When you share the same "Dragon" moniker as a certain Bruce Lee, and you compete in Martial Arts, you better be a seriously good fighter. Lyoto Machida is one of the very best. A former UFC light-heavyweight champion, Machida has always been something of a mystery in MMA due to his unorthodox style.

The Brazilian actually made an extremely underwhelming start to his UFC career, attracting more criticism than credit for failing to finish his first three fights, despite the fact he won them all. Even an arm triangle victory over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and a decision win over Tito Ortiz did little to add to the Machida aura, although the Ortiz fight did at least make the casual fan sit up and realise Machida was for real.

At an undefeated 13-0 in his career, Machida was arguably worthy of a title shot, but the UFC acknowledged his low marketability value by throwing him into one more fight, this time against Muay Thai dangerman Thiago Silva. In one of the defining moments of Machida's career, he produced the Knockout of the Night right on the first-round buzzer to silence his critics and finally line up a shot at the light-heavyweight belt.

Machida's fanbase began to proliferate rapidly and for the first time his name was chanted by the crowd, who witnessed one of the greatest displays of striking in Octagon history as "The Dragon" delivered a nine-minute lesson to champion Rashad Evans, knocking him out after a flurry of punches. The undefeated mystery was now the undisputed champion.

Due to an unorthodox karate style Machida is one of the most elusive athletes in MMA, and the Brazilian Black House fighter also has a base in sumo which makes it very difficult to take him down - as Ortiz found out.

However, Machida is currently entering into a period of development after Shogun KO'd him in May 2010, before Rampage Jackson snatched a controversial decision in November. A bounce-back win over Randy Couture, with one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history, got Machida back on track, but he walked into the wall that is Jon Jones in his second attempt at a UFC title, leaving him to rebuild once again.

Career high
Knocking out Rashad Evans to win the UFC light-heavyweight title, marking the completion of a full circle for Machida, who had originally been cast as a dull fighter after a string of decision victories. On this night, fans chanted "Machida" "Machida" as the Brazilian dismantled the reigning champion.

Career low
Machida suffered his first loss in 17 fights to Shogun Rua, and it came in brutal fashion. Several huge rights turned off the Brazilian's lights, and robbed him of his UFC light-heavyweight title.

Quote
"People are very immediate, you make a good fight and already are the guy, but it isn't like that. This is a very good moment, but I'm not impressed, I don't think I'm the best, I have a lot to improve."

Trivia
Lyoto Machida drinks his own urine once every morning as a natural form of therapy.