Machida vs. Dollaway Scheduled For UFC Fight Night 58
Lyoto Machida vs. C.B Dollaway has been rumored recently as a bout both sides were interested in after the rumored Machida vs. Luke Rockhold bout fell through. UFC officials announced Wednesday (September 17, 2014) that the fight is official and will headline UFC Fight Night 58 scheduled for December 20, 2014 in Brazil. The promotion used women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey to announce the fight via Twitter:
.@RondaRousey confirma: @lyotomachidafw encara @cbdollaway no #UFCBarueri (20/12). Leia mais http://t.co/SDki85nTvH https://t.co/F27IELImw8
— UFC Brasil (@ufc_brasil) September 17, 2014
The fight will be a big test for Dollaway, as he is currently ranked No. 9 in the division while Machida is ranked No.4. The former light heavyweight champion was last seen in the cage on July, 5, 2014 at UFC 175. Machida went to war with reigning champion Chris Weidman for five rounds, but came up short in his quest to acquire his second UFC championship. This was only Machida’s third fight as a middleweight. Before his championship bout, he knocked out Mark Munoz and scored a decision victory over Gegard Mousasi.
Dollaway has been on a solid streak of his own as well. He has won four of his last five fights and two straight dating back to 2012. “The Doberman” last fought in May where he took a unanimous decision win over Francis Carmont. This win followed a very impressive 39-second knockout of Cezar Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 38 last March.
Although Machida will most likely come in as the heavy favorite, especially fighting in his home of Brazil, Dollaway is no easy out and this should be a tough scrap for both men.
It is also a very important fight for both each talented combatant. For Machida, a win could put him right back in the title picture at 185 lbs.
For “The Doberman” on the other hand, a win over “The Dragon” would be a career-defining win, and would shoot him towards the top of the middleweight rankings. The UFC has yet to announce weather this fight will be the main event, but there’s a good chance it will be considering Machida’s prowess in Brazil.
So who do you have in this one? I’m excited for this match-up and I think it will be a good one; however, I can’t see it going any other way than Machida’s.
Stay tuned to Lowkickmma.com for more news as this event unfolds.
