There is no question that Keith Jardine and Forrest Griffin were the talk of the town at UFC 76. Both Jardine and Griffin upset favorites Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua respectively, instantly catapulting themselves up the Light Heavyweight rankings. Despite improving his MMA record to a perfect 11-0 that very same night by defeating Kazuhiro Nakamura, Ryoto “Lyoto” Machida was lost in the shadows. As a result, it is natural that the Brazilian would like to prove himself and stake his place amongst the upper echelons of the Light Heavyweight division. And what better way to make a statement than to take on the LHW division’s current “it-boy”? In an interview with Brazilian publication, Portal Do Vale Tudo, Lyoto Machida reveals that he would very much like to fight Jardine. Machida states,
“I would like to fight against Keith Jardine. If he could knock out Forrest Griffin and defeat Chuck Liddell, then he is the one I want to fight.”
Unfortunately for Ryoto, it may be a while before we see him getting a shot at the title. Machida is in a very difficult position. He is a great, proven fighter; yet he lacks the drawing power that many of the other fighters possess in the Light Heavyweight division. A victory against a high profile fighter such as Jardine or Griffin could very well be the catalyst that Machida needs to boost his popularity in UFC.
