There have been talks of mutual interest between the growing Karate promotion and the former UFC middleweight champion, though Rockhold has made no assurances as to what his next venture may be following a one-off fight with Mike Perry in Bare Knuckle FC back in April. 

While rumors of a potential clash with Lyoto Machida continue to resurface, Rockhold had something to say about another Brazilian fighter, one that also happens to be a fellow former UFC champion.

“Any day with [Alex] Pereira,” Rockhold said. “Give me 10 seconds on the ground. I’ll f*cking kill that motherf*cker.” 

Luke Rockhold: “Any day with Pereira.
Give me 10 seconds on the ground. I’ll f***ing kill that motherf***er. – Former UFC Middleweight Champion @LukeRockhold on a potential matchup with @AlexPereiraUFC – full story coming to @Cagesidepress 📝 pic.twitter.com/srvaePTOJ5

— Dylan Rush (@rushmma11) June 24, 2023

Rockhold retired from the UFC following a decision loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278 last August, though he hasn’t closed the door on a possible return to mixed martial arts. The 38-year old secured his release from his old employer earlier this year, paving the way for his BKFC bout.

Though a reunion seems unlikely at this point in time, stranger things have happened in this sport. With Pereira moving up to the light heavyweight division, Rockhold may be more intrigued by the challenge of bulking up as opposed to cutting so much weight. 

“Poatan,” on the other hand, is currently training for his upcoming bout with Jan Blachowicz next month, as he looks to secure a victory and move one step closer to regaining UFC gold. The fight will mark his light heavyweight debut in MMA.

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It was a rude homecoming for “The Dragon, a former UFC light heavyweight champ and middleweight title challenger. In the end, Machida wouldn’t make it out of the opening round, while Fabian Edwards snapped a two-fight skid.

Edwards attacked Machida’s lead leg early on Friday in the Bellator 281 co-main event, kicking both the inside and outside of the limb. Machida would answer back in kind; Edwards would mix things up, going to the body. When Machida did the same, Edwards caught the kick and backed Machida up to the fence. But it was Machida with a body lock getting the fight down, though Edwards was immediately back to his feet.

When they went back to the fence a moment later, Machida maintained his footing. But off the break, Edwards cracked Machida with an elbow! He was wobbled, ate another punch, and was put down with a left hand! Edwards piled on with a few more punches, and that was all she wrote!

𝑳𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂 💥@fabianedwards24 stops MMA veteran @lyotomachidafw at the @OVOArena.#Bellator281 LIVE on @SHOsports 🇺🇸 and @bbcthree 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/H6Ha0DfgAH

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 13, 2022

With Gegard Mousasi quickly cleaning out the 185 pound weight class, that victory should instantly land Fabian Edwards back in the mix.

Official Result: Fabian Edwards def. Lyoto Machida by knockout, Round 1, 3:18

The post Bellator 281: Fabian Edwards Spoils Lyoto Machida’s Middleweight Return, Secures KO Win appeared first on Cageside Press.

Machida (26-11) is no spring chicken, but he’s still a couple of years younger than the Cuban, who recently turned 45. And seeing his peers in the 40+ bracket find success in the sport inspires “The Dragon,” he told Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“Definitely it inspires me, because now, I always cheer for someone that’s over 40. If he’s over 40, I will always cheer for them,” Machida told us during the Bellator 281 media day, ahead of his fight with Fabian Edwards. “For sure, man. Because they’re my peers, so I have to celebrate, because it shows me that you still have room to improve, you still have a couple more years to put yourself in the cage and take some risks.”

With Edwards ranked #4 at 185 pounds in Bellator, Machida is taking a risk returning to the middleweight division after being bounced from the light heavyweight grand prix last year — but Edwards’ ranking also brings with it a high reward. But while Machida still has a goal of being champion, it’s not the be all, end all for him.

“I want to climb to the top, I want to be a champion. But to be champion is not the main goal,” said Machida. “I want to be a champion, but if it’s not possible, it’s okay. I have to accept everything, because I already did a lot.”

Despite his age, the weight cut to 185 is not a concern for Machida. Essentially, when competing as a light heavyweight, he’s fighting at his walk-around weight.

