LAKE FOREST, California – When UFC middleweight contender Mark Muñoz steps inside the Octagon later this week, he’ll be facing more than just an ordinary opponent – he’ll be fighting a friend.
Muñoz, known as “The Filipino Wrecking Machine,” is slated to fight former light-heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida on October 26 at UFC Fight Night in Manchester, England.
Muñoz and Machida have been good friends for the past two years, and were training with each other just days before Muñoz’s original opponent, Michael Bisping, withdrew from the match after suffering an eye injury.
The UFC then announced the Muñoz-Machida match-up.
“It’s a very big challenge, but at the same time, we’re professionals,” said Muñoz. “This is business. Nothing personal, and the winner is going to buy dinner.
“It’s crazy, it just took us by surprise,” he admitted. “But it is a business, that’ just the way it is. We’ll remain friends afterwards.”
Muñoz and Machida now have a difficult task of fighting one another but also as two people who intimately know each other’s fighting styles.
Riley Ross, one of Muñoz’s trainers, said the key factor for Muñoz is to take the former champion to the ground.
“One takedown, and it’s done. That’s our plan,” said Ross. “There’s no secret about it. We’re not going to stand and trade with a guy like that. But if Machida gets caught trying to defend a takedown, Mark will bring the thunder.”
Muñoz has a lot riding on this fight. A win against Machida could propel his career to new heights and give him a shot at the middleweight championship.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
