Light Heavyweights Lyoto Machida, Phil Davis Targeted for UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro

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A key 205-pound showdown between Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis is expected to go down at UFC 163.

Brazilian outlet Portal Vale Tudo reported the matchup on Monday, although the UFC has yet to officially confirm the bout. UFC 163 takes place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 3 and is headlined by a featherweight title tilt between Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis.

Since being submitted by reigning light heavyweight king Jon Jones at UFC 140, Machida has gradually worked his way back into title contention. “The Dragon” scored a second-round knockout of Ryan Bader at UFC on Fox 4 to presumably regain No. 1 contender status, only to lose that designation when he refused to face Jones on short notice last September. In his most recent outing, Machida captured a hard-fought split verdict against Dan Henderson at UFC 157. A former light heavyweight champion, Machida began his career with 16 consecutive wins before relinquishing the belt to Mauricio Rua at UFC 113.

Davis has tasted defeated just once in 12 bouts, a lopsided five-round loss to Rashad Evans in the UFC on Fox 2 main event. An accidental eye poke resulted in his next fight with Wagner Prado being ruled a no contest at UFC on Fox 4. Davis submitted Prado in the second round of their rematch before earning a unanimous decision against Vinny Magalhaes in his last appearance at UFC 159. “Mr. Wonderful” also owns notable triumphs over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Tim Boetsch, Alexander Gustafsson and Brian Stann.