“Easy for me, easy for me,” he said of the cut to 185. “Because I walk around at 205. That’s my regular weight. So to cut to 85 is easy. I just have a few pounds more tomorrow. I keep my body healthy, I eat good, I drink good waters, and I try to take care about my diet everyday. So that’s why for me, to cut is better than to be at 205.”

Watch the full Belltor 281 media day appearance from Lyoto Machida above. Machida faces Fabian Edwards this Friday, May 13, 2022 as part of Bellator 281 at the SSE Arena, Wembley in London, England. More coverage can be found below.

The post Rooting for the Old Guys: Bellator 281’s Lyoto Machida Will “Always Cheer” for Fighters Over 40 appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Wednesday, promotion officials announced that Machida (26-11) would be heading back to middleweight for his next fight, against Fabian Edwards (9-2). The bout will be part of the Bellator London card on May 13.

Both fighters will be looking to snap losing streaks when they throw down this Spring. Machida has lost his last three fights, dating back to a split decision loss to Gegard Mousasi in 2019. After that, he returned to light heavyweight only to come up short against both Phil Davis and Ryan Bader, the latter as part of the ongoing 205lb tournament.

“The Dragon” joined Bellator MMA in 2018, after closing out his UFC run on a two-fight win streak. He would also win his first two bouts in his new home, picking up victories over ex-middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho and fellow UFC alum Chael Sonnen.

Fabian Edwards was on an impressive roll, starting his career an undefeated 9-0. However in his past two fights, the brother of UFC contender Leon Edwards has come up short against Costello Van Steenis and Austin Vanderford. Both fights went the distance.

Bellator London will take place May 13, 2022 at the OVO Arena, Wembley in London, England. A welterweight title fight between champ Yaroslav Amosov and Michael “Venom” Page headlines.

The post Lyoto Machida Heads Back to Middleweight, Meets Fabian Edwards at Bellator London appeared first on Cageside Press.

That’s the biggest news coming out of Bellator 256. Bader, the promotion’s current heavyweight champ and former light heavyweight champion, defeated Lyoto Machida in dominant fashion in a rematch nine years after their original meeting in the UFC. While Bader was stopped by Machida in that first encounter, aside from eating an early head kick Friday, he mostly man-handled Machida, falling back on his wrestling and dropping some nasty elbows.

The fight, which headlined the Bellator 256 card, kicked off the promotion’s light heavyweight grand prix. Which looked, frankly, stacked. Names like Corey Anderson, Phil Davis, Yoel Romero, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, and of course Vadim Nemkov (who defeated Bader for the title) will compete in the coming weeks.

Also at Bellator 256, Diana Avsaragova announced her arrival in style, while Cat Zingano and perhaps Liz Carmouche staked claims to title shots in their respective divisions.

Full results and a gallery of highlights are available below!

Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2 Results

Main Card

Ryan Bader def. Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) – Bellator light heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal
Liz Carmouche def. Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Adam Borics def. Adam Borics by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Cat Zingano def. Olivia Parker by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:56
Dan Moret def. Goiti Yamauchi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Dalton Rosta def. Tony Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Talita Nogueira def. Jessica Borga by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Jornel Lugo def. Cass Bell by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Cody Law def. Nathan Ghareeb (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jaylon Bates def. Jeffrey Glossner submission (guillotine), Round 2, 1:27
Nainoa Dung def. Izzy William by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Diana Avsaragova def. Tara Graff by knockout, Round 1, 0:29
John Douma def. Will Smith by unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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Bader had gone on to win not one, but two titles in Bellator, claiming first light heavyweight, then heavyweight gold, the latter by winning the promotion’s heavyweight grand prix. Machida, now 42, was in the twilight of his career, 2-2 in the promotion, but coming off a pair off losses.

Some early striking and feeling out in the fight gave way to a Bader takedown attempt in the opening frame. At the very least, the American showed he was more comfortable on his feet nine years after that first meeting. Machida, however, still had the edge there, and it was his kicks that made the difference early. As the round progressed, Bader seemed to settle in, closing the distance and threatening, at one point forcing Machida to create space with a superman punch. In the final minute of the frame, Bader landed clean with a punch that Machida simply ate. Machida would then land a high kick, which he followed up with a flying knee. Bader turned that into a guillotine, then fired a knee at Machida.

