UFC Fight Night in Manchester: Lyoto Machida shows class is permanent with knockout of Mark Munoz

The illusive Lyoto Machida, lithe and loose, showed all his middleweight potential with a devastating stoppage of Mark Munoz. Friendship – they are training partners – had been put aside for this five-round fight. But the Brazilian’s embrace of Munoz with a left foot to the head was as sweet as any blow in combat history.

Machida landed body kicks building up to a sensational head kick in a first round of cagey movement. It was to Machida’s music. This was vintage Machida as he found the head kick seemingly out of nowhere, which stunned Munoz. Seemingly… because the enigmatic, elusive fighter, with his karate background, is a past master at setting up for the sudden, and encounter-ending, attack.

“It’s very hard for me as Mark is a good friend. Mark, thank you for fighting me. Sorry about that, my friend,” he said afterwards. Machida controlled the movement in those three minutes, setting himself to pounce.

“It’s natural, instinctive for me to set those attacks up,” Machida told Telegraph Sport. “This is the best I have felt for years. It is great to be able to get back to my karate base, and be effective with it again. I would fight for the belt next if the UFC and Dana White want me to. I would also fight Michal Bisping in London next year, too. Why not ? I love the fans in England. They are very friendly.”

via UFC Fight Night in Manchester: Lyoto Machida shows class is permanent with knockout of Mark Munoz – Telegraph.