Lyoto Machida left the UFC in 2018 on a two-fight winning streak and signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator. The former UFC light heavyweight champion remains a contender for the top spot after losing four straight 2-4 in Bellator where his last loss was KO by Fabian Edwards in his final fight to advance.
Retirement Match for the Two Legends Lyoto Machida and Shogun Rua
UFC announces new broadcast deals for Brazil; UFC 283 set for Jan. 21 in Rio de Janeiro (@guicruzzz) https://t.co/hyBsGA3JpI pic.twitter.com/HxaXadXxQ7
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 10, 2022
Machida entered free agency at 44 and has lost in four fights, so it’s uncertain where he’ll go. However, his manager Jorge Guimaraes spoke to the UFC and took Lyoto Machida against Maurício Milani Shogun Rua at UFC 283 in Brazil, and the UFC was interested in it.
“When I heard ‘Shogun is playing his final bout at UFC Rio, I immediately called (UFC chief commercial officer Hunter Campbell) to offer Lyoto for the trilogy,” Guimaraes told Sherdog. “Hunter told me they originally planned to have someone like Tyson Pedro against Shogun, but he liked the idea and told me he was going to talk to Dana about it.”
“I have no doubt that the Brazilian audience will enjoy the game. Two champions, two legends of the sport, one win each, doing their rubber match on the night of both of their retirement fights. Shogun is already a Hall of Famer while Lyoto deserves it too.”
Lyoto Machida and Shogun Rua first met at UFC 104 in 2009, with Machida winning by decision to defend his first and only time for light heavyweight title. However, many believed that Rua had won the fight, so they immediately had a rematch at UFC 113, where Rua won the first round by KO to become the new champion.
May8.2010
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) May 9, 2022
12 years ago today,
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua finished Lyoto Machida to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. pic.twitter.com/MR7zVJVllE
Even though Machida and Rua are both in their 40s and losing skids, the trilogy fight does make some sense, especially in Brazil. It could also serve as a retirement fight for the two, but it remains to be seen whether the UFC will ultimately accept the idea.
