![UFC Pride Legacy T-Shirt [Silver]](http://www.ufcstore.com/img/product/resized/619/00447906-645619_catl_100.jpg?k=f51b3b6f&pid=447906&s=catl&sn=ufcstore)
![Nike Junior Dos Santos Official UFC 160 Walkout T-Shirt [Blue]](http://www.ufcstore.com/img/product/resized/101/00452105-619101_catl_100.jpg?k=c6411bbc&pid=452105&s=catl&sn=ufcstore)
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida was one of the principal players in Thursday's merry go round of possible opponents for current champion Jon Jones, which began with Dan Henderson and then circled through Chael Sonnen and Machida before ending up with Vitor Belfort overnight.
Machida, through a statement issued Friday afternoon by his Black House management team, explained his reasoning for not taking the short notice bout with Jones on September 22 in Toronto, noting that four weeks would not be enough time to prepare. And while he expressed a desire to face Jones at UFC 153 in Brazil this October, the champion has already moved on and will meet Belfort in the main event of UFC 152.
"I want to serve the UFC and recapture the belt," said Machida. "I always respect my opponent. For those reasons, I must prepare myself in the manner I believe in."
Sunday, May 26
4:00 AM
CEST
Las Vegas, Nevada
Media
Recent
Popular
Light heavyweight Glover Teixeira walks us through the rituals and emotions of a UFC fight night.
May 22, 2013
Thiago Alves v.s Derrick Noble, Jason Lambert vs. Rob MacDonald, Thiago Alves vs. Ansar Chalangov, and Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin are featured in this episode of UFC Unleashed.
Jul 27, 2006
This Saturday, two heavyweights with devastating knockout power meet inside the Octagon as Junior dos Santos and Mark Hunt fight for a possible title shot.
May 22, 2013
UFC Tonight analysts Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen are here to give their expert predictions.
May 22, 2013
N. Diaz vs. R. Lawler, N. Diaz vs. K. Oishi, and D. Sanchez vs. B. Gassaway are featured in this episode of UFC Unleashed.
Oct 31, 2005
UFC commentators Kenny Florian and Joe Rogan preview the two heavyweight bouts atop the UFC 160 fight card: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva and Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt.
May 3, 2013
From pre-gaming to post-fight interviews, get an all-access look at the action inside Newark's Prudential Center for UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen.
Apr 28, 2013
See some of the fastest fight finishes in UFC history!
Jul 21, 2011
Comments