• UFC 129

Machida targets Rio reward for beating Randy

ESPN staff
April 29, 2011
Lyoto Machida wants to show off his karate style © Getty Images
Enlarge

To book your front-row seat for UFC 129, subscribe to ESPN by clicking here.

Lyoto Machida has called on Dana White to add extra spice to his UFC 129 showdown with Randy Couture, by making his potential reward a space on the UFC Rio card later this year.

UFC Rio is filling up fast with Brazilian stars such as Anderson Silva and Mauricio Shogun Rua, and Machida is as desperate as anyone to fight in front of his home fans.

There are certainly no guarantees that all big-name Brazilians will get their wish, with Vitor Belfort already signed to UFC 133 against Yoshihiro Akiyama, but Machida is hoping he gets the call for the August 27 show.

First he has to get past the greatest veteran of them all, Randy Couture, but if he can emerge unscathed with an impressive knockout on his CV, the former light-heavyweight champion knows he can increase pressure on Dana White to include him on the Rio card.

"My desire [to fight on the card] is so great," Machida told Sherdog.com. "Being able to fight here in a big event is part of my dream.

"I've fought in smaller events, but I'd like to fight in a big event in Brazil. I'm waiting for the opportunity, and I've heard from people who want to see me there.

"I'd like to show my appreciation in the Octagon and show a little of our fighting style to the entire public."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices