Lyoto Machida to Possibly Fight in October

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 11:13 AM EDT Comment 43 comments

Fronted by Luke Thomas.

The TAGG Radio Network recently interviewed Machida's manager Ed Soares. Here's what he had to say:

...I know he's not going to get a shot at the title right away. Some things are in works right now for him to be fighting in October.

...Most likely he's probably going to have one more fight before he fights for the title.

When questioned on the opponent, Soares wouldn't spill the beans:

It's not signed yet. It's going to be a good match, though, for sure.

The interview can be heard here. Soares' interview starts at 31:07 and the Machida discussion starts at 38:54.

Personally I think this opponent could be Jackson. Wanderlei turned down Machida and chose to fight Thiago Silva instead. Since Wanderlei's preferences most likely takes precedence over Machida's, Thiago would be out of the picture as well. Shogun lost his last fight and has had a long injury-related layoff. Jardine just suffered a broken jaw and won't be able to fight for awhile. The other possible opponents for Machida are either already tied up in an upcoming fight or not worthy enough.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

0 recs | Comment 43 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Not going to be Jackson. They’d have to be insane to book that, and they are still hoping for a rematch, which could very well happen.

I think it’ll be Wanderlei. The idea that he turned down Machida in favor of Thiago has been spread far and wide, and comes from people misreading the Observer. What it said was that he was told it would be one of the two, and it currently looks like it will be Thiago. However, the latest observer says the Thiago fight is no longer on.

by Michael Rome on Jul 11, 2008 1:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If the Thiago fight is “no longer” on as you say, then that posits that it was on before. Maybe you were trying to say that it has been ruled out as a possibility. In any case, I’d like an actual quote from the latest WON to clarify.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 2:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At this point, talk of Wanderlei Silva vs. Thiago Silva for October has died down with Wanderlei’s next fight depending upon what happens with Liddell and the decisions made from there regarding Griffin. If it works, and there’s lots of ifs, and they go with Griffin against Jackson, perhaps Liddell vs. Anderson Silva would be bigger than a Wanderlei vs. Liddell rematch, and if so, it would be definitely bigger than Liddell vs. Rua, because at this point Rua means nothing past the hardcores, while at least to the people who attend the live shows and the PPV audience, Wanderlei has become a superstar.

by Michael Rome on Jul 11, 2008 3:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It seems to rule out Wand too, but things change on a daily basis.

Honestly i think it’s going to be someone like Keith Jardine. People will be outraged, but I think that would be a perfectly fair fight, Jardine is higher ranked than Tito for most people. Also serves the dual purpose of hurting one of their boring fighters.

Another option is Thiago Silva, which would be an easier fight for Machida, but really a step down for him.

by Michael Rome on Jul 11, 2008 3:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Please give us Wandy/Machida

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 7:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I heart Wand.

by Nick Thomas on Jul 11, 2008 9:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Keith Jardine would be a good fight for Machida. Jardine did an awesome job with Chuck – I think he can serve Machida his first loss.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I respectfully disagree

Machida’s footwork and impeccable timing would render Jardine helpless IMO.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also don't think we'll see...

...Jardine back by October.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jul 11, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Jardine’s monkey-like fighting stance tends to throw his opponents off. That along with his leg kicks is what beat Liddell. I guess I like to think outside the box. I mean, everyone is going with Machida fighting the obvious, let’s think about it a bit differently. Jardine does tend to do well when he is fighting a top fighter. He whopped Forrest and Liddell. Jardine’s only error is when he underestimates his opponents.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His monkey stance wouldn’t bother Machida…being Machida primarily a counter-striker…he’d simply make Jardine miss…then pepper him all night long.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jardine probably won’t be fighting until next year, and probably not against Machida. He needs a fight against someone like Luis Cane to build his confidence back up.

If Jardine did fight Machida, Machida would simply use his left straight counter against Jardine’s monkey-style leg kicks and probably re-injure Jardine’s jaw.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no proof but.....

take it for what you will, i have one inside person that states that Wanderlei vs Machida is the new rumor among the fighters. This source is about 80% correct most of the time, so take it for what you will.

by Nick Travaglini on Jul 11, 2008 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For the October event?

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wanderlei / Lyoto

i think that fight will happen next and if it does then i really think Machida will pick Wanderlei apart. I still hope to see Wanderlei / Thiago Silva and see Lyoto fight someone else but who i dont know.

by ELL on Jul 11, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wanderlei/Houston

Why not have Wanderlei fight Houston? That way we can make Nebraska leave the house.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, because you want top contenders fighting top contenders…he shouldn’t be taking fights with guys ranked lower than him at this point.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Silly me

I was just thinking of two bangers going at it.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No need to bash Nebraska, yo. :)

Houston is fighting on the Fight Night card in Omaha in September, fwiw.

What happens to Wanderlei if he gets beat by Machida? That would make a pretty bad stretch for him, aside from beating Jardine. Would it be time for him to drop down to mw?

by Kierkegaard on Jul 11, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pray

Let’s pray that if Wanderlei does fight Lyoto, that he wins. Wanderlei is much more exciting and marketable. I don’t see Lyoto being able to take too many of Wanderlei’s haymakers.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see Wandy landing too many of those haymakers.

by Mike Fagan on Jul 11, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wandy will beat Machida.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"Wandy will beat Machida"

i wish that would be the case but i just think Lyoto is a horrible match up for Wanderlei.

by ELL on Jul 11, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sokoudjou went hard at Machida early on with a right head kick followed by a superman punch-left hook-overhand right combo. Machida blocked, shrugged off or avoided all of these strikes.

