UFCs forne lätt tungviktsmästare, Lyoto Machida, lämnade nyligen organisationen för att istället skriva kontrakt med den rivaliserande organisationen Bellator. Machidas sista match i UFC var en seger över den forne lätt tungviktsmästaren Vitor Belfort under UFC 224.
Det stod nyligen klart att Machidas första match för Bellator kommer att stå mot den forne mellanviktsmästare, Rafael Carvalho. Enligt Machida själv var detta den bästa möjliga matchen som han kunde göra sin debut under. Detta berättar han i en intervju med MMAJunkie.
Rafael is the exact guy for me. It’s the best possible name right now – especially because Mousasi has a fight with Rory MacDonald and that fight will decide who is the new champion. And I will be ready for a future opportunity. Of course, this fight comes first. Since I joined Bellator, and I signed my contract, I signed it thinking about that: having the opportunity to fight for the belt and being champion.
Machida berättar även att valet att lämna UFC inte var lätt till en början men att det var ett val han ansåg sig tvungen att göra.
It was a very tough decision. I really like the UFC. I can only say nice things about my old home. I had a good relationship with everyone. Even if it became distant, I had a good relationship with all of them. Even with the Fertittas, they always respected me a lot, so I can’t complain. Because of that, it was a tough decision. It was hard to leave. It was many years fighting in Brazil, all over the world, many fans. People going, ‘Lyoto, I want to see you again in the UFC.’ And then you switch stages and everything. But it’s important. It was a moment of decision and of courage, as well.
Trots det svåra valet att lämna UFC så berättar nu Machida att han är nöjd med den behandling han har fått av Bellator.
I’m loving the treatment I’ve been getting from Bellator. It feels like I’m home. I’m feeling a difference in that sense, because in the UFC, I felt very distant from everything. I wanted to talk, I wanted to ask for something, and I felt very distant. Not at Bellator. I feel close, because I talk directly to Mike Kogan, I talk directly to Scott Coker. So that makes it a lot easier. I’ve been feeling at home and, the way I see it, relationship is everything.
Machida kommer att göra sin debut för Bellator den 15:e december på Bellator Hawaii.
