Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida set to headline UFC 140 in December
Posted on October 6, 2011, 11:58 AM by Joey Santosus
Reigning Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones will put his title on the line for the second time when he meets Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida in the UFC 140 headlining bout.
UFC President Dana White made the announcement today via Twitter, "Alright Toronto!!! Dec 10th UFC 140 tix go on sale next weekend and ur main event is Bones Jones vs Machida!!!"
The news comes following multiple reports earlier this week that the champ would face perennial contender Rashad Evans on the same card. However, it now appears that Evans will be forced to watch from the sidelines once again due to a hand injury suffered during his August TKO victory over Tito Ortiz.
Jones (14-1) will look to make his second successful title defense following a dominate fourth-round submission win over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson last month. The victory extended his current winning-streak to five, which includes a convincing TKO stoppage against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua to capture the 205-pound strap earlier this year. The 24-year-old's sole career defeat came via disqualification due to illegal elbow strikes in his 2009 match-up with Matt Hamill.
Machida (17-2), meanwhile, will return to action for the first time since his dramatic second-round knockout victory over Randy Couture. The impressive outing put the former champ back in the win column after he was dethroned by Rua in May and outpointed by "Rampage" in his subsequent outing. Prior to the losses, "The Dragon" was undefeated in 16 fights, including eight octagon appearances.
UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida is set to take place December 10th from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Light Heavyweight title clash between Jones and Machida will headline the stacked card, while a Heavyweight rematch pitting Frank Mir against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will serve as co-main event.
Photo: Heavy.com
Comments
....rashad? surely his performances have earned him a little more time to recover frrom an injury?
It may not be fair for Rashad but you can't make Jones not fight because of somebody elses injury
i would have waited for jones vs evans and gave machida davis. Although i think machida is the only guy who can beat jones he wont be at his best with a 8 month lay off and hes only riding a 1 fight win streak. davis is healthy machida is healthy why not make that match up lets see Hendo vs shogun!
Shogun showed how to defeat Machida. Jones is smart and will use his reach and push forward to conquer this man. Machida might be hungry enough to push forward and make it easier for Jones Bones Jonny!
Seriously!!!!
That has got to be the dumbest thing i have heard today!!!!! There is no way Machida could get close enogh to do anything. After that ass woopin Shogun gave to him and then Jones gave to Shogun, i feel Machida wouldnt even have a chance if Steven Seagal was in the ring with him.
And I'm sure the UFC is more interested in Jones vs. Evans from a business stand-point... My guess would be that Jones insisted on fighting again and said he didn't want to wait. I mean, the promotion can still make the fight even if "Bones" loses, but obviously a title match is more marketable. Definitely odd imo.
i guess rashads hand will take longer than expected. jones seems eager to fight again, in danas interview on mmafighting.com he said jones flew to vegas to discuss his next steps. the lyoto match up is interesting, all be it wont please alot of fans but lyoto is coming off a solid performance against couture (especially after 2 losses) and he has a style that may cause problems for jones. im happy to watch either of these men fight at anytime, just kinda sucks we'll need to wait even longer til rashad vs jones. theres enough awesome fights forcast in the meantime to keep us going.
hes had to wait so long though, does anybody know roughly what event they could fight at if, theoretically, jones would have waited? im just interested to see if theres much of a gap
Apparently you have never watched k1 or know anything about shotokan karate. Your statement makes nonsense. Oh wait what is Gsp trained in first and foremost (Karate). Karate does just fine against muay Thai (which is also a great art).
The only reason most Karateka aren't good fighters (true) is because most Karateka do not train realistically. Those that do (see movescamp above) are just as good as any Muay Thai specialist if not better.
I am starting to feel we will never see Jones vs. Rashad, feel s bad for Rashad. I'm guessing Phil Davis will have a fight when Rashad is healed up
this fight will be very interresting.... if jones dominates machida I dont see anybody in LHW getting a W over him in a few years...
I dont know about dominating machida. This can turn out to be a very boring match considering they're both of the light heavyweights that recieve the least amount of hits, and with great takedown defense.
very true but all of the opponents jones has finished were either aggressive who moved toward him like shogun and rampage or did not have any wrestling defense. Machida has excellent takedown defense and is primarily a counter hitter.
oh no! Machida has the ultimate weapon, Seagal is in HIS corner....
yup keyboard contender
Seagal FTW!!!!!
Seagal, Van Damme and Sylvester Stallone should be his 3 cornermen
And probably Chuck Norris...
Seagals revenge!
Damn I feel bad for Rashad. Also... Jones is keepin up one hell of a schedule for a title-holder! I dig it.
So this means that after Jones takes out Machida Rashad is going to come walking into the cage and they are going to do that stupid/uncomfortable stare down again?
it was dumb the first two times I saw it... I doubt it will be any better the third time.
And Joe Rogan will still have that stupid, OMG! surprised look on his face.
Its gonna be the 3rd time Rashads ruined Jones' Special night haha
Dude you have no insight into body proportion, the last thing that picture scream is too skinny. Look at how broad his shoulders and chest are, he clearly is quite well stacked. Ask Ryan Bader or Matt hamill how well their stockiness did to help them against him.
