Lyoto Machida has shut down the rumors of being put in a coma after his June 2015 knockout loss to Yoel Romero at UFC Battle Night time 70.
“Soldier of God” lately claimed on his Overdogs Espanol podcast that the previous UFC mild heavyweight champion “was in a coma” after “he suffered brutal harm” throughout their middleweight principal occasion in Hollywood, Fla. Nevertheless, Machida informed MMA Combating Romero’s recollection is inaccurate.
Machida did endure harm in that struggle, after being completed with nasty elbows within the third spherical, however stated he was by no means in crucial situation.
“I heard about [Romero’s comments] however I didn’t watch [the video], however that’s not true in any respect,” Machida stated. “What occurred was, I broke my nostril in that struggle and had surgical procedure. However there was no coma or something like that. That by no means occurred.”
Machida dropped to 1-3 in his previous 4 with that defeat to Romero, and the Cuban expertise stated “after he fought me, he wasn’t the identical.” Machida had surgical procedure the day after the struggle, and misplaced his following bout to Derek Brunson earlier than rebounding with wins in a row, together with highlight-reel knockouts over Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen.
“It is senseless {that a} fighter would get in a coma after which struggle like 20 occasions after that,” Machida laughed. “I had nostril surgical procedure as a result of I broke my nostril. I had keep in Miami for per week — as a result of I lived in Los Angeles and couldn’t fly with the nasal packing. That’s principally what occurred. It’s regular stuff for us that struggle, proper?”
Machida, 26-12 as an expert MMA fighter, hasn’t fought since shedding to Fabian Edwards in Could 2022. He’s at present slated to function a staff supervisor on the 2025 season of the World Battle League, main the Sao Paulo staff alongside coach Andre Pederneiras.