Chris DeLine

Despite giving up some 60 pounds to the Heavyweight Champion, the UFC’s current Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida said in a recent interview with Sherdog‘s Marcelo Alonso that he would jump at the opportunity to fight Brock Lesnar.

Alonso: “I also heard you said if you can defend your title for five times you’re thinking about facing the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Is that true?”

Machida: “Yeah, but my focus right now is in my class: Light Heavyweight. But in the future I would like to do a couple fights… like Brock Lesnar. I respect Brock Lesnar as a fighter, but I know that I can fight with him. Brock Lesnar is a big challenge for me because he is a big guy, stronger, very very strong, very very power… very fast. And for me, I like the challenge.”

The 15-0 Machida also discussed the possibility of coaching an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, just as a number of Light Heavyweight Champions have done in the past. Noting that he works on his English daily in an effort to prepare for such a show, Machida bluntly said that he would be very interested in coaching a season of the UFC’s reality program if given the chance.

Before Machida even considers Lesnar or The Ultimate Fighter however, he will have to focus on his forthcoming title defense at UFC 104 against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Priming fans for the bout, Machida currently appears on the cover of the November 2009 edition of Men’s Fitness magazine. UFC 104 will take place October 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Ultimate Fighter is currently in its 10th season and can be seen Wednesday nights on Spike.

[This article was first published at Examiner.]