Lyoto Machida is predicting an early night when he faces fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva at UFC 89 in October.

Both are unbeaten in 13 fights, although Silva has the most finishes, with 11 of his wins coming by way of knockout or TKO.

Silva’s impressive record of stoppages, combined with the forward pressure he brings, makes Machida sure the fight won’t go to a decision.

“Thiago likes to fight aggressively, me too,” he told Tatame magazine. “He has good MMA techniques, so I believe this fight might finish before the third round.”

He added that he has been training since his June fight with Tito Ortiz and has recently begun to focus his training specifically on Silva.

“I’m preparing my strategies and working on my physical preparation. I’m very focused,” he said.

Earlier this month, Silva called for the winner of their fight to be given a title shot, saying that both he and Machida got where they are “by facing great fighters".

"Whoever wins our fight has all rights to fight for the title,” he stated.

John Joe O’Regan

John.fightersonly@gmail.com

Lyoto is wearing the Sinister Brand "Anarchy" tee, available here

Story courtesy of our good friends over at Fighters Only Magazine, THE authority on MMA

Check them out at