Lyoto Machida Adds 22 Pounds of Muscle To Prepare for Jon Jones

Lyoto Machida appears to be taking his upcoming title bout with Jon Jones very seriously. The former light heavyweight champion has implemented a different strategy to prepare for the 24-year-old champion, who will make his second title defense th…

The former light heavyweight champion has implemented a different strategy to prepare for the 24-year-old champion, who will make his second title defense this year at UFC 140

Brazilian website, Univision.com, caught up with Machida training in Brazil and took an in-depth look inside of his training camp. 

Machida has hired a team of physiologists and physiotherapists to help him mentally prepare for the bout, along with installing three cameras to analyze and correct any mistakes the Brazilian comes across during his training sessions

“The Dragon” also looks to have added some muscle to his frame, as the website reports he put on 22 pounds of muscle mass. He is also training in a smaller Octagon, which is 7.5 meters in diameter, as opposed to a regular-sized Octagon that is nine meters. The concept of training in a smaller Octagon is to help improve Machida’s speed and movement in a smaller space, forcing him to be even more elusive. 

Machida is coming off a knockout victory over Randy Couture at UFC 129 that saw him snap a two-fight losing streak and re-position himself back into the light heavyweight title picture. 

Based on his new training regimen, Machida looks to possess all the tools, while acquiring some new ones, which could see him walk away with the title around his waist come December 10. 

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UFC 139 Fight Card: Dan Henderson Says He Would’ve Beat Shogun Rua in Pride FC

Dan Henderson’s matchup with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua feels long overdue. The two light heavyweights will meet in the main event at UFC 139 to likely determine the next challenger at 205 pounds. Henderson, who is unbeaten in his last three bouts…

The two light heavyweights will meet in the main event at UFC 139 to likely determine the next challenger at 205 pounds. Henderson, who is unbeaten in his last three bouts, has a lot of confidence heading into his bout against the Brazilian. 

While both Henderson and Rua are slated to meet this weekend, they never crossed paths while competing in the Japanese-based promotion. 

Now, Henderson gets his opportunity to face Rua, who he thinks presents an interesting challenge to him, stylistically. 

“He’s definitely accomplished a lot of things in this sport, and those type of things excite me to go up against guys like that and test myself against them,” Henderson told MMA Heat reporter Karyn Bryant. 

In addition to testing his skills against Rua, Henderson gets a chance to face one of the few opponents he was unable to meet in Japan, who he believes he would have defeated under the Pride banner five years ago

“I was still dangerous back then, but I feel like I’m capable of finishing guys a lot better now. I’d probably have a better chance of finishing him now than I did five years ago ” he said. “With that being said, I still think I would have controlled the fight and still beat him back then, no problem.”

UFC 139 is scheduled for this weekend, live from the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

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Junior Dos Santos Says It Was an "Incredible Feeling" to Beat Cain Velasquez

Since dethroning Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds on UFC on FOX, newly crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is still feeling overwhelmed at all of the attention he has received. “Cigano” spoke exclusively to TATAME.com following the even…

“Cigano” spoke exclusively to TATAME.com following the event and he seemed very fortunate and grateful to achieve such an accomplishment. 

“I can’t really explain the way I feel. I’m really happy,” dos Santos said. “It’s an incredible feeling. It’s a relief mixed with euphoria. It involved many things. Thanks’ God I have great people besides me and it’s something we all deserved: me, my family, and all Brazilians who cheered for me.”

The Brazilian, who was entering the bout carrying an undefeated UFC record of 8-0, utilized his boxing skills by timing his shots and out-striking his opponent, before landing a overhand right that sent Velasquez crashing to the canvas. Dos Santos would follow up with some ground-and-pound to end the bout and Velasquez’s title reign, less than two minutes into the opening round. 

Shortly after the bout, dos Santos revealed that he suffered a knee injury prior to the bout, which required him to walk on crutches. Despite the injury, he was able to compete. 

“I felt some pain in my knee for a while now, like for ten days, and it was aching, but I handled it quite well. It was OK by me,” he said. 

