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Oct 12, 2009 - 8:38:38 AM

By: Bryan Lincks, MMATorch Contributor

Name: Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida

Professional MMA Record: 15–0, Current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Biography: Lyoto Carvalho Machida on May 30, 1978 in the well to do city of Salvador, Brazil. Machida was born in martial arts greatness, his father was a Shotokan master, and Lyoto began his career at three years old. Learning from his father Machida showed samurai like dedication to his training, and he was able to earn his black belt by the age of thirteen. Also, in the midst of his Shotokan training Machida began training in Sumo at the age of twelve, and began Brazilian Jiu Jitsu three years later. It is clear that Machida's dominance in MMA is no fluke.

Machida won several awards throughout the beginning of his career including a pan American karate tournament in 2001, and two Brazilian sumo championships. Outside of martial arts Machida earned a degree in physical education. He is also married and has one child, a son born in September of last year.

Machida trains with perhaps the most respected and complex fight team in the world, Black House. Black House consists of current UFC middleweight demigod Anderson Silva, UFC heavyweight standout Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brazilian knock out specialist Junior dos Santos and former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho. Despite the dominance of many of these fighters Black House has gone through much civil unrest, which erupted with Silva and Nogueira opening their own gym, and rumors of a move from the current location in Rio De Janiero to Los Angeles. While the future of the Black House stable might be uncertain, Machida's future is anything but.

Machida began his early professional after meeting Japanese pro wrestler and promoter Antonio Inoki. Inoki saw promise in Machida and quickly had him begin fighting. Inoki took Machida under his tutelage and Machida was considered by many in Japan as the second coming of Inoki. He took on Stephan Bonnar and Rich Franklin early in his career, albeit outside the Octagon. Machida ended both of these fights by TKO. Machida also was pitted up against current UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn during his K-1 career, a fight that ended in a unanimous decision for "The Dragon".

Machida entered the UFC with an impressive 8 – 0 record. His style garnered not only respect but also fear from his adversaries. Machida is one of the few that fuses karate into his mixed martial arts career. His elusive style and sharpshooter precision in his striking game has lead Machida to be one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. He has been so dominant, in fact, that he has never even lost a round in his eight UFC fights. He quickly climbed up the ranks of the light – heavyweight division with impressive wins over Kazuhiro Nakamura, Sokoudjou, Tito Ortiz, and ended Thiago Silva's undefeated streak at UFC 94.

On May 23, 2009, Machida faced another undefeated fighter, TUF 2 winner "Sugar" Rashard Evans. Machida came out victory and UFC announcer proclaimed we were entering the Machida era. Machida also had the honor of being one of two mixed martial artists nominated for an ESPY as best fighter, training partner and friend Anderson Silva was the other. Machida looks to defend his title against former Pride standout Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104.

[Lyoto Machida art credit Cory Gould (c) MMATorch]

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