Lyoto Machida is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and the man responsible for bringing karate into modern mixed martial arts.
Machida began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2003 fighting five of his first seven fights in Japan and twice in Brazil. He won all first seven fights and earned a shot in the UFC. He debuted in the UFC in July of 2006 and won his first three Octagon fights by decision. He would then win three of his next four by finish including knocking out Rashad Evans to gain the UFC light heavyweight title.
Machida defend his title once, defeated Mauricio Rua by decision and his next fight lost his title to the same opponent by knockout.
Machida later fought for the title again, but lost by guillotine submission to Jon Jones. Since that loss Machida is 5-3 inside the Octagon.
MORE ABOUT LYOTO MACHIDA
Lyoto was born in Salvador, Brazil, as the third son of the highly ranked head of the Brazilian branch of the Japan Karate Association,[6] Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida. Yoshizo moved to Brazil from Japan when he was 22 years old, where he met and married Lyoto’s mother, Ana Claudia, who is of Portuguese and Italian descent. Growing up in Belém, Lyoto began training in karate at age 3 and earned his black belt at the age of 13. He also began training in sumo at seven and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Boxing at sixteen. He won a number of amateur karate tournaments, including the 2001 Pan American Karate tournament. Later he travelled to Thailand to study Muay Thai, to Japan to study grappling and finally to United States to pursue his UFC career.
He was the runner-up in the 2000 Brazilian Sumo Championships in the 115 kg division. As an adult, he became Brazilian Champion twice, and placed second in the South American Championship. He defeated American fighter and jiu-jitsu black belt Rafael Lovato Jr. at L.A. Sub X. In addition to his sumo and karate achievements, he has a college degree in Physical Education. Lyoto’s older brother Chinzo is also a Shotokan karate champion and MMA fighter.
source: wikipedia.com
