Former UFC champion Lyoto Machida is ready to start a new chapter in his life and career. With a record of 24-8, Machida is gearing up for his Bellator debut against Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 213 in Honolulu this Saturday. This will be Machida’s first non-UFC fight since 2006, a move that has him feeling excited about the new opportunity.
In an interview with ESPN, Machida shared that during his time with the UFC, he always thought his career would conclude there. However, the chance to compete in Bellator has shifted his perspective. Machida sees this as a chance to earn another championship belt, which would be a great achievement for him.
The past few years have been challenging for the soon-to-be 41-year-old Machida. From 2014 to 2017, he faced a 1-4 losing streak and was sidelined for 18 months due to inadvertently taking a banned substance. Machida admitted that without that break, his losses might have led him to retire.
Now, Machida is venturing into a new promotion. Despite wishing he had accomplished more during his time in the UFC, where he won the title in 2009, Machida is ready to embrace this new chapter. He mentions that his competitive drive always pushes him to strive for more and he has no regrets about his career.
