Fighting is a family affair for Machida

When Lyoto Machida sits down for dinner with his family, the conversation inevitably turns to fighting.

Well, at least most of the time.

"We talk 80 percent about (fighting) and 20 percent about other things like business and women," he said with a laugh.

It's no surprise the talk so often goes in that direction. Machida and each of his three brothers earned black belts in karate from their Shotokan karate master father.

On Saturday night, Machida can add the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title to his resume if he defeats Rashad Evans in the main event of the UFC 98 card at the MGM Grand Garden.

Machida has built an unblemished record against some of the biggest names in the sport, but he gets a chance for his first title against Evans, also unbeaten as a professional.

Evans entered mixed martial arts as a solid wrestler with little else in his repertoire, but that has changed. The Michigan State graduate has become a feared striker after knocking Chuck Liddell cold in September and stopping Forrest Griffin to win the light heavyweight belt in December.

None of that concerns Machida, who turns 31 on May 30.

"I don't worry about his striking or his wrestling because I have confidence in my training," Machida said.

That training started under his father's tutelage.

Yoshizo Machida, who is Japanese, moved to Brazil on his own at age 22 to "test himself." He eventually opened a gym in his adopted homeland.

He quickly passed skills to the four sons he had with his Brazilian wife, and Lyoto emerged as one of his best students.

"Since (Lyoto) was about 12, I've noticed he had special talents," Yoshizo Machida said. "Every time I would teach a group of kids something, Lyoto would have it down after two or three times, and the other kids would take a month."

Two of his brothers remain in the family business. Shinzo, an aspiring professional fighter himself, and Take help around the gym. Their other brother, Kenzo, is a television reporter.

But it was Lyoto who would emerge as the star fighter.

After earning a black belt at just 13 years old, Lyoto began training in sumo and jiu-jitsu to expand his game.

He also has earned a black belt in jiu-jitsu but says the sumo has helped develop his strong base.

Machida actually earned some sumo titles and even took home a silver medal from the Brazilian championships.

After all that, it's still karate that Machida relies on most when he steps into the cage.

He is one of the few karate specialists in MMA, and his unorthodox style often has led to critics calling him boring.

Machida's father says it is how he taught his son.

"The style we've incorporated is to go in and not get hit," Yoshizo said. "If people don't understand, they'll start to. The essence of MMA is to hit and not get hit."

Lyoto Machida has mastered that philosophy.

He has compiled a professional record of 14-0, including 6-0 in the UFC.

Still, he thinks he has work to do before he is considered one of the world's best.

"I think there are many (great) fighters like Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre and Fedor (Emelianenko)," he said. "Those guys are champions. I'm not a champion yet. Maybe Saturday."

Of course, his family has helped him prepare to take on the UFC's light heavyweight champion.

"Me and my family, everybody watches (Evans') weaknesses," Machida said. "I prefer not to say right now, but you will see it on Saturday."

Machida has a 9-month-old son, Taiyo, with his wife, Fabyola. He mentioned only half-jokingly that his son is already hard at work in the gym.

It won't be long until Taiyo learns to speak, and it's easy to guess what he will talk about.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.