Machida vs. Rampage Inked

MMANewsLeak has confirmed that Lyoto Machida has signed to fight Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.  The bout is scheduled to occur in November of this year.

Both Machida and Jackson are former UFC Light-Heavyweight champions and both are working their way back into contention for a shot at regaining the belt they once held.

Rampage won the belt by defeating Chuck Liddell in UFC 71 back in May 2007.  Rampage defended his belt against Dan Henderson in UFC 75.  Rampage lost the belt to Forrest Griffin in a close decision in UFC 86.

Following his loss to Griffin, Rampage defeated Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine.  Rampage then agreed to be a coach on The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 setting up a match with another former Light-Heavyweight champion in Rashad Evans.  Following his stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter, Rampage postponed the bout with Evans so he could conclude taping of the movie “The A-Team”. 

After the 16 month lay-off, the bout with Evans occurred, with Evans winning a decisive unanimous decision.

Machida won the belt by defeating Rashad Evans in UFC 98.  Machida defended his belt against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in UFC 104 in controversial unanimous decision.  The Machida/Rua rematch occurred in UFC 113 in May 2010 where Machida was knocked out, losing the belt.

Check back to MMANewsLeak for further updates on this match up and other MMA news