Why UFC-Fresno winner Eryk Anders wants to fight Lyoto Machida on ex-champ's turf

FRESNO, Calif. – Eryk Anders is only two fights into his UFC career, but he’s already aiming high.

After earning a unanimous-decision win over Markus Perez (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a battle of unbeaten middleweights on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 123, Anders (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) used his time on the mic to ask for a fight with former UFC light heavyweight champion and onetime 185-pound title challenger Lyoto Machida (22-8 MMA, 14-8 UFC).

Backstage, Anders detailed why he not only wants to fight “The Dragon” – but would like to do so on the ex-champ’s turf.

“He has a very similar style to Markus’,” Anders said after the FS1-televised main-card bout at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. “(He’s) probably a little bit more precise with the strikes. Obviously, much more experienced. A former titleholder. I love the hostile environment. There’s no more hostile place on Earth, I feel like, than in the cage, in a ring, with a Brazilian in Brazil.

Lyoto Machida

“Especially a guy that’s held in such high regard as Lyoto Machida. He’s a little bit better than Markus Perez, and I think I can get there and find that home on that chin.”

While it’s a callout that not many would expect, it was a smart one for the surging Anders, especially considering the UFC’s next Brazilian foray, set for Feb. 3 in Belem do Para, takes place in the city that Machida called home for most his life.

It remains to be seen if now-middleweight Machida, who suffered losses to Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero and Derek Brunson in his past three fights, will want to take on a hungry up-and-comer almost a decade his junior in Anders. But “The Dragon” recently said he’s neither retiring nor ruling out the Feb. 3 card.

Meanwhile, Anders is set to go to Brazil with his wife to relax after what’s been quite a successful few months. Anders was last seen at UFC on FOX 25 July, when a knockout win over now-retired Rafael Natal guaranteed some eyeballs toward the former Alabama football player.

Despite his dominance, Anders couldn’t get the first-round finish that he wanted on Saturday. That, Anders said, probably had something to do with his own display in the opening frame, in which he caught himself “headhunting” instead of picking his shots.

On the other hand, by staying in there for three rounds, at least Anders was able to showcase other aspects of his game.

“I’m well-prepared, well-conditioned and well-coached,” Anders said. “So, no matter where the fight takes place, whether I’m on my back as I was in the first round – he had that thing, I think it was the D’Arce or the Anaconda, sunk in a little bit. I was able to fight out of it.

“I’ve got great training partners who try to choke me out all the time, so no matter where the fight takes place, I’m well-prepared, and I’m able to slow it down. And find a way to get out of the position and get a dominant position.”

To hear more from Anders, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 123, check out the UFC Events section of the site.