[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]UFC Fight Night this past Saturday sold out the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida with a crowd of 5,604 in attendance.
Those 5,604 fans saw a great night of fights, but in all likelihood saw the end of Lyoto Machida’s reign as a steadfast main event show piece. Flash back to May 23, 2009 where Machida had just brutally defeated Rashad Evans in a devastating second round knockout to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
He was 15–0 at the time and UFC commentator Mike Goldberg confidentially pronounced it the beginning of the Machida era. Since then, he has gone 7-7 and 1–3 in title matches, with 4 of the 7 losses coming via brutal knockout or submission. The Machida era took its most recent and fatal hit this past Saturday night when Middleweight contender Yoel Romero absolutely crushed Machida with a powerful takedown and several thunderous elbows to the face until Machida was knocked out cold.
It is a sad state of affairs for one of the greatest to ever enter the Octagon. Machida in his prime, could not be touched and through his first fifteen fights was never even scored on. He must go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate his style as it has been figured out and is now very penetrable.
As a huge Machida fan, I hate to say it, but his better days may be behind him. Until next time, fight fans![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]