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Lyoto Carvalho Machida (born May 30, 1978) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter currently fighting as a light heavyweight on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The son of a Japanese-Brazilian Shotokan karate master, Yoshizo Machida, Lyoto holds an undefeated record that includes victories over former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, and current UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn. He's also never lost a single round in the UFC, let alone a match. He is currently ranked as the #2 and #4 light heavyweight fighter in the world by MMAWeekly and Sherdog respectively. Machida is noted for his karate-influenced striking style that implements an unorthodox stance and an elusive strategy.
Machida fights out of Black House with such fighters as UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, and former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Biography
Lyoto Machida was born in the city of Salvador as the third son of the highly ranked head of the Brazilian branch of the Japan Karate Association. Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida. Growing up in Belém, Machida began training in karate at the age of three and earned his black belt at the age of 13. He began training in sumo at 12 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 15. He won a number of amateur karate tournaments, including the 2001 Pan American Karate tournament. He was also the runner-up in the 2000 Brazilian Sumo Championships in the 115 kg division. As an adult, he became Brazilian Champion twice, and placed 2nd in the South American Championship. He defeated American black belt Jiu-Jitsu fighter Rafael Lovato Jr. at L.A. Sub X. In addition to his sumo and karate achievements, he has a college degree in Physical Education. Lyoto's brother, Shinzo, is a Shotokan vice-champion (Australia 2006), losing only to number-one ranked Shotokan master Koji Ogata. Lyoto and Shinzo fought in a Karate Final 10 years ago in which Lyoto gave Chinzo a cheek scar that still exists today. His other brother, Kenzo Machida, is a TV journalist for one of Brazil's biggest TV stations.
Fighting career
Early professional career
In college, Machida met Japanese pro wrestler and promoter Antonio Inoki. Seeing potential in Machida, Inoki took him as a protégé and billed him as an upcoming star.[9] Machida continued training, taking up Muay Thai in Thailand and wrestling at the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in Tokyo. Japanese media soon dubbed him "The Second Inoki". Machida made his MMA debut in Inoki's New Japan Pro Wrestling: Ultimate Crush on May 2, 2003, where he defeated journeyman Pancrase fighter Kengo Watanabe by decision. He looked more comfortable in his follow-up fight against future The Ultimate Fighter 1 runner-up Stephan Bonnar, whom he defeated by cut stoppage. In his third fight, he faced 12-0 UFC veteran Rich Franklin as an underdog at Inoki Bom-ba-ye 2003. Machida dominated the fight and landed a powerful combination that dropped Franklin to the mat, where Machida finished the fight with strikes early in the second round.
At 3-0, he began to fight in K-1's early MMA efforts, with wins against two high-ranked K-1 kickboxers, Michael McDonald and Sam Greco. In his last match with the K-1 organization, K-1 Hero's 1, he faced the former UFC welterweight champion B.J. Penn, who was considered to be one of the top pound-for-pound fighters at the time, but who came to the fight at a significant weight disadvantage. Machida landed the cleaner shots en route to a decision, but did not gain much recognition for the victory due to his inability to finish the smaller fighter.
After permanently splitting with Inoki's failing promotion in early 2006, Machida signed with a newly revitalized World Fighting Alliance and began to compete in the United States. In his American debut, Machida defeated Vernon White via unanimous decision at the WFA: King of the Streets event in Inglewood, California. After the WFA went out of business for the second time, the UFC acquired Machida's contract.
Personal life
Machida is married to Fabyola. The couple have a son named Taiyo, who was born in September 2008. In an interview with Tatame Magazine on March 23, 2009, Lyoto Machida revealed that he drinks his urine every morning as "natural medicine", a tradition he inherited from his father
Statistics
Nickname The Dragon
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg)
Reach 74.0 in (188 cm)[1]
Nationality Brazilian
Born May 30, 1978 (1978-05-30) (age 30)
Fighting out of Belém, Brazil
Town of birth Salvador, Brazil
Team/Association Black House
Primary fighting style Shotokan Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sumo
Mixed martial arts record
Wins 14
By knockout 4
By submission 2
By decision 8
Losses 0
Draws 0
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