Lyoto Machida Breaks His Silence On Departure From UFC

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Still, the former title holder recently decided to trade over to competing promotion Bellator MMA.

Machida’s fight contract with the UFC reached its end when “The Dragon” knocked out Vitor Belfort at UFC 224. Since then, Machida has elected to sign a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA.

Taking to Instagram, Machida has since offered a few words on the matter.

“Hello everyone, I’m here to announce a great change in my career. My contract with UFC has finished, and I’m going to a new house: Bellator, which is a great MMA event that has been growing a lot here in the United States. I’m very grateful for everything that happened with me in the UFC.

“I’m very happy with everything I lived. I believe that everything in our lives is made of periods. All that comes is great and all that goes is also great. We have to be open to new changes, new challenges. This is how I think. My best regards to all of you, and I wish you keep on supporting me, because everytime I fight and everytime I practice, I do my best for all of you.”

Olá pessoal, estou aqui para anunciar uma grande mudança na minha carreira profissional. Meu contrato com UFC encerrou e eu estou indo para uma nova casa: para o Bellator, que é um grande evento do MMA e que tem crescido muito aqui nos Estados Unidos. Sou muito grato por tudo o que aconteceu comigo no UFC, sou muito feliz por tudo que eu vivi ali. Eu acredito que tudo na nossa vida são ciclos. Tudo que vem é muito legal e tudo o que vai também é legal. Temos que estar abertos a novas mudanças, novos desafios. E essa é minha mentalidade! Um grande abraço a todos vocês, quero que vocês continuem me acompanhando, porque sempre que eu participo das lutas, sempre que eu estou em treinamento eu estou dando sempre o meu melhor e é para vocês Hello everyone, I'm here to announce a great change in my career. My contract with UFC has finished, and I'm going to a new house: Bellator, which is a great MMA event that has been growing a lot here in the United States. I'm very grateful for everything that happened with me in the UFC. I'm very happy with everything I lived. I believe that everything in our lives is made of periods. All that comes is great and all that goes is also great. We have to be open to new changes, new challenges. This is how I think. My best regards to all of you, and I wish you keep on supporting me, because everytime I fight and everytime I practice, I do my best for all of you.

A post shared by Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) on

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