Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Light Heavyweights

7. Lyoto Machida

I personally ranked Machida fifth, higher than he appears here, but even as the panel seemed to agree he was historically underrated, only one respondent placed him higher than I did. Many people now forget how amazing Machida looked when he won the UFC title from Rashad Evans at UFC 98 in 2009. He was a perfect 15-0 and had dominated Evans, Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou since his arrival, after having decimated UFC standouts Stephan Bonnar and Rich Franklin prior to joining the promotion. He had an utterly unique style no one had managed to solve and fans and analysts were talking about the “Machida Era” not only for the light heavyweight division, but the sport as a whole.

At the time he ascended the UFC throne, most observers probably would have been surprised to know that in 2022, Machida would come in seventh in a poll of MMA writers on the greatest light heavyweight of all time. Alas, in his very first title defense, his style was indeed figured out by Mauricio Rua. Machida prevailed over “Shogun” by a decision very few believed he deserved and was then shockingly knocked out in the first round of their rematch.

Machida had a very good, but not amazing career after that. He lost a split decision to Quinton Jackson which even surprised Jackson, who—like almost everyone else—thought the Brazilian has won. In less controversial scores, Machida knocked out Randy Couture with a beautiful front kick in Couture’s last fight and scored a knockout over a young Ryan Bader that has aged very well, but was also submitted by Jon Jones and dropped a clear decision to Phil Davis. Machida then dropped to middleweight where he found that the opponents were smaller, but faster and more skilled. Still, he had a great career at light heavyweight, even if it didn't reach the dizzying expectations fans had for him when first ascended to the throne.

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