UFC Fight Night 30 results: Lyoto Machida flattens Mark Munoz via head kick

MANCHESTER – Three minutes of inaction was followed by a split second of pure violence as Lyoto Machida made quick work of Mark Munoz in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 30 headliner.

After an extended feeling-out period as the friends and training partners settled in, Machida (20-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) unloaded a high kick that went clean through Munoz’s defense and caught him flush in the head. It resulted in a brutal blow to Munoz (13-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) – and the referee’s quick intervention.

The fight headlined the FOX Sports 2-televised event, which took place at Phones4u Arena in Manchester, England.

Machida, a replacement for injured contender and U.K. favorite Michael Bisping, opted to take the fight despite his relationship with Munoz. The training partners put their friendship on hold to salvage a card that needed some starpower, and Machida, a former light heavyweight champion, provided it.

After dropping a weight class – something the undersized 205-pounder didn’t do previously because another friend and training partner, Anderson Silva, was the champ – Machida’s arrival came with grand expectations. And he didn’t disappoint against Munoz, a perennial contender with a solid blend of wrestling and knockout power.

Unfortunately, for Munoz, he got to display neither.

After Machida’s head kick knocked him silly, Munoz was vulnerable to a big follow-up shot. However, the Brazilian quickly backed off, knowing his victory was secure and that the referee was in the process of halting the bout. The stoppage came at the 3:10 mark of the scheduled five-rounder’s opening frame.

“It was very hard for me (to take the fight) because Mark is a good friend of mine,” said Machida, who immediately checked on Munoz and embraced him after the win. “But you know, as a professional, I don’t think about that and just do my job. But now that it’s over, the friendship will continue.”

Although Machida often weighed in well under the 205-pound limit in the light-heavyweight division, he said he needed a strict diet to make the 185-pound division and that it proved more difficult than expected. However, now that he’s here, he said he plans to make it a permanent home, barring a change of plans from UFC officials.

“I’m staying at 185, but my bosses, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, they [decide] everything,” he said. “If they ask me to fight at 205 again, I’ll do that.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 30 results include:

• Lyoto Machida def. Mark Munoz via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 3:10
• Melvin Guillard vs. Ross Pearson ruled a no-contest (accidental knee) – Round 1, 1:57
• Jimi Manuwa def. Ryan Jimmo via TKO (injury) – Round 2, 4:41
• Norman Parke def. Jon Tuck via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Nicholas Musoke def. Alessio Sakara via verbal submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:07
• John Lineker def. Phil Harris via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:51
• Al Iaquinta def. Piotr Hallmann via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Luke Barnatt def. Andrew Craig via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:12
• Jessica Andrade def. Rosi Sexton via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
• Cole Miller def. Andy Ogle via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jimy Hettes def. Robert Whiteford via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 2:17
• Brad Scott def. Michael Kuiper via submission (standing guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:17

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 30, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Matt Erickson contributed to this report on-site in Manchester.