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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
A middleweight bout between Luke Rockhold and Lyoto Machida is in the works, according to Rockhold's teammate Daniel Cormier on Wednesday's new UFC Tonight program on Fox Sports 1.
Machida had said he was interested in that fight, and Rockhold added afterward that he'd talked to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva about it, and now it could be just a matter of booking a date.
To that end, Cormier suggested the UFC on Fox event in Phoenix in December, or the same card as the Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort Title bout at UFC 181 on Dec. 6.
Machida was the last man to fight Weidman, going to decision in a highly competitive fight in July. Rockhold, meanwhile, has won two straight fights in dominant fashion in 2014.
Penick's Analysis: This fight makes a ton of sense, and if it happens right around the Weidman-Belfort fight - and if Rockhold wins - the next title challenger is likely going to be set. If Machida beats Rockhold, the next title fight could shift to the Jacare-Mousasi winner from September, especially if that winner picks up one more victory.
[Lyoto Machida art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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