• UFC 153

Machida hints at Teixeira v Wanderlei fight

ESPN staff
September 12, 2012
Wanderlei Silva could rescue UFC 153 © Getty Images
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Lyoto Machida may have shed light on the UFC's answer to Tuesday's injury withdrawals from the 153 card, after claiming a surprise is coming for MMA fans.

UFC 153 was rocked by injuries to Jose Aldo and Rampage Jackson on Tuesday, leaving the card without a main or co-main event. It remains to be seen if respective rivals Frankie Edgar and Glover Teixeira will be handed replacement bouts, or removed from the card to make way for two new fights.

Machida has stirred the rumour pot by posting an image of himself, sitting next to Wanderlei Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera and Mauricio Shogun Rua. The picture was accompanied by the words: "We are preparing a big surprise for you."

Machida himself may not be the man to fight Teixeira, despite needing to make amends with the UFC after he turned down a title shot against Jon Jones at UFC 152 - claiming it was too short-notice. Teixeira has previously stated Machida is the only man in the 205lb division he would rather not fight.

"Right now, the one I wouldn't want to fight is Lyoto Machida," Teixeira said back in May. "I've trained with him, I help him out and he's a great guy. Whatever they tell me to do, I'll do, but if I could have a say, Lyoto would be the one I wouldn't want to fight."

Shogun may also be ruled out due to his arranged bout with Alexander Gustafsson in December. That could leave Wanderlei, based on Machida's picture, as an option at light-heavyweight for Teixeira.

The Axe Murderer later added to speculation by tweeting a message of his own, simply saying: "UFC RIO?"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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