Lyoto Machida Turns Down Fight; Vitor Belfort Now Faces Jon Jones at UFC 152

Quote :

Possibly the craziest day in UFC history just got crazier.

Just hours after the new main event for UFC 152 was announced between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former champion Lyoto Machida, another change has been made.

According to UFC President Dana White via a report by MMAFighting.com, Lyoto Machida has opted to turn down the fight with Jon Jones.

In his place former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will move back up to 205lbs to face Jones in the headline bout for UFC 152 in Toronto.

Belfort has been in Florida working with the Blackzilians preparing for his upcoming bout against Alan Belcher at UFC 153 in Brazil, but will now step up on a month’s notice to battle for the UFC light heavyweight title instead

source

Belcher/Weidman??

Damn you ..... CHROM!!!!!! You beat me by mere minutes.

I love it!!!

But let's clarify something;
Machida never actually agreed to fight Jones, so he didn't actually back out of the fight. I don't mean that to say anybody improperly reported anything, I'm just clarifying.
I think someone posted here on this site that Machida could not be reached, but Ed Soares was hoping he would do it nonetheless.

Sorry, I would do the research and find the link, but I'm currently drinking away my pain of today's events.....

Wow I did not expect this, it's going to be a tough fight for Vitor, but here's hoping that he can catch Jones on the chin..... really crazy week for MMA!

WTF.... any idea on why Machida turned down a title shot?
IMO, I think things are getting out of control with fighers deciding who they will and won't fight and under what circumstances.

I was actually really looking forward to the Vitor/Belcher fight. I always thought Vitor was a little small for LHW. I will be rooting for Vitor regardless.

Weidman/Belcher.....Yes!!!!! Vitor is our new LHW champ.....Yes!!!!

I wasn't excited for the machida fight anyway, but I'm even less excited for the Vitor fight. Vitor is like Rampage/Jones II

stock wrote:

WTF.... any idea on why Machida turned down a title shot?
IMO, I think things are getting out of control with fighers deciding who they will and won't fight and under what circumstances.

I was actually really looking forward to the Vitor/Belcher fight. I always thought Vitor was a little small for LHW. I will be rooting for Vitor regardless.

I think I heard he was en route somewhere in Brazil, and had something he needed to take care of or something.
I don't know. Still no excuse.