UFC 137

Lore & Background

By mid-2012, the UFC light heavyweight division was a landscape of contrasting styles and legacies. Lyoto Machida, the karate-trained Brazilian, had held the belt since 2010 and was beloved for his wild, unpredictable striking and his iconic 'Nunchaku' finish. Daniel Cormier, a former NCAA All-American wrestler from Louisiana, had been building a reputation as a relentless pressure fighter who could smother opponents on the ground or control them with his southpaw boxing.

Their clash was framed as a war of attrition versus a war of lightning. The five-round main event lived up to the hype. Cormier used his wrestling to keep Machida pinned against the fence, landing short hooks and maintaining top pressure. Machida, true to form, looked for the explosive counter-strikes that had defined his career, but Cormier's volume and positional discipline neutralized much of the danger.

The fight ended on the judges' cards as a split decision, a result that sparked debate but ultimately stood as a validation of Cormier's all-around game.

Reader's Guide

Lyoto Machida (split decision) – UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

Cormier's first UFC title and the beginning of a two-division championship career; his wrestling-based pressure game became the blueprint for the modern light heavyweight. • Machida's reign (2010–2012) ended after a five-round tactical battle that highlighted the contrast between his explosive karate striking and Cormier's suffocating top control. • The split-decision finish generated lasting debate and underscored how judges' scoring can shape a division's narrative.

Did You Know?

• Daniel Cormier was an NCAA All-American wrestler before turning professional in MMA, and his background in collegiate wrestling was central to his strategy in neutralizing Machida's striking.
• Lyoto Machida's fighting style was rooted in Shotokan karate, and his pre-fight ritual of chanting 'Nunchaku' had become one of UFC's most recognizable traditions.
• The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas has hosted numerous UFC events over the years and was a regular venue for the promotion's flagship cards during the 2010s.