Lyoto Machida vs. Phil Davis II Set to Headline Bellator Event on September 11th.

Mandatory Credit: Esther Lin - MMA Fighting & Bellator MMA

A rematch seven years in the making between former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto 'The Dragon' Machida, and former Bellator MMA 205-pound best, Phil 'Mr. Wonderful' Davis has been added to a Bellator event on September 11th. - with the re-run serving as the card's headliner.

With a 2-1 promotional record so far, Brazilian karate specialist, Machida dropped his first Bellator blemish last September at Bellator 228, losing a split decision to former middleweight best, Gegard Mousasi in another rematch. Pennsylvania native, Davis has won his last two consecutive outings, with a knockout of Karl Albrektsson coming at Bellator 231 last October. News of the rematch was initially penned by Combate reporter, Marcelo Barone.

Machida and Davis first met when the pair competed under the UFC banner back in August of 2013, with the Brazilian losing a contentious unanimous decision on home soil at UFC 163. Machida would go on to drop to middleweight following the loss.

Since his move to Scott Coker's Bellator off the back of a highlight-reel front kick knockout of compatriot, Vitor Belfort back at UFC 224 in May of 2018 - 42-year-old contender, Machida has defeated former Bellator middleweight titleholder, Rafael Carvalho, and fan-favourite wrestler, Chael Sonnen. Machida won the UFC light heavyweight title back in 2009, with a knockout of Rashad Evans. The Bahia native is maybe most recognisable from another highlight-reel stoppage opposite Randy Couture at UFC 129 in April of 2011.

Davis, 35, will make his eleventh walk under the Bellator banner - achieving an 8-2 promotional record since. In early wins, the Alliance MMA mainstay picked up triumphs against Emanuel Newton, Francis Carmont, 'King Mo' Lawal, and Liam McGeary, before a close decision defeat to Ryan Bader where he lost the 205-pound crown.

Returning to the winner's enclosure, Davis managed wins over Leonardo Leite, Linton Vassell, McGeary in a re-run, and the aforenoted Albrektsson, in between a defeat to future light heavyweight championship challenger, Vadim Nemkov.