Back to the MMA Newsfeed

Is the Legendary Lyoto Machida, Once the UFC's Karate Kid, on His Last Legs?

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is back on Saturday, returning to the Octagon after an 18-month absence stemming from a failed drug test.

But for how much longer can he soldier on?

Machida isn't the UFC's karate kid anymore. The guy whose elusive, pinpoint striking will go down as the forefather to a generation of unorthodox sluggers such as Conor McGregor and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson is suddenly 39 years old.

Machida approaches this weekend's middleweight main event against Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night 119 in Sao Paolo, Brazil, mired in his second 1-3 skid since 2010.