• UFC 140

I'll be the first man to take Jon Jones down - Machida

ESPN staff
October 7, 2011
Lyoto Machida's last outing saw him knock out the legendary Randy Couture © Getty Images
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Lyoto Machida claims he can become the first man in the UFC to complete a takedown against Jon Jones when the pair clash for the light-heavyweight title.

Machida was confirmed on Thursday as the surprise next challenger to Jones, who recently defended his belt against Rampage Jackson. The pair will collide at UFC 140 on December 10, in what will be the third occasion this year that Jones fights a former champion.

So far the road has looked incredibly easy for Jones, who is yet to lose - other than when disqualified in the act of winning against Matt Hamill. Mauricio Shogun Rua and Rampage have both been swept aside, and nobody has even threatened to put the champion on his back.

Machida is unlike any other fighter in the UFC though. He brings an unorthodox karate style, defined by the word 'elusive', and back in May 2009 he absolutely destroyed the division's No. 1 contender Rashad Evans, finishing the fight by knockout.

"It'll be a strategic bout, [Jones] is a guy who studies his opponents and so do I," Machida told Tatame. "Our team is very focused and anything can happen.

"It's hard, he is very versatile and knows a lot of techniques, but we play a similar game. He kicks, I kick, he punches and goes to the ground, I can defend myself and take him down too.

"Stamina and game plan are things that could define this bout's outcome. Nobody is invincible. We're training for the best, looking to enlarge our body and mind, and that's what I'm going do."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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