Whatever the Opposite of ‘Barnburer Alert’ Is: Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis Booked for UFC 163


(“You’ll love it, son, it’s called a ur-pee.”) 

Yesterday, we informed you that a sure-to-be-slugfest in Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit II had been booked for the UFC’s second FOX Sports 1 card. There was much rejoicing. Today, however, we bring you word of a matchup slightly lower on The Chris Lytle Barnburner Scale: Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis, which has recently been given the greenlight for UFC 163: Aldo vs. Pettis in August. Looks like “The Dragon” won’t be getting that title shot he was promised…again.

To be fair, Lyoto was offered a short notice shot against Jon Jones at UFC 152 after beating down Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 4, but turned it down citing not enough time to prepare (meanwhile, Chael Sonnen just offered to fight Cain “El Pollo Grande” Velasquez — his words, not ours — in a Taco Bell parking lot tomorrow). Although Machida was again promised a title shot with a win over Dan Henderson at UFC 157, his somewhat uninspiring performance, coupled with Jon Jones’ toe injury, threw a wrench into those plans. Machida has been relegated to turning down a fight with Alexander Gustafsson, then begging for a fight with Alexander Gustafsson ever since. Sad.

Davis is also on the heels of a less-than-spectacular (fine, let’s call it what it was, abysmal) performance — albeit in victory — over Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 159. Suffice it to say, if the thought of seeing Rashad Evans try to score 50 takedowns against Hendo at UFC 161 really gets your engine revving, then you are going to need a Valium or six to make it through the spectacle that will be Davis sauntering after Machida for three rounds attempting to do the same.

–J. Jones


(“You’ll love it, son, it’s called a ur-pee.”) 

Yesterday, we informed you that a sure-to-be-slugfest in Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit II had been booked for the UFC’s second FOX Sports 1 card. There was much rejoicing. Today, however, we bring you word of a matchup slightly lower on The Chris Lytle Barnburner Scale: Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis, which has recently been given the greenlight for UFC 163: Aldo vs. Pettis in August. Looks like “The Dragon” won’t be getting that title shot he was promised…again.

To be fair, Lyoto was offered a short notice shot against Jon Jones at UFC 152 after beating down Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 4, but turned it down citing not enough time to prepare (meanwhile, Chael Sonnen just offered to fight Cain “El Pollo Grande” Velasquez – his words, not ours — in a Taco Bell parking lot tomorrow). Although Machida was again promised a title shot with a win over Dan Henderson at UFC 157, his somewhat uninspiring performance, coupled with Jon Jones’ toe injury, threw a wrench into those plans. Machida has been relegated to turning down a fight with Alexander Gustafsson, then begging for a fight with Alexander Gustafsson ever since. Sad.

Davis is also on the heels of a less-than-spectacular (fine, let’s call it what it was, abysmal) performance — albeit in victory — over Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 159. Suffice it to say, if the thought of seeing Rashad Evans try to score 50 takedowns against Hendo at UFC 161 really gets your engine revving, then you are going to need a Valium or six to make it through the spectacle that will be Davis sauntering after Machida for three rounds attempting to do the same.

–J. Jones