That head kick had a feeling of deja vu, given Vadim Nemkov ended Bader’s light heavyweight reign with a similar kick. But Bader survived to the second round, only to meet more hard kicks to the body from “The Dragon.” Machida, through the early going, was fighting one of his better fights of recent memory. Perhaps buoyed by an opponent who was there to be hit by those kicks. Bader fired his right, Machida landed another kick, and finally, Bader remembered that he had wrestling to fall back on. A blast double had the American quickly take Machida down. Machida got to his knees along the fence, but Bader was able to control him, trapping a leg.

With all that control time for Bader, the five round fight was very likely tied after two. Machida continued to fire his kicks, but Bader appeared to have renewed confidence early in the third. Bader’s jab landed; Machida appeared to be slowing. A black eye was forming on his left side. With three minutes remaining in the round, along came another big takedown for Bader. This time, he dropped a couple of elbows immediately, while Machida tried to scramble out. When he couldn’t, he threw a strike or two from bottom before trying to control the wrists. Machida, though, found no reprieve from the relentless pressure and wrestling of Ryan Bader. The best that could be said is that a bloodied Lyoto Machida survived, but a final minute brimming with nasty blows from Bader had left its mark on the judges — and Machida’s face.

Championship rounds tend to favor champions, and while both Machida and Bader had won gold in their careers, Bader was the more recent (and current, at heavyweight) title holder. Which arguably gave the wrestler the edge as the main event progressed. Machida, meanwhile, had a mouse — more of a rat, based on its size — forming by that black eye. Bader, perhaps sensing blood in the water, launched some heavy leather to start the fourth round, and quickly got the fight down. Machida, already bruised, spent the entire round on his back, eating elbow after elbow, but doing just enough to prevent the finish.

That led to a round five, which felt wholly unnecessary, but that Machida’s heart and toughness ensured. But once again, Machida was taken down early, and left with no escape. And, once again, “The Dragon” managed to do just enough to prevent the finish, and even went old school with heel strikes from the bottom. But there was zero question at the end of 25 minutes that the dragon had been slain.

Bader now moves on in the tournament, and will face the winner of Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

Official Result: Ryan Bader def. Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45)

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Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader first met inside the UFC octagon in 2012, and let’s just say things did not go Bader’s way. Since then, however, “Darth” Bader went on to become a double-champ in Bellator, holding both light heavyweight and heavyweight gold. While he lost the 205lb belt last year, he had a chance in front of him to reclaim his title, and win a second grand prix in the process. That journey began with Machida on Friday night.

Machida, meanwhile, is at a “been there, done that” point in his career. But the one thing he has not done is win a world grand prix. That would very likely be the icing on the cake of a career that included winning the UFC light heavyweight title — something that no other fighter in Bellator’s light heavyweight grand prix can claim.

Bellator 256 goes down Friday, airing live on Showtime. The preliminary card can be stream live and free above. As an added bonus, Canadian fans can watch the main card free below as well. Check below for full results throughout the night! An alternate prelim stream is also below.

Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2 Results

Main Card

Ryan Bader def. Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) – Bellator light heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal
Liz Carmouche def. Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Adam Borics def. Adam Borics by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Cat Zingano def. Olivia Parker by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:56
Dan Moret def. Goiti Yamauchi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Dalton Rosta def. Tony Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Talita Nogueira def. Jessica Borga by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Jornel Lugo def. Cass Bell by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Cody Law def. Nathan Ghareeb (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jaylon Bates def. Jeffrey Glossner submission (guillotine), Round 2, 1:27
Nainoa Dung def. Izzy William by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Diana Avsaragova def. Tara Graff by knockout, Round 1, 0:29
John Douma def. Will Smith by unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

The post Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2 Live Stream and Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Machida, who returns to action at Bellator 256 on Friday night, told Cageside Press during this week’s virtual media day to promote the event that he was happy with opportunity presented to him, especially given the names taking part. “I believe only the best light heavyweight fighters will be present in this event. That’s why for me, it’s a great opportunity,” he noted.

Among those names are Anthony Johnson, Corey Anderson, Yoel Romero, and Ryan Bader, who Machida will face off with Friday in a rematch of their 2012 UFC meeting.

The grand prix is also a great chance to show what he does, continued Mahchida, who added that after a 20-year long career, he’s always trying to motivate himself. The tournament and it’s star-packed line-up will no doubt help. But what would mean more, winning another title, or becoming one of the few to have won a grand prix?

