Lyoto Machida ‘already breathing fire’ after Luke Rockhold callout, interested in Karate Combat rematch

Lyoto Machida is interested in facing Luke Rockhold under Karate Combat rules, if the pay is right.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion responded to a callout from Rockhold, who knocked out Joe Schilling in the main event of Karate Combat 45 this past Saturday in Dubai.

“‘The Dragon’ is already breathing fire,” Machida said on Instagram. “‘The Dragon’ is already breathing fire since they announced this challenge. Now, get to the right numbers, let’s get a date, and see when we’re having this dog fight.”

Rockhold met Machida under the UFC banner in 2015, submitting the Brazilian to earn a title shot at middleweight king Chris Weidman. Machida hasn’t competed since completing his Bellator deal with a loss to Fabian Edwards in 2022.

Rockhold last fought in the UFC in August 2022, losing a decision to Paulo Costa, and then suffered a TKO defeat to Mike Perry under bare-knuckle boxing rules in 2023. The win over Shilling was his first since a second-round stoppage of David Branch back in 2017.

“There’s only one man I wanna fight in this pit, and that’s Lyoto Machida,” Rockhold said in his post-fight interview in Dubai. “And you’re lucky because they don’t allow elbows, so no more f****** nightmares about the elbows. Bring it. Let’s see what you got, let’s see what your paychecks look like. Bring out that checkbook. Lyoto, I know you need a payday, motherf*****. Come get it.”