Four MMA legends are back in the news , and you can read what they are up to beneath.
Bellator Books Lyoto Machida vs. Chael Sonnen
Bellator continues to reserve legends fights and now the advertising has signed a light heavyweight contest between Lyoto Machida and Chael Sonnen. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani confirmed the reservation, though Bellator hasn’t announced a date or location for the competition as of yet. Notably, the competition will take place at 205lbs after Machida last competed at middleweight and Sonnen at heavyweight.
Machida (25-8) defeated Rafael Carvalho via split decision in his Bellator debut and defeat both Eryk Anders and Vitor Belfort earlier that at the Octagon in what was a comeback 2018 to get”The Dragon.” Though he’s 40-years-old today, Machida revealed last year that he still has a lot of gas left in the tank. Many thought he was next in line for a rematch against Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi, but rather he will move up to light heavyweight for this big struggle against Sonnen.
Sonnen (31-16-1) is currently 2-2 at Bellator and is coming from a TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko at the semifinals of the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix. Prior to that, Sonnen had defeated Quinton”Rampage” Jackson in the tournament quarterfinals and Wanderlei Silva prior to that. Though he’s 41 now and no more an elite fighter, Sonnen continues to land big-name matchups due to his entertaining struggles and vibrant personality.
As far as the betting line goes, look for Machida for a big favorite in this one. His solid takedown defense skills together with vicious knockout power contrary to a chinny fighter like Sonnen makes this a very favorable matchup on paper.
ONE Championship Inks Vitor Belfort
After last year’s signings of both Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson and Sage Northcutt, it seems that ONE Championship isn’t done signing former UFC fighters just yet. The Singapore-based MMA promotion announced over the weekend it has signed former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort into a brand new, multi-fight contract. Belfort was released from the UFC after announcing his retirement after a KO loss to Machida in May 2018, but ONE gave him an offer that he can’t refuse, and he’ll finish his short lived retirement when he fights for ONE after this year, probably in Brazil because the advertising looks to expand in South America.
ONE has not announced who Belfort’s first competition is going to be, but there are loads of alternatives for him. Most probably Belfort will be ticketed to a heavyweight fight as he won’t have to reduce weight in that case. ONE could readily give Belfort a name fight against their heavyweight champion Brandon Vera, but they may want to provide him an easier battle against a journeyman such as James McSweeney. Roger Gracie is your advertising’s light heavyweight/cruiserweight winner, but he has not fought in a couple of decades. Perhaps ONE could book that fight in Brazil. As well, Belfort said he would be interested in boxing and kickboxing fights. Personally, I believe the 41-year-old Belfort should have stayed retired, but at least he’ll make some good cash under the ONE bannerads. Cro Cop Retires
Legendary heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop has retired, just weeks after a decision win over Roy Nelson in Bellator. According to reports, Cro Cop suffered a stroke and has to retire. Cro Cop (38-11-2, 1 NC) will retire at age 44 as one of the best heavyweights to compete at the game. He’ll retire to a 10-fight win series, one which saw him struggle and compete throughout the world to find the best promotions in MMA. We at MMAOB wish Cro Cop the top of luck in retirement.
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