Four MMA legends are back in the news , and you’ll be able to read what they are up to below.
Bellator Books Lyoto Machida vs. Chael Sonnen
Bellator has been reserve legends fights and this time that the advertising has signed a light heavyweight contest between Lyoto Machida and Chael Sonnen. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani confirmed the booking, though Bellator hasn’t announced a date or location for the competition as of yet. Notably, the contest will take place in 205lbs after Machida last competed at middleweight and Sonnen at heavyweight.
Machida (25-8) defeated Rafael Carvalho via split decision in his Bellator introduction and beat both Eryk Anders and Vitor Belfort earlier that in the Octagon in what was a comeback 2018 for”The Dragon.” Though he’s 40-years-old now, Machida showed last year that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Many believed he had been next in line to get a rematch against Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi, but rather he’ll move up to light heavyweight with this significant fight against Sonnen.
Sonnen (31-16-1) is currently 2-2 in 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 conquered Quinton”Rampage” Jackson from the championship quarterfinals and Wanderlei Silva prior to that. Though he is 41 now and no more an elite fighter, Sonnen continues to property big-name matchups because of his entertaining fights and vibrant personality.
As far as the betting line goes, look for Machida to be a large favorite in this one. His strong takedown defense skills combined with vicious knockout power against a chinny fighter such as Sonnen makes this an extremely favorable matchup on paper.
ONE Championship Inks Vitor Belfort
After last year’s signings of both Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson and Sage Northcutt, it appears the ONE Championship isn’t done signing former UFC fighters only yet. The Singapore-based MMA advertising announced over the weekend it has signed former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort to a brand new, multi-fight contract. Belfort was released from the UFC after announcing his retirement following a KO loss to Machida in May 2018, but ONE gave him an offer that he can not deny, and he will end his short lived retirement when he fights for ONE later this year, probably in Brazil because the promotion looks to expand in South America.
ONE has not announced who Belfort’s first opponent will be, but there are plenty of alternatives for him. Most probably Belfort will be ticketed to a heavyweight fight as he will not have to reduce weight in that case. ONE could readily give Belfort a title fight against their heavyweight winner Brandon Vera, but they may want to provide him an easier fight against a journeyman for example James McSweeney. Roger Gracie is your promotion’s light heavyweight/cruiserweight winner, but he has not fought in a couple of decades. Maybe ONE could book that struggle in Brazil. As well, Belfort stated he’d be interested in boxing and kickboxing fights. I personally believe the 41-year-old Belfort should have stayed retired, but he’ll make some good cash beneath the 1 banner. Cro Cop Retires
Legendary heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop has retired, just weeks after a decision win over Roy Nelson in Bellator. Based on reports, Cro Cop suffered a stroke and has to retire. Cro Cop (38-11-2, 1 NC) will retire at age 44 among the greatest heavyweights to ever compete at the game. He’ll retire on a 10-fight win series, one that saw him struggle and compete throughout the world for the best promotions in MMA. We at MMAOB wish Cro Cop the very best of luck .
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