Jones snubs Lyoto's face at UFC 140. Photo: Josh Hedges
The Brazilian Lyoto Machida enters the octagon, this Saturday (10), to try to regain the UFC light heavyweight belt and bring the organization's fourth title to Brazil. But to do so, the Tupiniquim karateka will have to go through the North American Jon Jones, undefeated in MMA and voted the best fighter of 2011. The fight will be the main attraction of UFC 140, an event to be held in Toronto, Canada.
In addition to Lyoto, the fight program features two more Brazilians in action. In the second most important duel of the night, Rodrigo Minotauro makes the long-awaited rematch against Frank mir – author of the first knockout suffered by the Brazilian, in December 2008. Rodrigo's brother, Rogério Minotouro, seeks to redeem two consecutive defeats against Tito Ortiz in a light heavyweight duel.
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Lyoto and the title shot
Lyoto Machida this Saturday will have the mission that many consider impossible: defeat Jon Jones. The North American, just 24 years old, has consolidated his MMA career with 14 victories and has not found any opponents in the UFC's light heavyweight division. But the Brazilian, who in his last fight in Toronto, knocked out the legend Randy Couture, is willing to regain the UFC belt.
“I love fighting in Canada. I faced Randy here and I felt very good”, declared Lyoto, who guarantees that he learned lessons from the defeat to Mauricio Shogun, in May 2010, when he lost the organization's title. “Today I am more mature, calmer, more confident. I learned a lot from the defeat. At first, we didn't understand, but then I saw that it helped me change”, he analyzed.
In turn, Jones, who is the youngest champion in UFC history, does not hide his optimism and says that there is no reason to fear the Brazilian karateka.
“Lyoto is the new challenger and there is nothing to fear if you are prepared. When you do your homework and study, you have nothing to be afraid of,” he said.
Check out the photo gallery from the UFC 140 weigh-in:
[album: http://www.superlutas.com.br/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/Pesagem UFC 140/]
Minotaur and rematch against Mir
In another fight highly anticipated by the national public, Rodrigo Minotauro has the chance to avenge a bitter defeat. In December 2008, at UFC 92, the Brazilian took to the Octagon to defend his interim heavyweight title, but ended up being knocked out by Frank mir in a forceful way. At the time, Rodrigo recovered from a serious health problem, but did not use the illness to justify the setback. “He fought better that day. But a fight is a fight, but I think I can do better this time.”
Minotouro and the need to win
Twin brother of Rodrigo Minotauro, the black belt Rogério Minotouro debuted in the UFC very well. With two victories in his first fights, the Brazilian was consolidating himself as a possible challenger for the belt. But after two consecutive defeats, the fighter's situation is not the best. Minotouro, who faces the veteran Tito Ortiz at UFC 140, he needs to find his path to success again to continue within the organization.
“It’s definitely the most important fight of my career. I've wanted to fight Tito for a long time, he's a great fighter, and I'm not going to let this chance slip away”, he said.
Check out the complete UFC 140 card below, which will be broadcast live on the Combate channel from 21pm:
Main card:
Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida – Fight valid for the light heavyweight belt;
Frank mir vs. Rodrigo Minotauro;
Rogério Minotouro vs. Tito Ortiz;
Brian Ebersole vs. Claude Patrick;
Mark hominick vs. Chan sung jung;
Preliminary card:
Igor Pokrajac vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
Jared Hamman vs. Constantine Philippou
Dennis Hallman vs. John makdessi
Yves Jabouin vs. Walel Watson
Mark Bocek vs. Nik lentz
Rich Attonito vs. Jake Hecht
John Cholish vs. Mitch Clarke
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