Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox, UFC Fight Night returns to Newark, New Jersey, where Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida will take on Luke Rockhold in a middleweight bout that may result in a crack at Chris Weidman's title down the line. Live stream it free by clicking this link. The prelims will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the early prelims can be found free by clicking this link.
Rockhold lost to Vitor Belfort in 2013 via a nasty knockout, but has rebounded with three straight impressive victories. While Belfort is set to challenge Weidman next month for the middleweight crown, Rockhold can set himself up for a shot at the winner by defeating the No. 2 ranked Machida.
Rockhold doesn't run from the memory of Belfort's spinning kick. "That's what I love about the fight game," Rockhold told ESPN.com.
"If it weren't for the lows, the highs wouldn't be so great. Everything can change in a split second, for better or worse. I wouldn't change a thing. I love my life and the ride that I'm on. That loss bettered me. That kick bettered me."
Rockhold has eight submission victories in his career, and unlike Machida, he hasn't lost to Weidman yet. Weidman has dominated the middleweight division, defeating legend Anderson Silva twice and dispatching the well-respected Machida.
Rockhold understands there's work to be done before he can be considered the class of the division, and responded honestly when asked if beating Michael Bisping should've been enough for him to earn a title shot.
"I'm a realist and I don't believe that beating Bisping should have earned me a title shot," Rockhold said. "I don't want anything given to me. I'm here to prove that I'm the best in the world. I'm not here to skate by. This is fun for me. I can't wait to get in there and dance that dance with Machida and prove I'm better than him."
In Machida, he has a difficult assignment. The Dragon has fallen short against elite opposition on multiple occasions, but even in defeat he can make his opponents look bad. Of his five losses, three were by decision, so Rockhold may have a tough time getting a stoppage or submission. He'll likely have better luck trying to take down and submit Machida rather than finishing him in a hail of strikes.
Prediction: Luke Rockhold def. Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision.
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