Ah, if you’re saying once he beats Liddell he’ll have the better record to challenge on, that’s true enough. But the comment was

“It is a good point about Rashad and the UFC might prefer him to Machida as a champion. The public doesn’t think all that highly of his skills, but he has an unbeaten streak that is better than Lyoto’s.”

which really only refered to their past fights.

Lyoto’s record stands fairly higher than Rashad’s any way it’s looked at, currently, but after that fight they’d be crazy not to try and put the winner into the next championship bout just for the business appeal either could deliver. Then they could use the left over time to build hype for whomever the next challenger will be, and #1 on that list even now is Lyoto.

how about a NYE’ special night of champions the top 16 LHW in 5×5 min rds
Thiago Silva
Wanderlei
Machida
Quinton Jackson
Sokoudjou
Henderson
Mauricio Rua
Forrest Griffin
B.Stann
S.Bonnar
Rashad Evans
Chuck lIDELL
keith Jardine
Rhino
Spider Silva
Legionnarius

Ok 2 of the guys are from WEC

but the quality is there for the fans to rave about

Its called Fan Service
make the matches Long…I.e. start @6pm
and keep going till 2 am

the final 8 can be in February
and the Final 4 in April

the championship matches can be on next July in time for July 4th!

Reports are that he really wants to fight Silva again, and if he intends to do it in a five round match, he’s going to have to work his way back up at middleweight.

If Anderson was intent on winning the belt at 205, that’d be picture perfect to have him and Machida fight for a title shot. But they’re buddies, so that’d never happen.

CaptainAmerica1967

Would you say that would be true if he beats Liddell? You know, Chuck Liddell, the former dominant 205lb UFC light heavyweight champion? Just beat Wanderlei Silva? KOed the best fighter Machida ever beat twice? Clearly a top 5 fighter in the division? At that point, he’s beaten Jardine, Whitehead, Bisping, Lambert, Bonnar, Hoger (two of the people on Machida’s vaunted record), and a couple heavyweights in UFC rings, plus then Liddell should he win.

It’s certainly better than Wanderlei’s promos. They’re in English, but UFC opts to subtitle them anyway.

Better in what way, exactly? I can’t see any way shape or form that Rashad’s record is in any way better than Lyoto’s. Lyoto has more wins against higher quality any way you look at it.

The 205lb Division is and has been the most exciting division in the sport for the past 6 years. UFC is not going to risk having a boring champion.

In Machida’s defense, it is tough to look exciting against Nakamura and Ortiz. He picked up the pace when he had Sokodjou in trouble, though that wasn’t a great fight.

Obviously UFC wants Chuck to beat Evans and fight Forrest in the promotion’s biggest match to date on the New Year’s show.

I’d also set up Rampage/Jardine this Fall. Both guys would be a big money match for Forrest if he beats Chuck.

If Chuck wins you want to do him vs Wanderlei in a 5-rounder for the belt.

So you need to build Wanderlei up.

Wanderlei/Vera or Sokodjou – both going to be bang ‘em ups that should make Wanderlei look like a monster.

I think Thiago Silva is the next logical match for Machida or Vera if you match Sokodjou with Wanderlei.

If/when Rua gets back he would be a good fight for Machida. If Rua wins (which is what is best for the promotion) Machida’s record puts Rua right back at the top of the pile where he was before Forrest beat him.

Rua gives you a big money rematch with Forrest. What could be a mega-fight with Chuck, a rematch with Jackson if Jackson gets the belt back and a showdown with Wanderlei in a year or so if they both keep winning.

In short the answer to the question is Machida is still on the outside looking in and his employers are hoping he loses and in the process propels his opponent into title contention