Just nine years ago, Lyoto Machida burst into the scene and became the unsolvable puzzle in the light heavyweight division. Today, the former UFC 205-pound champion is carrying a string of three losses, all of which ended by stoppage.
Many have called for his retirement after his most recent first-round knockout loss to Derek Brunson in Sao Paulo in late October. But the 39-year-old Machida is not thinking about hanging up his gloves just yet.
Not only does he intend to carry on with his fighting career, he also continues to hold championship aspirations.
“I don’t think about retirement yet. I want to continue fighting,” Machida told MMA Fighting. “I want to be champion in this division. I dedicate most of my time to this goal. I believe that I will think about stopping when I don’t feel challenged anymore.”
Machida was never known as someone who made call-outs against other fighters, which is why he was not able to give a definitive answer when asked if he is willing to take on former middleweight champion Michael Bisping in London in March of the coming year.
“It’s not my style to call opponents out or to challenge anyone, and I don’t believe this is the moment to do so. I think that right now I have to show my results, no matter who I’m set to face in my next fight.”
“There are no negotiations about that card as well,” Machida said of the London event, which is said to be Bisping’s retirement fight. “He’s a well-ranked opponent but, like I said, I don’t believe in picking my next opponent right now.”
Prior to his loss to Brunson, Machida lost via third-round knockout to Yoel Romero in June 2015, and via second-round submission to Luke Rockhold two months prior.