UFC News: Lyoto Machida Is Open to a Rematch with Tito Ortiz

People have been wondering about Lyoto Machida's next opponent since the former light heavyweight champion knocked out UFC legend Randy Couture with a flying front-kick at UFC 129.

According to Fightersonlymagazine.co.uk, the UFC was planning on lining up a match between Lyoto and Ryan Bader, if Ryan was successful in beating Tito Ortiz at UFC 132.

However, things didn't go quite as planned, with Ortiz shockingly the world and defeating Bader with a first round guillotine choke.

“They wanted to put me with Ryan Bader but he lost to Tito Ortiz last weekend so, so far I have no opponent,” Lyoto said.

“I could have faced Rampage [again] or even Jon Jones but they will face each other next. The other opponents that I could have fought already have fights scheduled."

Given this unexpected turn of events, a rematch between Machida and Tito seems like a possibility and Lyoto seems open to the idea.

“If it is a really interesting thing, it can happen. Not ‘financially interesting’ but interesting in the sense of, if it would move me forward, closer to the title. Then I would surely take that fight.”

Machida also made a point of stating that he would be willing to step in for Quinton Jackson or Jon Jones, in the event that one of them was unable to compete.

“All I ask in advance to be prepared… if they called me now, there are still more than eight weeks before the fight, I think it would give time. But less time than that, then it is more complicated, there's not so much chance [I would take it].”

Jones and Jackson are set to meet later this year at UFC 135 with the UFC light heavyweight championship on the line. Jones won the belt earlier this year when he defeated Mauricio Rua at UFC 128.