Francis Carmont: Lyoto Machida undeserving of title shot with UFC Fight Night 36 win
Francis Carmont doesn’t agree with all the talk about Lyoto Machida potentially receiving a middleweight title shot if he can get past Gegard Mousasi in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 36 headliner.
Carmont, who has gone undefeated in six fights since joining the UFC ranks in 2011, believes it’s unfair for Machida to jump to the front of the line over fighters who have worked so hard to establish a place in the weight class.
“I don’t agree with that,†Carmont today told MMAjunkie Radio of Machida’s potential title shot. “If he wins, he’ll have two fights in the division and fight for a title. A lot of guys who are next for the title have four, five, six wins.â€
With 185-pound champion Chris Weidman set to put his strap on the line against Vitor Belfort at UFC 173 in April, UFC President Dana White has suggested a victory for “The Dragon†would line him up for a fight against the winner.
However, Carmont (22-7 MMA, 6-0 UFC) looks to make his own case for a crack at the belt when he takes on Ronaldo Souza (19-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in UFC Fight Night 36’s co-main event. The fight card takes place at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The main card, including Carmont vs. Souza, airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
A victory over Souza would push Carmont’s overall winning streak to 12. Regardless of how some of those wins were earned, few fighters have a resume even comparable to what the 32-year-old has done thus far in his UFC career.
Unfortunately for Carmont, a fighter’s name value often outweighs his body of work, and even though that brings frustration, Carmont knows he has no choice but to let UFC brass decide what’s best for business.
“I understand Machida is a big name, (a) former UFC champ,†Carmont said. “I don’t make the decision. It’s the job of the UFC and (matchmaker) Joe Silva.â€
