Lyoto Machida Says UFC Demanded Rematch for Anderson Silva

UFC 163 fighter and former UFC champion Lyoto Machida knows a little something about title rematches as his consecutive bouts with Mauricio Rua started a streaky run for ‘The Dragon’.

Now Machida weighs in on a situation concerning his friend and former UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva.

In an interview with O Globo, Machida covered several topics including Silva’s current predicament:

“Anderson’s rematch is fair; the guy rule division for long time. He maybe didn’t really want to fight for the belt again but the UFC demanded it. I believe it wasn’t only Anderson’s intentions that prevailed in this situation.”

Machida also touched base on the status of his own title hopes with a match against Phil Davis at UFC 163 looming in his near future:

“I am the number one in the world and the leading contender, and it is in this upcoming fight that I will demonstrate that once again. I already received the promise for the title shot twice and ended up not having the chance to fight for it but I will prove myself for the third time,”

Since Machida’s previous title shot against current champion Jon Jones at UFC 140, Machida has gone unbeaten, vanquishing Ryan Bader by knockout and most recently out-classing Dan Henderson most UFC 157. Now Machida hopes to climb the ranks and get a title shot that he believes is owed to him with his continued success starting with a win over Davis:

“Nothing comes easy for me and I am not counting with anything easy now. I know this is going to be a tough fight but the title shot has to come.”

As for waiting for a title shot, Machida will remain patient and when the time comes, prepare to retake his belt from the victor of an October title fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson:

“It used to bother me a lot, waiting for title contentions that didn’t happen. Today I don’t think this way. What is happening is good for me. It’s a fight in Brazil, a fight that will do so much for my career. I am so happy with the opportunity, very pleased and looking to live each moment.

“I don’t like to keep complaining about what hasn’t happened. If it did not work out that moment, there must have been a reason for that. I did my part, I fought, won, did everything that was demanded. Such is life – not everything will happen the way we want.”

Its one step at a time for Machida though as he faces off against Phil Davis in the co-main event slot of UFC 163 this Saturday in his home country of Brazil. The event will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For the latest MMA news visit BJPENN.com