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MMA > General MMA > Machida says no warm-ups...He wants Rashad

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July 7, 2010, 12:57 PM

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has fully recovered from a knockout loss to Mauricio Shogun Rua in May, and The Dragon is primed for a return to action.

And if you think Machida is looking for some kind of warm-up fight to get the taste of his first professional loss out of his mouth, think again.

Instead, with Rua sidelined until the spring, Machida and his camp would like a shot at an interim title against Rashad Evans with the winner eventually taking on Shogun. I personally like the idea of Machida v Rashad II

Honestly, we'd like to fight 'Shogun,' Machida's manager, Ed Soares, today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). Now it's 1-1. It's even. Let's do this rubber match. Let's figure this out. Granted, he won by decision and Lyoto won decisively, but anyone can get caught in this sport. He went in for the kill, and unfortunately, he got caught. Soares is a little confused, Machida won a highly controversial DEC and Rua made the big statement. IMO Machida doesn't deserve a straight rematch under any circumstances

[i]Since 'Shogun' is out ??? they're saying until March ??? personally, when there's an injured champion, I would love to see maybe a Rashad-Lyoto match for the interim title. I think that would be something that would be cool, and the winner of that would get to fight 'Shogun' when he's all healed up in the spring of next year.

The move certainly wouldn't be without precedent. The UFC recently instituted a similar program when the future of heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was uncertain. While Rua's injured knee is reportedly healing quickly, the Brazilian's history of issues with the joint does leave a small cause for concern.

Until a decision is made, Machida is spending time in the U.S. training with several of his Black House MMA teammates. Chief among those partners is Anderson Silva, who is currently preparing for a UFC 117 fight with Chael Sonnen.

I came here to the States to train a lot more wrestling, and of course to spend a lot more time training with Anderson, Machida told MMAjunkie.com Radio through Soares. I think he's good training for me, especially for my upcoming opponent, whoever that may be. But I'm healed. I'm ready to go, and I'm ready to get back in there and fight as soon as they give me someone.

It was always in my plan to spend more time here, especially to do my training here. Especially now that I don't have any fight scheduled, I'm a lot more at ease being able to spend more time here and acclimate to what it's like to train here.

Evans recently told MMAjunkie.com that he's willing to sit idly until Rua heals, though he admitted an opportunity to fight for an interim title would entice him to compete.

A chance to fight for a title is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I consider myself to be very lucky that I got two chances. Claims Evans

Add in a chance to fight Machida ??? the lone man to defeat him ??? and Evans might be hooked.

Regardless of what the UFC ultimately decides to do with Machida, he will certainly be provided with a test of character as the world looks to see how the karate master responds from his first career loss.

Soares said not to worry.

"One of the coolest things [Machida] told me after the fight (with Rua) was he really, truly feels like a complete fighter now," Soares said. "He knows what it feels like to win. He knows what it's like to be a champ, and now he knows what's it's like to lose. It's going to make him a better fighter ??? a better person.

"I guarantee you, he's going to come back as the best fighter you've ever seen. This has only improved him."

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July 7, 2010 01:21 PM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 01:15 PM ET 07.07 by JimJ77 Best in the World!

I would love to see Rashad get beat down again.

I think this fight is completely justifiable. Machida gets a chance to prove his grit as still being a prime competitor without any of that quick rematch BS!

Rashad gets a chance to Avenge his loss which I think he needs to prove something, if not to himself, that he can hang in there for 3 rounds with a fighter that can finish him at any moment and not just gas like Tiago and Page did!

kryptonian GSP is…

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July 7, 2010 02:07 PM ET

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They should put this togethor, but not for an interim title. If we know Shogun will be back in march there is no point in having an interim title holder. So when does Bones start moving up????

ScottC1010

Alamogordo, NM

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July 7, 2010 02:51 PM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 02:42 PM ET 07.07 by JimJ77 Best in the World!

Seriously. Bones needs a bigger fight.

I say go ahead and put Lil Nog and bones against each other... If bones wins then it gives him a win against a known opponent, If lil nog wins it validates him and doesn't hurt bones that much.

ScottC1010

Alamogordo, NM

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July 7, 2010 03:00 PM ET

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I would like to see this.

Dragon wants to be the best so he dosen't want to waste his time on low lifers.

Assassin: Simile…

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July 7, 2010 03:03 PM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 02:07 PM ET 07.07 by ScottC1010

They should put this togethor, but not for an interim title. If we know Shogun will be back in march there is no point in having an interim title holder. So when does Bones start moving up????

I don't like the term "interim champ" either!

kryptonian GSP is…

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July 7, 2010 03:04 PM ET

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QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 02:51 PM ET 07.07 by ScottC1010

I say go ahead and put Lil Nog and bones against each other... If bones wins then it gives him a win against a known opponent, If lil nog wins it validates him and doesn't hurt bones that much.

Brilz? Did that win validated lil NOG? Jones is already fighting some numbnut at this UFC on Versus 2 in like a couple of weeks.

kryptonian GSP is…

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July 7, 2010 03:04 PM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 03:00 PM ET 07.07 by Assassin: Simile Next year

I would like to see this.Dragon wants to be the best so he dosen't want to waste his time on low lifers.

Well stated.

kryptonian GSP is…

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July 7, 2010 04:50 PM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 03:04 PM ET 07.07 by kryptonian GSP is King

Brilz? Did that win validated lil NOG? Jones is already fighting some numbnut at this UFC on Versus 2 in like a couple of weeks.

I was referring to his previous fights, not that one. Even the ones before coming to the UFC.

ScottC1010

Alamogordo, NM

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July 8, 2010 09:57 AM ET

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QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 04:50 PM ET 07.07 by ScottC1010

I was referring to his previous fights, not that one. Even the ones before coming to the UFC.

Do you believe that you're only as good as your last performance? I do to an extent because unless you rebound well then the last fight you had could have been the start of your down ward slide. High profile fighters should never drop more than two in a row because if everyone else is winning in that time frame then that high profile fighter starts looking less and less High profile.

kryptonian GSP is…

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July 8, 2010 11:16 AM ET

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QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:57 AM ET 07.08 by kryptonian GSP is King

Do you believe that you're only as good as your last performance? I do to an extent because unless you rebound well then the last fight you had could have been the start of your down ward slide. High profile fighters should never drop more than two in a row because if everyone else is winning in that time frame then that high profile fighter starts looking less and less High profile.

but look at the fighters Lil Nog has beaten outside of the UFC.... And he hasn't lost in the UFC.

Its a slippery slope when saying a fighter is only as good as his last performance... That would be saying the following fighters aren't that good.... BJ, Fedor, Carwin, Gegard, Machida. Everyone of them lost their last fight and some lost convincingly.....