Former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida will square off in a battle for redemption at UFC 123. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Tomorrow night, UFC 123 brings the insatiable fans of the MMA world a second heaping helping of world class bouts just one week after UFC 122 appeared free on Spike TV. In addition to appearances from TUF alums “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (19-5), “Hurricane” Gerald Harris (17-2) and George Sotiropoulos (13-2), the UFC has brought in new talent a la “Big Rig” Maiquel Falcao (7-1), the next big thing in the form of “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (8-0), and a rubber match for the ages from long time welterweight foes “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (15-7-1) and Matt Hughes (43-7). However, all eyes are on the main event. Former light heavyweight champions “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-1) and “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-8) will each seek to rise from the ashes of defeat at the other’s expense. Both of these men are coming into this bout on the heals of sobering losses and both want nothing more than to prove their glory was more than a flash in the pan. Lyoto seeks to regain his belt from current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-4) and establish a championship dynasty of Machida Shotokan Karate. “Rampage” seeks to regain the respect of his fans following what many saw as him abandoning the sport that gave birth to his name in order to pursue a career in film. Both men are hungry for different reasons and haunted by different demons. The only thing that they share is an overwhelming desire to regain what they lost. Continue reading »
