source: www.mmajunkie.com
As expected former UFC light-heavyweight champions Lyoto Machida (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC) have agreed to meet for an upcoming fight.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported the matchup and November event date, which is expected to be UFC 123, earlier this month.
Today, Machida confirmed the fight via Twitter, though he didn't specify the fight date.
UFC 123 takes place Nov. 20, and the Machida vs. Jackson fight is expected to headline the show. Sources told MMAjunkie.com a few potential host cities are under consideration for the event.
The fight obviously will have major implications on the UFC light-heavyweight title picture.
Jackson, a former PRIDE champ who won the UFC belt with a knockout of Chuck Liddell in 2007, looks to bounce back from a May loss to nemesis and "The Ultimate Fighter 11" rival coach Rashad Evans at UFC 114. Prior to the loss, which ended a 14-month layoff, Jackson had earned back-to-back victories over Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. The pair of victories followed the loss of his belt to Forrest Griffin.
Machida, meanwhile, also looks to bounce back from a loss – the first defeat of his career. "The Dragon" was knocked out in the first round of his May rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and relinquished his belt in the process. Prior to the defeat, Machida had earned eight-straight UFC wins, including a UFC 98 knockout of Evans that earned him the title.
As expected former UFC light-heavyweight champions Lyoto Machida (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC) have agreed to meet for an upcoming fight.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported the matchup and November event date, which is expected to be UFC 123, earlier this month.
Today, Machida confirmed the fight via Twitter, though he didn't specify the fight date.
UFC 123 takes place Nov. 20, and the Machida vs. Jackson fight is expected to headline the show. Sources told MMAjunkie.com a few potential host cities are under consideration for the event.
The fight obviously will have major implications on the UFC light-heavyweight title picture.
Jackson, a former PRIDE champ who won the UFC belt with a knockout of Chuck Liddell in 2007, looks to bounce back from a May loss to nemesis and "The Ultimate Fighter 11" rival coach Rashad Evans at UFC 114. Prior to the loss, which ended a 14-month layoff, Jackson had earned back-to-back victories over Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. The pair of victories followed the loss of his belt to Forrest Griffin.
Machida, meanwhile, also looks to bounce back from a loss – the first defeat of his career. "The Dragon" was knocked out in the first round of his May rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and relinquished his belt in the process. Prior to the defeat, Machida had earned eight-straight UFC wins, including a UFC 98 knockout of Evans that earned him the title.