Fan-favorite Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida hasn’t seen the inside of the Octagon since he was laid out by Yoel Romero in 2015, but making his return to the UFC last night at UFC Fight Night 119 in front of his hometown crowd in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and it’s very clear Machida should have just stayed retired.
The 39-year-old stepped back into the biggest stage of Mixed Martial Arts on Saturday, October 28 against 33-year-old Derek Brunson. But it was the American who ended up nabbing a stellar victory. Midway through the first round, Brunson dropped Machida with a punch and then swarmed him with ground-and-pound. It was all she wrote.
The fight was stopped officially at 2:30 minutes of the very first round, giving Brunson his biggest win yet.
Is This Finally The End for The Dragon?
Machida’s return was, of course, not ideal by his standards. However, it is unclear whether or not the Brazilian will resume his career. After a tough loss like this one, his third straight loss by finish, it’s hard to envision Machida being competitive moving forward.
After the fight, Brunson downplayed Machida’s obvious decline before talking to UFC light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier about who he wants to fight next.
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“It feels good,” Brunson said afterward. “Man, I definitely got up for this fight. Lyoto’s never going to lose his skills. He might lose a bit of timing, speed, cardio, but he’s never going to lose his skills. To come out here and get a finish over a guy like that, I feel incredible right now.
“You’ve got a pretty good teammate over there,” Brunson said. “Luke Rockhold, what’s up! Where you at? Let’s run this?”
“I’ll sign up,” said Cormier, a close friend of ex-champ Rockhold’s as well as teammate.
In the co-main event, Colby Covington scored a shocking upset victory over former title challenger Demian Maia in a bloody mess of a fight. After beating Maia to a bloody pulp, much to the dismay of the partisan Brazilian crowd, Covington then called out reigning champ Tyron Woodley.
Complete Results for UFC Fight Night 119
Derek Brunson def. Lyoto Machida via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:30
Colby Covington def. Demian Maia via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Pedro Munhoz def. Rob Font via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:03
Francisco Trinaldo def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Thiago “Marreta” Santos def. Jack Hermansson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
John Lineker def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Vicente Luque def. Niko Price via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 4:08
Antonio Carlos Junior def. Jack Marshman via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:30
Jared Gordon def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27, 30-26)
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Max Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Jarred Brooks via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Marcelo Golm def. Christian Colombo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:08
