After KO loss, ex-UFC-champ Lyoto Machida says 'giving up will never be an option'

Lyoto Machida’s long-awaited octagon return may not have ended as planned, but it would appear “The Dragon” isn’t done just yet.

Machida (22-8 MMA, 14-8 UFC) suffered the quickest loss of his career this past Saturday, at UFC Fight Night 119, at the hands of fellow headliner Derek Brunson (18-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC). The middleweight bout marked Machida’s return to competition after a layoff of 28 months – 18 due to a suspension issued by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Four days after the event, the 39-year-old ex-champ took to social media to thanks his fans, saying that “yes, ‘The Dragon is back and giving up will never be an option.”

“My biggest loss would be giving up the dream that once was my blessing,” Machida said. “An even bigger loss would be inspiring you not to go ahead when all you need to do is to keep your head up and go on.”

Here’s the full message (via Instagram):

Quero agradecer todo apoio e suporte que tenho recebido dos meus fãs! Estou em casa, com minha família, recuperando do resultado que não veio, mas com a sensação de dever cumprido, pois qualquer um poderia ter desistido da ideia de ficar quase 2 anos afastado do esporte e em seguida voltar para o campo de batalha. A maior derrota seria desistir de um sonho que já me consagrou. Uma derrota maior seria te inspirar a não seguir adiante quando tudo o que você precisa fazer é levantar a cabeça e partir para cima. Então, agradeço a todas as mensagens de carinho e de força. Dizer que sim, o Dragão voltou e que desistir nunca será uma opção! No dia em que eu decidi que não iria parar de lutar eu quis mostrar para você que, independente das dificuldades da vida, ou você é um lutador, ou um desistente. Perder ou ganhar não é o que define um homem em sua essência, mas sim a sua jornada por aquilo que acredita e se dedica. Mais uma vez, obrigado por estar do meu lado. Conto sempre com sua torcida e saiba que estou sempre torcendo por você também. // I would like to thank all the support I've received from my fans! I'm home, with my family, recovering from a result that didn't come, but with a sense of achievement, since anyone could have given up the idea of returning to the battlefield after almost 2 years away from the sports. My biggest loss would be giving up the dream that once was my blessing. An even bigger loss would be inspiring you not to go ahead when all you need to do is to keep your head up and go on. Thus, I thank you all for the messages full of affection and strength. Saying that the Dragon is back and then giving up will never be an option! The day I decided I wouldn't stop fighting, I wanted to show you that, regardless of all the hardship of life, you are either a figher or a quitter. What defines a man in his essence is not losing or winning, but his journey for what he believes. Once more, thank you for being by my side. I will always count on your support, and know that I will be supporting you back.

A post shared by Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) on Nov 1, 2017 at 5:16pm PDT

“I would like to thank all the support I’ve received from my fans! I’m home, with my family, recovering from a result that didn’t come, but with a sense of achievement, since anyone could have given up the idea of returning to the battlefield after almost 2 years away from the sports.

“My biggest loss would be giving up the dream that once was my blessing. An even bigger loss would be inspiring you not to go ahead when all you need to do is to keep your head up and go on.

“Thus, I thank you all for the messages full of affection and strength. Saying that the Dragon is back and then giving up will never be an option!

“The day I decided I wouldn’t stop fighting, I wanted to show you that, regardless of all the hardship of life, you are either a figher or a quitter. What defines a man in his essence is not losing or winning, but his journey for what he believes. Once more, thank you for being by my side. I will always count on your support, and know that I will be supporting you back.”

Machida, who was issued a 60-day mandatory medical suspension following the loss, is now on a three-fight skid. Before Saturday, he’d suffered a knockout loss to Yoel Romero and a submission setback to former middleweight titleholder Luke Rockhold. Machida’s last win was in 2014 – a first-round knockout of C.B. Dollaway.

Brunson, who’s the No. 10 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings, is now two fights removed from a controversial loss to former champion Anderson Silva. Prior to that, he was on a five-fight winning streak. Brunson’s last six wins have been first-round finishes.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 119, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

The Blue Corner is MMAjunkie‘s official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.