• UFC 140

Machida yet to set battleplan for Jones

ESPN staff
October 11, 2011

Lyoto Machida has admitted he has not yet worked out how he is going to beat Jon Jones.

'The Dragon' is bidding to reclaim the light-heavyweight belt he lost to Mauricio Shogun Rua last year when he takes on defending champion Jones at UFC 140 in December. Jones made an emphatic first defence of the title against Rampage Jackson in Denver last month, and Jackson later admitted he didn't believe anyone in the division was capable of beating Jones.

Machida is keeping his cards close to his chest, but has promised to study his opponent carefully in the lead-up to their clash in Toronto and is confident he has what it takes to challenge Jones.

"It's hard to say what the perfect style is to stop Jones," Machida told Sherdog. "I have a lot of trust in my skills against any fighter. I won't change what people have seen, and I'd rather show them in the Octagon instead of talking about it beforehand.

"Jones wasn't my problem until the UFC booked the fight. I'll spend a lot of time studying him and find the best way to stop him. I know he's versatile, but I have my own talents and know what it takes to win. The fight will be decided in the Octagon.

"Let him be the favourite. He'll enter with the label of being a prodigy but I'll be stronger because of that. I can get Jones to the fifth round. I believe in myself, in what I'm doing."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close