UFC 140 headliner features champ Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida

From MMA Junkie
by MMA Junkie Staff

UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones (14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) will fight in UFC 140's headliner, but it won't be against Rashad Evans (16-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC).

Injuries have cost Evans another promised title shot, and ex-champ Lyoto Machida (17-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has taken his spot in the December title fight.

UFC president Dana White today announced the news via Twitter.

The new newly announced main event comes a day after news of a potential Jones vs. Evans UFC 140 headliner. A source told MMAjunkie.com and other outlets that the fight was being targeted for the Toronto show. However, White ultimately told MMAjunkie.com that wouldn't be the case.

UFC 140 takes place Dec. 10 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view.

The slot initially was Evans, but a hand injury suffered in a recent win over Tito Ortiz will keep him sidelined. Evans, who sported a cast earlier this month during UFC 135 media appearances, sat out most of 2010 waiting for a title shot with Rua that ultimately was scratched when Evans suffered his own knee injury. Then a planned Jones booking was scratched earlier this year due to Jones' uncertain timetable for a return from a hand injury.

Jones, who recently made his first successful title defense with a fourth-round submission win over Quinton Jackson, now owns five straight victories, which included a title win over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua back in March. His only career loss came early in his UFC career to Matt Hamill after Jones' was questionably disqualified due to illegal "12-to-6" elbow strikes. Jones otherwise dominated the December 2009 fight.

Machida recently got back in the win column with a vicious April knockout of Randy Couture. Prior to that, he suffered a title loss to Rua and a subsequent close split-decision defeat to Jackson. Prior to that, the Brazilian karate specialist had posted 16 straight victories to open his career. The run included eight straight wins in the UFC.

For the fun of it, here's Machida's crane kick