Lyoto Machida's fighting style mirrors his quest for championship gold in the sense that he's never truly out of striking distance.
Inside the Octagon, "The Dragon" has proven he possesses one of the most complex striking games ever put on display under the UFC banner, and that versatile approach has yielded impressive results.
Over the past seven years, the 36-year-old Brazilian karate master has entered the cage as both champion and challenger, but regardless of what side of the equation he's on, there always seem to be high stakes hovering in the balance.
Those particular circumstances were elevated immediately upon his arrival in the middleweight division, as the former light heavyweight champion was figured to be a major player in the 185-pound title race.