At Manchester’s UFC Fight Night, it will be the second time “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” will take the headlining role for an England event as Mark Munoz is set to tangle former UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.
It’s been two years since he last fought across the pond at UFC 138 in Birmingham where Munoz TKOed hard-headed Chris Leben. But before Munoz can enter the Octagon, he answered a few questions from FOX UFC Insider Gareth A. Davies.
Obviously, the first subject had to be the noted friendship between main event opponents Munoz and Machida. “It’s going to be a good fight,” tells Munoz who trained regularly with Machida at Black House MMA and, actually, was training with him two days prior to Machida finding out he was replacing an injured Michael Bisping. “Regardless of whether he’s my friend or not, he’s a very good competitor. He’s a very good fighter.”
As both are professional fighters and this bout is far from personal, Machida and Munoz are planning to have dinner after their possible 5 round rumble. The caveat, the loser chooses where to eat and the winner pays for dinner. In a previous interview, Machida told Davies he would be paying to which Munoz replies, “(laughs) I don’t know about that. I’m already saving funds to pay for dinner.”
Lastly, the former NCAA Division I National Champion wrestler’s weightcut was reported to be his best ever with the middleweight only needing to cut a small 5 pounds. “I attribute it to the diet I have,” states Munoz who follows the Sunfare diet and credits that as well as the help of his new sponsor Xyience to his remarkable physique. “They’ve put in a massive amount of time and all of their efforts into me. Also, Lunarpages, they come out and help me out as well. If I didn’t have their support and the Sunfare diet - it would be impossible.”
