Lyoto Machida: Maybe Anderson Silva didn’t want to fight for the belt again, but the UFC demanded it
Number-one ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Lyoto Machida is stuck in a kind of no man’s land right now, having the ability to best most of the fighters in his division but also having been brutally finished by 205 lb. champion Jon Jones. He’ll put that ability to the test this weekend when he squares off against talented wrestler Phil Davis on August 3rd in the co-main event of UFC 163 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
While “The Dragon” will be seeking a rematch with Jones, he’s glad to be fighting in his homeland of Brazil. Machida appears to be focusing on the current moment, and says he won’t be feeling any pressure to get back to a title fight:
“It used to bother me a lot, waiting for title contentions that didn’t happen. Today I don’t think this way. What is happening is good for me. It’s a fight in Brazil, a fight that will do so much for my career. I am so happy with the opportunity, very pleased and looking to live each moment.? I don’t like to keep complaining about what hasn’t happened. If it did not work out that moment, there must have been a reason for that. I did my part, I fought, won, did everything that was demanded. Such is life – not everything will happen the way we want.” – via Fighters Only Mag
That’s a very calm and philosophical view of his current situation, and all he can do is keep winning in the hopes of one day being champion once again. If he convincingly defeats Davis Machida recently opened up about a more anticipated rematch, that of Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman at the year-ending UFC 168 event:
“Anderson’s rematch is fair; the guy rule division for long time. He maybe didn’t really want to fight for the belt again but the UFC demanded it. I believe it wasn’t only Anderson’s intentions that prevailed in this situation.”
It’s a new point of view on the immediate rematch that has the MMA community abuzz. Indeed, Silva insists that he’s back and re-motivated, but his good friend Machida insists otherwise.
Will Machida find himself fighting for the championship anytime soon? And will Silva’s head be truly in the game when his chance to reclaim the belt grows near?
