Lyoto Machida is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion. Eryk Anders respects that. But what Machida represents on Saturday night is the next rung in the former Alabama linebacker's climb up the ladder in mixed martial arts - and Anders hasn't had a misstep yet.
"It's pretty big," Anders said about the fight on "Canvas Conversations." "I feel like I'm in control of my destiny. I think I go out here, I get a victory over Lyoto, and I've kind of put some legitimacy to my name. I will have beaten a former champ, even though he's certainly not in his prime anymore.