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Lyoto Machida Enjoying Relationship With Bellator Leadership, Flattered by the Call-Outs

Lyoto Machida is enjoying life at Bellator MMA and has a good close working relationship with the executive team, something that he wishes he had with his former employer, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Machida signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator on Sept. 12, ending an 11-year run in the UFC. “The Dragon” had a very successful run in the UFC, capturing the light heavyweight title at UFC 98 in 2009 with a highlight-reel knockout of Rashad Evans. While he lost the title in his second fight with Mauricio Rua at UFC 113, he went on to challenge again for the light heavyweight title against Jon Jones at UFC 140, losing via technical submission when Jones choked him out cold with a second-round guillotine.