Machida taking a break from MMA

Lyoto Machida of Brazil looks on against Luke Rockhold in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Prudential Center on April 18, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. Alex Trautwig/Getty Images/AFP

Former UFC Champion Lyoto Machida is taking some time off from the sport he once ruled at the palm of his hand.

In a report from MMAFighting.com, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion would be taking a break to recuperate after two devastating losses in 2015.

Machida, 37, suffered a beating at the hands of Luke Rockhold before submitting in the second round in April then a technical knockout loss against Yoel Romero in June.

Following his loss against Romero, Machida underwent nasal surgery.

But Machida reportedly wants a fight against Michael Bisping for his comeback on either January or February.

Bisping said he would welcome a match against the Dragon.

“A matchup between me and him is certainly something I’d be interested in,” Bisping told MMAfighting.com. “I have a lot of respect for him.”