UFC 129 Preview: Lyoto Machida Looks to Balance Pressure and Strategy at UFC 129

At this time last year, Lyoto Machida had successfully defended his light heavyweight title and was destined for a successful and lengthy title reign. 

But one knockout and one controversial decision loss later, and Machida finds himself under pressure potentially losing his third in a row.

But "The Dragon" doesn't see it that way. 

"Every situation is different, and the pressure always exists," Machida said during a UFC 129 conference call earlier today. 

"Whether it's the pressure of defending a title or fighting a legend like Randy Couture or having a third consecutive loss, there is always pressure."

Machida will be standing across the Octagon against Randy Couture at UFC 129, a matchup he says he feels honoured to compete in.

It is a matchup in which he says he will bring the lessons he learned from his two previous losses to Maurico "Shogun" Rua and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 113 and UFC 123, respectively. 

"I came back after my first loss, which was a knockout (to Rua). I knew Quinton (Jackson) was very explosive and very powerful, and I didn't want to take too much risk in the beginning," Machida explained. 

"In the third round, I felt that Quinton might have tired a little bit, so I was not as hesitant to pull the trigger. But I realized that I should of done that earlier. I think the outcome would of been different. Maybe I would of finished the fight." 

Now isn't the time to be second guessing himself, as Machida will look to improve on his mistakes against Couture and he believes it starts with his strategy and approach. 

"The biggest thing I have learned is that you constantly need to be changing and evolving," he said. 

"A lot of people think that if something is working then you should not change anything. But I realize now that when you're winning and you are the champion, that's when you constantly have to be evolving because everybody is gunning for you."

And while UFC 129 will be a historical event itself, being billed with the largest attendance gate in UFC history, Machida says he believes his bout with Couture will play a part in UFC history as well.

"Not only will I be the last guy to fight him, but I will also have a legend like Randy on my resume of competitors I have fought."