Lyoto Machida’s Targeting Fights With Both Ryan Bader & Gegard Mousasi Following Bellator 222
By FCF Staff
After taking out Chael Sonnen at Bellator 222 this weekend, Lyoto Machida is interested in facing champions Ryan Bader and Gegard Mousasi again.
Machida took out Sonnen in the second round on Friday, with a flying knee and follow-up punches. With the win, Machida (26-8) moved his Bellator record to 2-0.
After the victory, “The Dragon” had this to say about facing the middleweight champ Mousasi, as well as the light-heavyweight and heavyweight champ, Bader (quotes via MMA Junkie):
“When I fought both of them it was a couple of years ago so I recognize they improved a lot, they change a little bit of their game,” Machida said. “Every fight has their particular way to go, so I believe it’s hard to say now who will be the tougher one, but we’ll see.”
“Bader did a great job in the heavyweight division. He beat Fedor, one of the biggest names in the sport. I was impressed with that, but I would like to fight both [Bader and Mousasi] in different times and I consider Bader now the name that everybody wants to face him.”
Machida fought Mousasi for the first time in 2014 and earned a decision win at UFC FN 36. At UFC on FOX 4 in 2012, Machida knocked out Bader in round two.