Two of the best light-heavyweights in mixed martial arts are set to meet, as Lyoto Machida will face Phil Davis in the co-main event at UFC 163 in Brazil, the organization announced Monday.
Machida (19-3) has won his last two fights — knocking out TUF 9 winner Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 4 last August and picking up a split decision win over Dan Henderson at UFC 157 in February.
Davis (11-1, 1 NC) is coming off back-to-back wins over Brazilians Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 159 and Wagner Prado at UFC 153.
Both 205-pounders are considered top contenders for Jon Jones’ title and a win could potentially bump either of them into the No. 1 contender position.
The matchup is one that was supposed to happen back at UFC 140 in Toronto in 2011.
The men were in talks to meet at the first MMA event at the Air Canada Centre, but Davis ended up needing additional time to recover from knee surgery. Machida went on to fight Jon Jones in the main event on that card after replacing an injured Rashad Evans. Machida ended up losing to Jones by second-round submission.
#UFC163 co-main event confirmed: @lyotomachidafw vs. @philmrwonderful Davis – will be Davis’ 2nd time fighting in Rio & Machida’s 1st
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2013
Machida has not fought in his native Brazil since a TKO win over Dimitri Wanderley at Jungle Fights 6 in Manaus, Brazil in 2006. The only other time the former UFC light-heavyweight champion fought in Brazil he TKO’d former UFC star Stephan Bonnar in 2003.
The 35-year-old has fought 11 times in the United States, five times in Japan, three times in Canada and once in England during his 10-year MMA career.
UFC 163 takes place Aug. 3 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro and is scheduled to be headlined by a featherweight title matchup between Jose Aldo and former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who will be making his 145-pound debut.
A welterweight tilt between Demian Maia and Josh Koscheck is also scheduled for the event.
In other UFC news:
A women’s bantamweight bout between Liz Carmouche and Jessica Andrade has been added to the upcoming UFC on FOX 8 card that takes place July 27 in Seattle.
Carmouche (8-3) is coming off a loss to Ronda Rousey at UFC 157 in the first ever female bout in UFC history. She was expected to face Miesha Tate on the card, but after Cat Zingano injured her knee and the UFC asked Tate to coach opposite Rousey on The Ultimate Fighter 18, Carmouche was left without an opponent.
Andrade (9-2) is a UFC newcomer riding a two-fight win streak; all nine of her victories have been by stoppage.
