Battle time is nigh. On the coming 10th of December, Lyoto Machida faces the light heavyweight champion of the UFC, Jon Jones, and he’ll be looking to do what no man before him has ever done to the fighter of the year–beat the American (Jones has one blemish on his record, but it was for getting disqualified for using a supposedly illegal strike).
One week removed from the showdown in Toronto, Canada, Lyoto held an open training session for the press, and revealed what he has been doing to recover his title.
“We’re always trying to put together something different, something to surprise our opponent. For sure there’ll be a surprise on December 10,” said the karateka, who had some high-powered help in training, like boxing coach Luiz Dórea and fighter “King Mo” Lawal and others.
“I feel quicker, at a good weight–96 kg (211 lb). I’ve dropped some weight, but this way I’ll go in there without much fat, just lean mass. Logically, I’m stronger and quicker now, so what I need most right now is to rest. Rest is what provides that sponge effect–first it drains you, then you get the final result,” Lyoto guarantees.
UFC 140
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
December 10, 2011
Jon Jones vs Lyoto Machida
Frank Mir vs Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Tito Ortiz vs Antônio Rogério Nogueira
Mark Hominick vs Chan Sung Jung
Under card
Krzysztof Soszynski vs Igor Pokrajac
Jared Hamman vs Constantinos Philippou
John Makdessi vs Dennis Hallman
Yves Jabouin vs Walel Watson
Mark Bocek vs Nik Lentz
Rich Attonito vs Jake Hecht
Mitch Clarke vs John Cholish
Claude Patrick vs Brian Ebersole
