• UFC

Machida 'ready' to make Jon Jones his problem

ESPN staff
May 31, 2011
Lyoto Machida is coming off a spectacular knockout against Randy Couture at UFC 129 © Getty Images
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Lyoto Machida has sent a message to UFC president Dana White, declaring he is fit and ready to fight light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

White is currently assessing the most worthy candidate for the next 205lb title fight, which is expected to take place in September or October. Jones is awaiting an opponent, and there are four potential options.

Rashad Evans and Phil Davis will get the chance to stake their claims when they square off at UFC 133, while Rampage Jackson got the victory he needed against Matt Hamill at the weekend. However, Jackson is awaiting a scan on a fractured hand, and White may not want to wait until August 6 (when Evans and Davis fight) to name Jones' opponent.

Machida did all he could to earn a crack at the title he used to own when he knocked out Randy Couture in spectacular fashion, and the Brazilian insists he would not shy away from a meeting with the seemingly unbeatable Jones.

"There's nothing [on the table] yet, but it's a great chance for me," Machida said to Tatame. "I don't want to create hopes, I don't know what's going to happen, but if they do it I'll get this big opportunity to restart my walk in the UFC.

"I'm ready… I'm already moving to another training [programme], and it'd be ready to fight in 12 weeks.

"We know Jones is a great champion, he showed why (against Shogun Rua), but everybody has strong and weak points. I haven't studied Jones' game yet because he was never 'my problem', but I've already seen him fighting."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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