I was really looking forward to Machida's return. His awkward style and his high-level counter striking kept me on the edge of my seat during his fights. Granted his later performances before the suspension weren't great, he's still a legendary fighter.
Of course fighting Derek Brunson is no walk in the park. I didn't expect Machida to walk through him but I did expect Machida to win. I didn't feel like Machida would walk into any of Brunson's big shots, I mean he's known for his great footwork and head movement. I wonder if he's been cracked for good. It sucks when a fighter is never the same after a loss and unfortunately it feels like Machida's chin isn't what it used to be maybe, or maybe Derek just hits harder than I thought.
Either way I don't want to see Machida get knocked out again. I hope we'll see his illusive style in his next fight. I genuinely believe he can become champion if he fights the way he did at his prime in LHW.
