While Lyoto Machida isn’t certain which weight class he’ll be competing at in his next bout, “The Dragon” has his sights set on one thing: a Bellator title.
Last Friday night at Bellator 222, the former UFC champion viciously finished Chael Sonnen in the second round of their co-main event clash. With the victory and the dominance displayed in earning it, Machida (26-8, 2-0 BMMA) thinks he secured a crack at either the 205-pound or 185-pound belt.
“I think this fight set me up for the next title shot,” Machida told MMA Junkie Radio. “It can be in both classes. [Whichever] comes first, I’ll be ready. I’d like to be a champion. That’s my goal here in Bellator. I love being here in Bellator because I feel a lot of respect from the fans and the press, [talking to] everybody. I still believe that I deserve that chance.”
A respectful, company-first competitor throughout his career, Machida isn’t usually particular about whom, when or where he fights. While he still is open to fighting at middleweight or light heavyweight, Machida said he enjoys the tamer weight cut that comes with the territory at 205 pounds.
“In terms of cutting weight, because sometimes you have to cut a lot of weight, it’s so hard,” Machida said. “At 185, I have to cut a lot of weight. At 205, I barely cut any weight – just a couple of pounds, ten pounds at most. It’s easy for me. It’s going to be so easy for me. I believe everything is good for me. If I have to fight at 185, it’s good. If I have to fight at 205, it’s good. But in terms of cutting weight, I prefer to fight at 205 for sure.”
At light heavyweight, Machida feels like he’s at his physical best. The 41-year-old Brazilian said his speed is unique at the weight class and that his power also increases when he puts on the extra weight.
“I feel like I’m too fast for 205 because I came from karate,” Machida said. “Karate requires a lot of speed in training, so I train a lot of that. When I train with other heavyweights and light heavyweights, I can feel the difference in terms of speed because I can move fast. I can move a lot.
“And also, I have this strength. This strength is so important because once I hit the guy at 205, I feel the difference if I compare myself and 185 – much more power, much more impact in each technique.”
Regardless of weight class, Machida is gunning for Bellator gold – and he’s made quite the argument for himself.
Riding a four-fight winning streak, Machida has been victorious in both his Bellator outings. Prior to defeating Sonnen this past Saturday, Machida beat former Bellator MMA middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 213 in Hawaii.
For complete coverage of Bellator 222, check out the MMA Events section of the site.
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