The former UFC light heavyweight champion will teach the front kick behind two of the most famous knockouts in the sport, along with the distance management and footwork that define his karate style.
PHUKET, THAILAND. Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA will host former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida for a striking seminar on Tuesday 6 October 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM. The morning starts with technique on the mats, followed by a Q&A with Machida and time for photos and signing. Tickets are 1,500 THB and can be booked at booking.bangtaomuaythai.com or in the front office.
The karate fighter who took over the UFC
Machida was born in Salvador, Brazil, and raised in Belém, the son of Japanese Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida. He started karate at the age of three and holds a third-degree black belt in Shotokan, alongside a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Even the nickname is inherited: Lyoto is a Brazilian take on Ryuta, a name written with the Japanese character for dragon.
He turned professional in 2003 and beat Stephan Bonnar, Rich Franklin and BJ Penn before he ever fought in the Octagon. He joined the UFC in 2007 and kept winning. At UFC 98 in May 2009 he knocked out Rashad Evans in the second round to become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, then defended the belt against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104. By that point he had won the first 16 fights of his professional career.
He did it with a style the sport had rarely seen at that level: a traditional karate stance, constant movement, and counters that opponents struggled to read. Machida went on to challenge Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 140 and Chris Weidman for the middleweight title at UFC 175. Across the UFC and Bellator, his wins include Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Ryan Bader, Gegard Mousasi, Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen.
The front kick
Two of those wins came from the same technique.
At UFC 129 in Toronto on 30 April 2011, Machida knocked out UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture with a jumping front kick in the second round. The finish was compared straight away to the crane kick from The Karate Kid, and it was the last fight of Couture’s career. Seven years later, at UFC 224 in Rio de Janeiro on 12 May 2018, he did it again. A front kick one minute into the second round stopped Vitor Belfort in Belfort’s final UFC fight.
That kick is the centrepiece of the seminar at Bangtao.
What Machida will teach
- The front kick. His signature technique, taught by the man who landed it on Couture and Belfort.
- Distance management. How to control range, stay out of reach and choose the moment to strike.
- Footwork. The movement that makes the first two work.
After the technical session, Machida will take questions on the mats, then stay for photos and signing. The seminar is open to everyone.
“Lyoto is one of the most original strikers MMA has ever seen. Learning that front kick from the man who landed it on Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort is a one-off for everyone training here.” – Will Elliott, Managing Director, Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA
15% off at the Bangtao Fightstore
Everyone who buys a seminar ticket gets 15% off at the Bangtao Fightstore. The discount can be redeemed in store until Sunday 11 October, the end of seminar week.
Event details
- What: Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida Striking Seminar
- When: Tuesday 6 October 2026, 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM
- Where: Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, Phuket, Thailand
- Includes: seminar, Q&A on the mats, photos and signing
- Tickets: 1,500 THB
- Ticket bonus: 15% off at the Bangtao Fightstore, in store until Sunday 11 October
- Booking: booking.bangtaomuaythai.com
About Lyoto Machida
Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and one of the most successful karate stylists in the history of mixed martial arts. A third-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he won the UFC title in 2009 and later fought for the UFC middleweight title. He is best known for his front kick knockouts of Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort.
About Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA
Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA is a destination training facility in Phuket, Thailand, with Muay Thai, MMA, BJJ, wrestling, boxing, fitness and recovery under one roof. Alongside daily classes and fight camps, Bangtao hosts guest-coach seminars and fight events that bring world-class expertise to its members and visiting athletes.
