"Karate was discredited in mixed martial arts so my father and I are developing and adapting some aspects in karate to prove that all arts are efficient. My target is holding the Machida Karate flag and raising the name of my family, father and everyone who takes part in my training."
-- Undefeated light heavyweight Lyoto Machida talks to Fighters Only magazine about returning karate -- currently a punchline in the eyes of many MMA fans -- to the respected and feared discipline it once was. To do that, he'll need to chop his way to victory against reigning 205-pound champion "Sugar" Rashad Evans at UFC 98 on May 23. "Dragon" — who has six wins, including two finishes inside the Octagon — recently upped his stock with a fantastic finish of the previously unbeaten Thiago Silva at UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2″ on Jan. 31. He’ll now look to stifle the juking and jiving champion in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Can he do it … or will Evans somehow find a way to solve the enigma that is Lyoto Machida? For the record: Machida is currently a -225 favorite among the sportsbooks to win the fight.