UFC
Dana White wants to see Lyoto Machida fight Vitor Belfort next after KO win over Mark Munoz
Oct 27, 2013 - 9:50:53 PM Dana White wants to see Lyoto Machida fight Vitor Belfort next after KO win over Mark Munoz

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Lyoto Machida's KO win over Mark Munoz at UFC Fight Night 30 puts him immediately into the mix at the top of the middleweight division, and after the event, UFC President Dana White had a big fight in mind for him.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, White said he'd like to see Machida take on Vitor Belfort in his next middleweight outing.

"It was huge. Huge," White said of the win (via MMAJunkie.com). "I think, and I'm just talking here as a fan, not as a promoter, I think a lot of people want to see him and Vitor Belfort. That would be a fun fight. Vitor's got to win down in Brazil. And who knows – [Machida] could fight someone else before that. But I'm just saying, as a fan, and speaking for many fans, that's the fight they want to see. At least that's what everyone was screaming at me on the way out of the arena tonight."

Machida then left it open in his response of who he'd like to fight next, leading to an exchange between he and White.

"I don't know [who I want to fight next]," Machida said. "My boss, he can decide."

"He said he wants to fight Vitor Belfort – that's what he said," White responded.

Finished Machida, "Yeah, that's what I said."

Penick's Analysis: Machida-Belfort makes a lot of sense, though Belfort may not jump at it. He doesn't want to fight at 185 unless it's a title fight, so fighting Machida might not work for him. Of course, depending on what happens in the division, Belfort still might not get the fight he wants.