@Jamesmma @TjLaser
just blow each other and get it over with already....I clicked funny for both of you ;)
This is gonna be Bones' toughest test yet. I did say that if any had a chance against him right now at 205, it's Lyoto Machida. Looks like Bones was wise in not caving to Steven Seagal.
This one is truly a toss up. I give Jon Jones an very slight edge because of his age, but that's about it.
This is the main fight I want to see with Bones besides AS.
This figt will be awesome. It may be boring for the first couple rounds for the casual fan but it will be full of technique and footwork for the afficianatos. Unlike lay and prey wrestlers 5 rounds are bound to have action. Machida has the best chance in the division against jones for many reasons. Jones will try to follow shoguns plan but I don't think it will work. Machida has a bad rap for being boring but he has a lot of ko's and highlight real finishes. He doesn't brawl he uses technique and that goes well against jones (who also has great technique).
AWESOME
This is great ! Lyoto Machida is the best guy for Jones!
he has outstanding tdd , i don't remember anyone taking Machida down , not even Rashad , and he has good stand up mix with awesome footwork , i mean just remember the KO over Rasahd or the the 3rd round with Rampage and what was he able to do when he attack him.
Only this time he will have 5 rounds to pull the trigger.
very interesting fight in terms of styles!!
I think Rashad lost a little bit of credibility with Dana when he sat out for 16 months. Were not being given details about why Rashad is not being given a little more time to recover but it just seems like Dana has no issue with moving on. It will be interesting to see what Rashad does if the UFC offers him a fight after December.
I think Jones has all the tools to beat Machida but this will be a lot tougher than Rampage. I'm excited for this fight. Jones in a split decision.
cmon machida!
You can't really blame Jones for wanting to stay active by fighting regularly, if he wants to become the best of the best like he says he probably wants to get as many defences in as he can. He probably wants to fight as much as possible because you never know when injury will strike either. I'll bet Rashad is a bit pissed because this is the second opportunity he's missed due to injury, still, i'm sure he and Jones will get it on at some point down the road, there's too much expectation not to put that fight on now, i just hope Bones is still the belt holder when the fight comes around,.......
......still, Bones vs Machida will make for an interesting match up. I don't think Bones will have too much trouble with Machida but at this level of the game nothing is certain. Machida is no joke and is a solid dangerous opponent, the trouble is Bones has a habit of making dangerous opponents look like amateurs, still interesting though.....
Woot im happy! F yeah,we get to see the Dragon kick some ass (he really needs to)
For some reason, back when Machida was champ after the 1st shogun fight,i feel like he was the heel against shogun and everyone was rootin for shogun and now i feel its the other way around,everyone is rootin for Machida against jones,well i am and im really hoping to see Machida rise up again!
you become a heel as soon as the judges **** up and give u a belt u dont deserve, ofcourse everyone was rooting for shogun in the 2nd
hopefully Lyoto Machida beats jones and then faces rashad, rashad will then win his belt back and avenge his loss!
who else wants machida to win over Jones?
ah poor Rashad.... I was looking forward to that fight way more then this one.
Thats what Rashad gets for opening up his stupid mouth last time they were suppose fight. Rashad claimed that Jones was ducking him, when Jones claimed to have an injury or whatever. Now who ducking? Even if its legit, as sportsman, you need to quick talking crap. I feel sorry for Loyota, cause he doesnt have the skills Jones has....which most likely means he is going to get work over real bad....punching bag style
now this was a surprise.. i hope machida beats jones.. also this fight is a bigger fight coz the dragon kod evans... And gm1 machida has the weapons to beat jones.. best takedown defence in the divsion.. come on the DRAGON!!!!!
Fuccccccckkkkkkkk yessssssssss!!!!!!!! WAAAAARRRRRRR DRAAAAAGOOONNN!!!!!
I wonder how effective Machidas footwork and timing will be against Jones reach.
OKAY.
Like anyone gives a Shit.
i like this match up cos then when bones beats machida then there will be time for bones n rashad to be coaches on the fox tuf series n then they go to war after that.. well that was my dream last night lol
nah, i think i won´t.
guest66 very true but all of the opponents jones has finished were either aggressive who moved toward him like shogun and rampage or did not have any wrestling defense. Machida has excellent takedown defense and is primarily a counter hitter.
are you forgetting matt hamill and matyushenko.. matt hamill is 1 of the top wrestlers in mma jones took him down and controlled him like a puppet untill the elbow
Cool...I wanna see Bones vs Rashad soon also...But with no excuses coming to the fight...100% percent healthy on both parts... Now the question is.. Will it be for the title.. The Dragon is in the title picture now. Interesting.
How can Machida make this fight interesting?
I see Machida throwing a jab or a front kick then running, then repeat during the entire fight. Machida will try to ride out a decision...
I hope Jones will have a method to grab that chicken.
By testing Jones' jaw. And MMA internet nerds don't get to call real fighters chickens. Man law, look it up...
Jones by Crane kick, Ala' Karate Kid #1. No can defend......
I was waiting for this fight, way more exiting then Jones vs Rashad. No offense to Rashad. Lyoto is way more skilled and is going to give Jones a run for his money. If Jones dominates Machida, then no doubt he is the best in the division.
Remember Rashaad bitching and saying Jones was dodging him by FAKING an injury. THATS FUNNY!! Now look at Rashaad dodging Jones. But for real i dont blame him. Rampage is wishing he would have said he had an injury too.