“It’s different things. Because when you have the grand prix, you have a different format,” noted Machida. “You have a different type of competition. You already know probably when and who you’re going to fight next. You cannot escape from that.”

It eliminates fighters jumping the line for a title shot thanks to name value, Machida pointed out. “There’s a bracket that, if you pass, you [go through] to the next fight. For me I like this type of competition because in karate, in amateur sports, it’s always like that. You just have to [keep] winning, and you’re going to be next for sure.”

As for retiring should he win the tournament, while it would be a great moment, “I cannot foresee the future,” said Machida, who added that he lives in the moment. “In this moment, I have this fight against Bader, and I have a long, long path.”

Watch the full Bellator 256 virtual media day scrum with Lyoto Machida above. The event takes place Friday, April 9 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

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Topped by a rematch nine years in the making between Ryan Bader and Lyoto Machida (which is also the first fight in the tournament), the show also features a potential title eliminator between Liz Carmouche and Vanessa Porto, plus the return of “Alpha” Cat Zingano.

With the event going down Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, Thursday was weigh-in day. Only one fighter was heavy for the event, as Jeffrey Glossner came in 1.8lbs over the bantamweight limit for his bout against Jaylon Bates.

Full weigh-in results are below. A video of the ceremonial weigh-ins, kicking off at 1PM ET, can be found above. The event takes place Friday, April 9, 2021 and airs live on Showtime.

Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2 Weigh-In Results

Main Card

Light Heavyweight: Ryan Bader (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (204.6) – light heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Women’s Flyweight: Liz Carmouche (125.4) vs. Vanessa Porto (126)
Featherweight: Adam Borics (145.8) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (145.7)
Women’s Featherweight: Olivia Parker (145.4) vs. Cat Zingano (145.2)
Lightweight: Dan Moret (155.6) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (155.8)

Preliminary Card

Middleweight: Tony Johnson (185.2) vs. Dalton Rosta (185.5)
Women’s Featherweight: Jessica Borga (145.2) vs. Talita Nogueira (146)
Bantamweight: Cass Bell (135.6) vs. Jornel Lugo (135)
Featherweight: Nathan Ghareeb (143.8) vs. Cody Law (145.2)
Bantamweight: Jaylon Bates (136) vs. Jeffrey Glossner (137.8)*
Lightweight: Nainoa Dung (155.9) vs. Izzy William (156)
Women’s Flyweight: Diana Avsaragova (125.8) vs. Tara Graff (125.2)
Bantamweight: John Douma (135.4) vs. Will Smith (134.6)

* Glossner missed weight by 1.8lbs

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“The Dragon” is paired up with old foe Ryan Bader at Bellator 256 in the opening round of the tournament. A he man knocked out in highlight reel fashion back in 2012 at UFC on FOX 4.

Today, the Brazilian is at a very different point in his career. In a different promotion on the wrong side of 40. With two straight split decision losses dogging him.

Machida (26-10), at 42, wasn’t willing to talk about retirement on Tuesday, during a media day to promote Bellator’s arrival on U.S. cable network Showtime. “I consider I’m in the best moment of my career, because I’m more ready than ever,” he told Cageside Press when asked about the possibility of hanging them up after the grand prix. “I’ve been training since I was four years old. I just think about my next fight, because I have to achieve everything that I want to achieve. And then I’ll have time to think about if I’m going to retire, or if I’m going to just keep fighting.”

“I like to live with that mindset,” he later added. “I like to like with the mindset of the present.”

That means not looking past Bader to a potential rematch with Yoel Romero, either. Machida had been queried about whether he’d prefer that rematch at 205lbs or 185lbs. “I don’t prefer either one. I just focus on Ryan Bader,” he replied.

Asked how different of a fighter he was without the weight cut to 185lbs, Machida explained that “I walk around with 210, 212 to 215 at most. I feel good in training. Even when I fight at 185, I train at this weight, I walk around at this weight. When I was champion in the UFC, it was the same.” But there is an advantage, he added. “I consider that I’m faster when I fight at 205, than when I fight at 185.”

Watch the full Bellator on Showtime media day scrum with Lyoto Machida above. Bellator 256 takes place Friday, April 9, 2021.

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