Lyoto Machida Moving Down to Middleweight?



When Lyoto Machida stepped on the scales at the UFC on Fox 4 weigh ins and the read out said 201 pounds, just about everyone was wondering why the former light heavyweight champion came into his bout against Ryan Bader so far under the light heavyweight limit.

Machida has never been the biggest light heavyweight in the world, but it still seemed somewhat odd that he came in for UFC on Fox 4 a full 5 pounds lighter than the 206-pound cut off for the bout with Bader on Saturday night.

Following the weigh-ins, Machida explained when speaking to Fuel TV that he’s just not a big light heavyweight, and he’s always on his diet.

“I always walk around at 205 or 210 maximum. I don’t worry about this; I keep my diet all of the year,” Machida explained.

With Machida revealing his light walking around weight, the question then had to be posed: what about a drop down to the middleweight division?

“Maybe, who knows. If Dana White invites me, I will,” Machida said of dropping to 185 pounds.

The former light heavyweight champion would obviously be a welcome addition to the middleweight class should he ever decide to drop down, but don’t get your hopes up on “The Dragon” fighting for a title in the division.

That stands so long as Machida’s teammate and close friend Anderson Silva is still standing as champion because they have no plans of fighting each other.

“No, this is my friend, same team, same manager. Anderson is champion,” said Machida.

One possible fight at middleweight however that could peak Machida’s interest is a rematch with fellow former champion Rashad Evans, who is also tossing around the idea of dropping down to middleweight.

“It’s good. It depends. I’ll try; no problem for me,” Machida commented when asked about a possible rematch with Evans.

Machida captured the UFC light heavyweight title when he knocked out Evans in their previous meeting.

While the talk and chatter surrounding Machida on Friday might be about a possible move to middleweight, he’s still got a very big task in front of him at UFC on Fox 4 on Saturday at light heavyweight and his name is Ryan Bader.

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