"Enter The Dragon, New UFC Light Heavyweight Champion"

Some would call it destiny, but for Lyoto Machida it was just what he does best, and that is win. When he was a child he dreamt of becoming a champion, and on May 23, he did just that. The man they call "The Dragon", knocked now former Light Heavyweight champion Rashad Evans out at 3:57 of the second round.

The first round of this fight seen both men trying to put together some rhythm by feeling each other out. They circled each-other around the octagon for most of the first, until Machida came in with a kick to Evans head that staggered the champion if not for a moment. Rashad tried to swing back but missed his target. In the last minute of the first round Machida put together some kicks to the body of Evans followed by a straight left punch which knocked Evans to the canvas. Machidas killer instinct saw him rush in for the kill, but the champion quickly sprang to his feet and thus ended the first round of action.

Machida came out in the second with his feet again finding their mark, he then landed a hard punch, Rashad would have none of it as he responded with a furious combination of his own which put the challenger on the defensive for the first time in the fight. Evans then threw some kicks into the mix, these were blocked as well. With 1:30 left in the second round, Machida again landed a straight left which knocked the champion down. Evans then got back up quickly and tried firing back, but his punches were not hitting a target, something was amiss. Machida smelt blood, as Evans looked disoriented, and Machida moved in with a deadly right punch followed by a left hook that sent Evans crashing to the mat and proved to be the final blow.

With what he calls Machida karate as his base, and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jit Su as well and a background in Sumo, Lyoto Machida has strung together seven straight wins in the UFC, and is now the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. The scary part is that Machida looks better with each fight. Up next for Machida is former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who I believe has heavier hands and deadlier combinations then Rashad Evans, if anyone in the Light Heavyweight division were to offer a challenge to Lyoto Machida it would be him. However, a man like Machida who is a true warrior has already looked ahead to the future by offering up a chance to perhaps pursue a challenge against the likes of Brock Lesnar.

Lyoto Machida has to defend the belt first, we already know against who, but where and when has not yet been revealed. What everyone is calling the "Machida Era", is here for now, I personally believe this man will be champion for years to come. Doubters and band wagon jumpers alike have been told that this day would come, we should all believe now that it is here to stay. A hand has been raised in victory, a belt has been taken, and a fighter has been born.