The 27-year-old will now be focused on his first title defense against either Brock Lesnar or Alistair Overeem, both of whom are set to meet at UFC 141 later this year. When asked who he would prefer to face, dos Santos refused to pick the winner and was focused on making a successful title defense. 

“I’ll be there to watch it, but it doesn’t matter who my next opponent is. I’ve never picked an opponent, and I won’t start doing that now. Let’s do it,” he said.

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Cain Velasquez Looking for Potential Rematch Against Cheick Kongo

After succumbing to Junior dos Santos this past weekend on UFC on FOX, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is looking to get back and earn a title shot. Velasquez said he has one opponent in mind for when he returns: Cheick Kongo. …

Velasquez said he has one opponent in mind for when he returns: Cheick Kongo

The two heavyweights previously faced off at UFC 99, a fight that saw Velasquez walk away with the victory via unanimous decision. Most recently, Kongo expressed his interest in a rematch and claimed he was injured in their first encounter. 

When asked about the possibility of facing the French kick-boxer in a rematch, Velasquez was open to the idea.

“For sure. If that will get me back to where I want to be then yeah, I’ll be there,” Velasquez told FightersOnly.co.uk following his knockout loss to dos Santos.

FightersOnly reports that Kongo did indeed look out of shape in preparation for his bout with Velasquez, as the website was expecting to film some footage of Kongo’s training camp, only to learn he was in pain and discomfort. 

Kongo has had a history of lingering injuries, which have prevented him from performing to his best abilities in past bouts. 

However, if he can remain healthy, then Kongo may convince UFC management to give him a rematch with Velasquez. 

But due to a rumored knee injury, it is unconfirmed when Velasquez is able to return to the Octagon.

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UFC on FOX Results: Junior Dos Santos to Require Surgery to Repair Knee Injury

After knocking out Cain Velasquez to capture the UFC heavyweight title, it was revealed that Junior dos Santos had suffered a torn meniscus, which he had endured just a few weeks prior to his encounter with Velasquez. In a post-fight interview wit…

In a post-fight interview with dos Santos’ good friend and teammate, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and team doctor Fabio Costa, it was learned that “Cigano” would require surgery to repair the injury.

“He has a lesion on the meniscus,” Costa told Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com following dos Santos’ win. “A big lesion that should have surgery to fix.”

The Brazilian revealed during the post-fight conference that he suffered the injury 10 days prior to his title bout and was forced to rely on crutches. Costa said that dos Santos would be out for a month while rehabilitating his injury.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian will be awaiting his next challenger in either Brock Lesnar or Alistair Overeem, who will headline UFC 141 later this year.

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Brock Lesnar Plans on Regaining Heavyweight Title with a Win Against Overeem

Brock Lesnar always strives to become the best in the world.Lesnar, who is arguably the UFC’s biggest draw, successfully defended the UFC heavyweight crown twice against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, before dropping it to Cain Velasquez at UFC 122 last y…

Lesnar, who is arguably the UFC’s biggest draw, successfully defended the UFC heavyweight crown twice against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, before dropping it to Cain Velasquez at UFC 122 last year. 

A second encounter of diverticulitis kept the 265-pound South Dakota native out of action for a majority of the year, preventing him at a potential rematch. Lesnar served as analyst during the broadcast of UFC on FOX last weekend, which was headlined by Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

And with his upcoming bout against Alistair Overeem on the horizon, Lesnar is confident he will compete for the heavyweight title once again. 

“I’m not in this just to be a contender,” Lesnar said during the event. “I’m in it to be the champion, to get my belt back.”

Since making his debut for the UFC in 2008, Lesnar’s presence had an immediate impact in the heavyweight division and has competed against some of the top fighters in the sport. In only his third professional bout, the former WWE star would go on to defeat UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and become the UFC heavyweight champion. 

Now that the a new champion has been crowned in dos Santos, Lesnar has every intention of reclaiming the title. 

“It’s real simple: beat Overeem and beat whoever walks out with the title on November 12. And, that’s exactly what I’ll do,” he said.

Lesnar will meet Overeem in the main event at UFC 141, scheduled for December 30th in Las Vegas. 

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