliver knees to the head and stomach very effectively, and he is a master of kosoto gari (small outer reap).
On the ground, he mostly delivers elbows and punches. His submission game is good. Machida’s transitions and takedown defense are very strange. Lyoto Machida is extremely vulnerable when he is pressed against the cage.
Lyoto Machida – Record
Lyoto is ranked first, alongside few fighters, for the highest number of knockdowns in a UFC title fight – 3 (UFC 98). He shares the fourth place for the highest number of knockdowns – 13. When it comes to the most Knockout Of The Night bonuses, he is on third place with Roy Nelson and Chris Leben – 4.
Lyoto Machida – MMA
Lyoto Machida had his MMA debut versus Kengo Watanabe at NJPW: Ultimate Crush on May 2, 2003, and he won via unanimous decision. He joined the UFC with the score of 8-0, and victories over notable names like BJ Penn, Rich Franklin, and Stephan Bonnar.
Lyoto Machida Vs BJ Penn
Two legends fought in Openweight division of Hero’s 1 in Saitama, Japan on March 26, 2005. Machida weighed 102 kg, while BJ Penn had only 86.5 kg. Both fighters were looking for their chance in the clinch, while The Dragon was irritating Penn with long-range unorthodox strikes during the whole match.
The fight wasn’t interesting to watch but it will be remembered for the legendary double leg foot stomp from Lyoto in the third round. Machida won via unanimous decision.
Lyoto Machida – UFC Career
The Dragon had his UFC debut against Sam Hoger at UFC 67 on February 3, 2007, and he won via unanimous decision.
Lyoto Machida was successful again at UFC 70 on April 21, 2007, where he defeated David Heath via unanimous decision.
Lyoto then defeated Japanese PRIDE legend Kazuhiro Nakamura at UFC 76 on September 22, 2007, also via unanimous decision.
His next opponent was Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at UFC 79 on December 29, 2007. The Karate superstar submitted him via arm-triangle choke.
Tito Ortiz lost to Machida at UFC 84 on May 24, 2008, via unanimous decision. The Dragon was frustrating him with his lateral movement and counterstriking all the time, and even rocked him with a knee to the body in the third round.
Machida then knocked Thiago Silva out at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009, via very attractive diving superman punch, winning his first Knockout Of The Night award.
Lyoto Machida – Title Reign
Lyoto Machida faced Rashad Evans at the main event of UFC 98 on May 23, 2009, in a UFC Light Heavyweight Title fight. Since the beginning, Evans had no solution for Machida’s movement and left cross. The Dragon knocked him down three times before landing the fatal blow in the second round and won UFC Light Heavyweight title earning his second Knockout Of The Night award.
Machida defended the title successfully at the main event of UFC 104 on October 24, 2009, versus Mauricio Shogun Rua. The Karate expert landed more clear strikes and won via unanimous decision. But a lot of crowds booed the decision in the support of Rua.
In the rematch against Mauricio Rua, on May 8, 2010, at the main event of UFC 113, The Dragon is defeated via right overhand KO in the first round and he lost the title. It was Machida’s first loss in the whole career.
Other Fights:
Lyoto Machida is defeated to Rampage Jackson at the main event of UFC 123 on November 20, 2010, via controversial split decision.
The Dragon earned his third Knockout Of The Night award when he sent Randy Couture to the ground at UFC 129 on April 30, 2011, via perfectly timed crane kick straight to the chin. This is still one of the best knockouts in UFC history.
Lyoto Machida Vs Jon Jones – Title Shot
Machida replaced injured Rashad Evans and fought Jon Jones for UFC Light Heavyweight Title at the main event of UFC 140 on December 10, 2011. Lyoto rocked Jon Jones in the first round, but Bones cut him open with an elbow in the second. After a punch, Bones pressed him against the cage, choked him unconscious, and won the fight. Both fighters earned Fight Of The Night awards.
Lyoto Machida then knocked Ryan Bader out with a right cross at UFC On Fox 4, on August 4, 2012. The Dragon was offered a rematch versus Jon Jones in a title fight at UFC 152, which he declined saying he doesn’t have time to prepare.
In a very interesting match, Machida won Dan Henderson at UFC 157 on February 23, 2013.
The Dragon had his last Light Heavyweight match against Phil Davis at UFC 163 on August 3, 2013. Davis won via unanimous decision.
Lyoto Machida – Move To Middleweight Division
The Dragon had his Middleweight debut at the main event of UFC Fight Night 30, on October 26, 2013, when he defeated Mark Munoz via amazing left high kick, winning his fourth Knockout Of The Night award.
On February 15, 2014, at the main event of UFC Fight Night 36, Lyoto Machida was better against superb Dutch striker, Gegard Mousasi, and won via unanimous decision. Machida also earned his second Fight Of The Night award.
Lyoto Machida Vs Chris Weidman – Middleweight Title Shot
Machida should fight the winner of UFC 173 between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort, but Belfort withdrew, and Weidman had to undergo knee surgery, so the fight between Weidman and Machida was scheduled for the main event of UFC 175, on July 5, 2014. Lyoto rocked Weidman once but Weidman won via unanimous decision, and both fighters received Fight Of The Night rewards.
At the main event of UFC Fight Night 58, on December 20, 2014, Machida knocked C.B. Dollaway down with a left body kick and then finished him with punches after only 62 seconds, earning Performance Of The Night award. It was the quickest victory of his career.
Machida is defeated by Luke Rockhold at the main event of UFC On Fox 15 on April 18, 2015, via rear-naked choke.
Lyoto Machida Vs Yoel Romero
Yoel Romero won Lyoto Machida at the main event of UFC Fight Night 70 on June 27, 2015. Romero was very passive for the first two rounds and didn’t attempt a single takedown but he surprised The Dragon with a great stand-up game. Machida was circling, landing leg kicks and a body shot from time to time. But as soon as The Soldier Of God secured the top position in the third round, he landed a flurry of elbows for a tremendous knockout.
Lyoto Machida – USADA Suspension
After admitting he has taken 7-ketodehydroepiandrosterone, a steroid prohibited by USADA, Lyoto received an 18-months suspension. He accepted the penalty but claimed he didn’t know the substance is banned.
Machida returned against Derek Brunson at the main event of UFC Fight Night 119 on October 28, 2017, and he was defeated via first-round knockout.
His next opponent was Eryk Anders at the main event of UFC Fight Night 125 on February 3, 2018. The Dragon finally won via split decision and broke his cold streak.
The Dragon defeated Vitor Belfort via spectacular front kick knockout at UFC 224, on May 12, 2018, earning his second Performance Of The Night award.
Lyoto Machida Anderson Silva – Strange Friendship
Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva are training partners and long-time friends. However, Lyoto disappointed Spider when he said that he would fight him because he is a fighter and if the UFC specifically requested ‘of course’ he will accept it, while Anderson Silva could never face him inside the Octagon because they are friends.
Lyoto Machida – Bellator MMA
The Dragon signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA.
Personal Life
Lyoto Machida is married to Fabyola Machida since 2004. The couple has two lovely sons – Kaito and Taiyo.
Lyoto Machida – Social Media Profiles
- Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lyotomachidafw/?hl=sr
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lyotomachidaoficial/
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/lyotomachidafw
- Official Website – http://www.lyotomachida.net/