Fresh off his UFC 140 submission loss to Jon Jones, "The Dragon" is contemplating whether or not to drop to the middleweight division, which is headed by his teammate and close friend Anderson Silva.
"I don't want to change, but if I am not the light heavyweight champion, it really could happen," Machida told Fighters Only.
"I lost but I still have three more fights at UFC. My main goal is to be the champion of the weight class and bring the belt back to Para. Now, it is a challenge to beat Jones and bounce back. We already know the path to get to him, and in the next fight, things should happen with more ease."
Since entering the UFC, Jones has stormed to the top of the division, dismantling every world-class fighter in his path. Machida's awkward style and tricky footwork presented Jones with perhaps the toughest test in his young career.
After a strong start, Machida found himself in trouble in the second round after giving up a takedown that allowed Jones to posture up and unload on damage from top position. A few seconds trapped underneath Jones was all that was needed for Machida to emerge with a massive gash on his forehead.
The cut was the tide changer in the bout.
When the two light heavyweights returned to their feet, Jones landed a short left hand that dropped the Brazilian. The young champion wasted no time in pouncing on his hurt opponent and locking up a modified guillotine choke that solidified his second consecutive title defense and Machida's first submission loss.
"I think we always have to be learning something out of this, and it is through the loss that we learn more than with the victory," Machida said. "I am a professional, and it is part of my career to win or lose."
With ongoing Silva retirement murmurings, a move to middleweight seems plausible for Machida.
Machida and Silva have stated on various occasions that they aren't interested in fighting one another.
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