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Machida admits Rampage wouldn't be his first choice
ESPN staff
July 23, 2010
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Lyoto Machida has confessed Quinton Rampage Jackson will not be his first choice opponent if the pair meet, as expected, at UFC 123.
Machida will reportedly meet Jackson on November 20th although, with the bout yet to be confirmed, there is plenty of time for a rethink by the UFC. With both men coming off high-profile defeats, a second loss for either man would be damaging for their respective careers.
Former champion Machida is battling to get back to the top of the food chain after suffering the first loss of his career to Mauricio Shogun Rua at UFC 113. The Black House fighter was knocked out in the first round of that title defence, and he admits it is Shogun - not Rampage - who he wants to meet next.
"Of course, I would like to face Shogun again," Machida told Sherdog.com. "Nevertheless, I find it difficult at this time, Shogun is injured and the promotion might not want to make that fight so soon as it can get very competitive."
Taking Shogun out of the equation, with Rashad Evans the next men to face the champion in 2011, Machida admits a clash with fellow former champ Jackson could suit his unorthodox skill set very nicely. Jackson is a come-forward fighter, responsible for the shattering knockouts of Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva, and he would provide a stiff test of Machida's stand-up following the loss to Shogun.
"I think Quinton Jackson would be the ideal guy for me. A guy who was champ and among the best. He is a great opponent, a very tough guy," said Machida.
"I have a great respect for him as does everyone else but I would like to test my technique against him. It sure would be a tough fight, he is a fighter who has been the champion. But I believe a lot in my work."
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