UFC FN 70: Machida seeks redemption against Romero to remain among the middleweight elite

Lyoto (photo) is one of the protagonists of the official UFC FN 70 weigh-in. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

This Saturday (27), in the main attraction of UFC Fight Night 70, on the outskirts of Miami, in the United States, Lyoto Machida fights for his future in MMA. It's not that the former light heavyweight champion needs to win to avoid being fired or forced retirement, but rather to remain firmly among the UFC's elite under-84 kg category.

See too

Lyoto makes weight against Romero and warns: 'I know what to do to impose my technique'

Video: Before UFC FN 70, check out 5 interesting facts about the event in Miami

In his last three fights in the octagon, Machida suffered two defeats, to the current champion, Chris Weidman, and Luke Rockhold. Against the latter, he was dominated in a way never seen before, being submitted after suffering a harsh punishment in the first round.

Precisely for this reason, Lyoto made a point of returning to the octagon just 70 days after losing to Rockhold, as he wants to erase once and for all the bad impression left in the fight in April. However, the Brazilian will not have an easy life, as he will face the sixth place in the weight rankings, Yoel romero.

The Cuban has had an impressive campaign since arriving in the UFC, winning all five of his fights. In the last of them, he controversially beat Tim Kennedy and became the first to knock out the American. Romero was twice ready to face another Brazilian, Ronaldo Jacare, but injuries to both athletes changed plans.

In this way, Machida was tasked with stopping the Cuban athlete. To do well in combat, the Brazilian will have to apply his old weapons that made him famous, especially speed, movement and sharp takedown defense. But it is for this reason that Machida needs to convince at the event, as he left something to be desired in this regard against Rockhold.

Despite setbacks, the event continues to be packed with Brazilians

Shoe Face (photo) makes his debut at middleweight. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

The event in Florida should feature several other Brazilian athletes, as the two finals of TUF Brasil 4, plus the fight between Erick silva and Rick Story were scheduled for the attraction. However, problems with issuing visas in the United States disrupted plans, so the Show suffered several embezzlements at short notice.

Even so, UFC FN 70 remains full of Brazilians. The highlight among the others is the TUF Brazil 3 champion, Antonio Shoe Guy, who will try to recover from the first defeat he suffered in his career (to Patrick Cummins) with the move to the middleweight division. Right in his fight, the Brazilian faces a duel between TUF champions against Eddie Gordon, winner of the 19th edition of the United States.

Yes, Thiago Marreta will try to achieve a moment of stability for the UFC. Since joining the organization, the fighter has been alternating victories and defeats, and in his last fight, he quickly dispatched Andy Enz. He will face Steve Bossé, who will make his debut in the organization after being a replacement for Quinton Rampage Jackson if the North American could not face Fabio Maldonado, in April.

Hacran Dias will try to reinforce his rise at featherweight against Levan Makashvili. The Nova União athlete is coming off a victory over Darren Elkins, after having lost two consecutive fights to Ricardo Lamas and Nik lentz.

Another person looking to leave his mark is Alex Cowboy. The athlete made a good impression in the two fights he had in the UFC, when he overcame veteran KJ Noons and even lost to Gilbert Durinho, after punishing his pupil for more than two rounds Vitor belfort. This time, Cowboy will try to break the undefeated record of Joe Merritt, who is making his UFC debut. Finally, Leandro Buscapé hopes to leave the controversial no-contest from his last fight against Lewis Gonzalez.

Check out the UFC FN 70 technical sheet below: 

DATE AND TIME: 27/06/2015, from 20 pm (Brasília time)
PLACE: Hollywood, Florida, United States
STREAMING: Combat Channel

MAIN CARD

Medium: Lyoto Machida (84,3 kg) x Yoel romero (84,3 kg);
Welterweights: Santiago Ponzinibbio (77,3 kg) x Lorenz Larkin (77,3 kg);
Medium: Antonio Shoe Guy (83,9 kg) x Eddie Gordon (83,6 kg);
Medium: Thiago Marreta (84,1 kg) x Steve Bossé (84,1 kg);
Feathers: Hacran Dias (66,0 kg) x Levan Makashvili (66,2 kg);

PRELIMINARY CARD

Welterweights: Alex Cowboy (77,1 kg) x Joe Merritt (76,6 kg);
Welterweights: Leandro Buscapé (77,1 kg) x Lewis Gonzalez (78,9 kg);
Welterweights: Steve Montgomery (77,1 kg) x Tony Sims (77,1 kg);
Roosters: Danny Martinez (61,4 kg) x Sirwan Kakai (61,4 kg)