Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida returns after an extended layoff to headline UFC Fight Night Sao Paulo against Derek Brunson in a middleweight division encounter.
The bout was initially reported by Combate.
Machida (22-7-0) is competing for the first time in well over two years, as his last bout was a loss to Yoel Romero at UFC Fight Night 70. Machida is also a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, as he defeated Rashad Evans for the gold at UFC 98 in May 2009. Machida has also challenged for the UFC Middleweight Title, losing to then-champion Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 175.
Brunson (17-5-0) has won just one of his last three under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Daniel Kelly at UFC Fight Night Auckland. Brunson has only seen three of his eleven UFC fights go the distance, those fights came against Anderson Silva, Chris Leben and Lorenz Larkin. Brunson is actually winless thus far in UFC main event appearances, dropping a bout to Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC Fight Night 101.
UFC Fight Night Sao Paulo takes place on Saturday, October 28 from the Ibirapueroa Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil with Lyoto Machida and Derek Brunson headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
