Chinzo Machida Discusses Combat Sports Future, Alex Pereira’s UFC Title Reign

Multiple-time Brazilian karate champion Chinzo Machida made a return to the ring earlier this month at Karate Combat 43, where he earned a unanimous decision win over American kickboxing veteran Shannon “The Cannon” Hudon.

“It’s been a long time,” Machida told Sherdog.com. “I’m focused on teaching at my academy [Machida Karate] in Los Angeles. But a fighter is always a fighter. When the invitation came against a veteran in similar shape, I thought it was a good way to return. And It was a hell of an experience, but I don’t intend to keep fighting. My goal now is to spread Machida Karate.”

According to Chinzo, Karate Combat has expressed interest in signing Lyoto Machida. However, he doesn’t believe the organization will make an offer his brother will accept. Chinzo revealed that his father, Yoshizo, motivated his kids to fight at a young age.

“My father is a classical Japanese [man]. Since we were kids, he taught us that fighting with each other was something normal,” Chinzo said. “Since our karate had no weight division, it was normal for me and Lyoto to face each other in competitions. Once we fought in the final of a national competition and cut each other. I hit him first, so I won that final, but we both got cut. I recall my father taking us together to the hospital very proud with the gold and silver medals.”

Early on, Chinzo was the more successful athlete in the Machida family.

“At the beginning I was older and faster, so I started winning more but later on Lyoto studied my game and started to win too,” he said. “Last time I counted, over 15 years of fights, there was one draw, four wins for me and four for Lyoto.”

When it comes to striking specialists in the MMA world, Chizo is most impressed by current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

“He trained a couple of times with Lyoto, so I was able to see how good he is up close. ‘Poatan’ is really intelligent, and even being a kickboxer, he uses a lot of elements of karate,” Chinzo said.

“In karate, we look all the time for open spaces to attack the oponent in the perfect moment, which we call ‘KIO.’ Every movement ‘Poatan’ does is to open that ‘KIO’ moment to surprise. No matter if he’s doing feints, kicking or using fake strikes, he is always one step ahead. That's why I believe ‘Poatan’ will dominate the division for a while.”

Chinzo also addressed the controversial “Machida drink,” the urine therapy his father taught at home.

“Actually, my father is the only one who keeps doing that,” Chinzo said. “He never forced any of my three brothers to keep doing it. He just asked his four kids to try, but never obligated us to keep doing it. Lyoto was the only one who followed him for longer, but not anymore.”