What Is Lyoto Machida Expecting From Phil Davis In Rematch?

Lyoto Machida believes he knows what strategy Phil Davis will try to implement in their rematch.

Machida and Davis are set to collide a second time in the main event of Bellator 245. The light-heavyweight fracas will be held inside an empty Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. This will be the first bout of 2020 for both men.

During an interview with MMAJunkie.com, Machida said that he expects Davis to go for the takedown throughout their rematch.

“Of course he’s going to try to take me down because he likes to score points. He likes to control the fight, but that’s my job. My job is to not let him fight. That’s it.”

Back on August 3, 2013, Davis defeated Machida via unanimous decision under the UFC banner. Machida says he didn’t seek out the rematch in hopes of getting revenge.

“Bellator offered me. I’ve never had a sense of revenge in my life, so for me everything that’s passed, already passed. There is no need to dwell on that, my mind is free of that, and I got the opportunity because Bellator offered me. It’s a good fight for me.”

Machida is hoping to bounce back after falling short in a rematch against Gegard Mousasi. “The Dragon” lost that bout via split decision. The defeat snapped Machida’s four-fight winning streak.

Davis has won his last two outings. After suffering a split decision loss to Vadim Nemkov, who has since become the Bellator Light-Heavyweight Champion, Davis scored TKO victories over Liam McGeary and Karl Albrektsson.