Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida got a hero’s welcome from more than 100 fans that greeted him at Belém International airport this week. The 31-year-old Machida knocked out Rashad Evans in the second round of their UFC 98 title tilt on May 23 in Las Vegas.

I knew they would have a party for me, but I didn’t expect that much, said the clearly moved Machida.

Following interviews with a couple of local TV stations and dozens of pictures and autographs with his admirers, Machida, his father Yoshizo and brother Shinzo were taken to their APAM academy in a fire truck. They were trailed by a large caravan that winded through the main streets of Belém (Pará state). The streets were lined with fans that screamed Champion and toted signs reading, Lyoto the pride of Pará, Lyoto our champion.

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