Not only does Wanderlei have less reach than Sokoudjou, but Machida’s cage karate improved tremendously since the Sokoudjou fight. I think Wanderlei only has a 20%-25% chance of beating Machida. I could see Machida throwing jabs and straights at Wanderlei’s face until there’s a cut stoppage. But if Machida gets sloppy for even 1 second he could be handed his first loss.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL at Machida stopping Wanderlei. Machida couldn’t stop Tito, Nak, Heath, or Hoger. He’s not going to do anything to Wanderlei.

Wanderlei may be super-aggressive, but he’s still a technical striker who’s fought plenty of other great, technical strikers. Machida has nothing for Wanderlei, except maybe in a footrace.

by Hardcharger on Jul 11, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Machida stopped Bonnar when Bonnar’s face was left a bloody mess.

When Cro Cop fought Wanderlei, the refs were going to stop the fight because blood was trickling over Wanderlei’s eye. Silva protested and said he still wanted to fight. We all know what happened next. Liddell also battered Wanderlei’s face into a bloody pulp, and Chuck is a less technical striker than Machida.

Suffice to say, Wanderlei’s style is a perfect way for Machida to counter all night (and probably with cut-inducing jabs and straights) and do more damage than what we’re used to seeing with Lyoto.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL at you comparing damage Wandy took against guys like Cro Cop and Liddell. Machida isn’t in the same universe as those 2 when it comes to power and inflicting damage.

In addition, both Cro Cop and Liddell were willing to stand in the pocket and trade with Wanderlei. If Machida tries that, he will go to sleep.

Machida constantly moves away and wants people to follow him. Wanderlei will do that, just like Tito did, but unlike Tito, Wanderlei can kick and punch (and block kicks and punches) with the best of them.

by Hardcharger on Jul 11, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As long as Machida aims for the upper check and the eyebrow instead of the chin, he could easily bloody up Wanderlei. Again, look at Bonnar’s face. The reference to the Cro Cop and Liddell fights was just to show how Silva’s face is easily able to be cut.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Upper cheek, sorry.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL at even the notion of comparing Wanderlei to the Stephen Bonnar of 5 years ago. It’s so absurd it completely destroys your credibility.

BTW, Silva’s face wasn’t easily cut by Liddell. Wanderlei took many hard shots from Liddell (much harder than Machida can hit) and wasn’t cut. It was an elbow from the clinch that cut Wandy. Machida will never bully Wandy against the fence like Liddell did to even get in position to duplicate that type of elbow.

by Hardcharger on Jul 11, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously guys, enough laughing at each other and doing those kind of annoying message board rhetorical tricks. Fake superiority is one of the most annoying things on the internet, talk to each other as if you’re both adults.

by Michael Rome on Jul 11, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stay out of this, Mike. So far it’s been relatively civil compared to some place like Sherdog.
-
I was demonstrating that Machida has the capability to cut his opponents, not that Wanderlei’s and old Bonnar’s skills are similar.

If Machida can’t cut Wanderlei’s face standing up, he can do so on the ground with elbows if and when they do get on the ground. He did it against Ortiz, after all. Either way, there is a chance Machida could win via cut stoppage.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, there’s a chance. There’s a chance Wanderlei wins by KO slam as well. I’d call that equally likely.

Machida doesn’t possess the skills needed to cut Wanderlei in any of the ways of the examples given (vs. CroCop or Liddell).

by Hardcharger on Jul 11, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this point it looks like the discussion is turning to almost pure speculation. I can’t completely prove that Machida can/will cut Silva and neither can you completely prove that he can’t/won’t, whether in the fashion of Cro Cop/Liddell or not.

We should just wait for this fight to materialise (if ever). And if Rome is correct about the Machida vs. Thiago fight, that could be next year at the earliest. Until then, I think we can wrap this thread up.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has Machida ever been hit really hard since his fight with BJ Penn?

I don’t think Soko’s tap counts. Wanderlei has more power to his punches.

I just can’t fathom in my mind, Machida winning against Wanderlei. I just might stop watching if he beats Wanderlei in his usual fashion. But, if he comes out like Ralph Macchio then I may stay.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sokoudjou knocked out Rogerio. I’d say that’s at least Silva’s power right there. Whether he applied that power in the Machida fight is debatable. But even if Wanderlei has more power, can he successfully make his punches connect with Machida? It seems like Wanderlei’s short reach was always a shortcoming in his fights with other good, technical strikers who kept their distance.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More aggressive

I think that Silva is more aggressive. He won’t chase Machida but wait for the opportunity to unleash his arsenal. Silva is good at cutting corners as well, so Machida will hopefully be trapped while Silv is unleashing a can a beatdown.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is going to be Thiago Silva.

by Michael Rome on Jul 11, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ll take Thiago/Machida…because Thiago is overrated IMO…beating Machida solidfies him instantly….if Machida wins…well he beat an overrated fighter.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was under the impression Jardine was probably done because his jaw had taken too much damage and is held in place with wire after the last knockout. Least thats what wikipedia says.

by toxic on Jul 11, 2008 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not true

anybody can make an entry on Wiki – not a trusted source to say the least

by lovingmma25 on Jul 11, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

CagePotato interviewed Machida today. From the interview:

CagePotato: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us today. Do you have any idea who your next opponent will be?
There’s been a lot of speculation, but there’s no confirmation of anything yet. But I think it could be Thiago Silva, or even Quinton Jackson.

So it looks like a fight with Wanderlei or Jardine in October is now highly unlikely.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jul 11, 2008 7:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

jackson would be the most fun to watch, but Thiago Makes the most sense

The UFC can’t want to to risk another Wanderlei or Jackson loss that way. Wandy is f’ing crazy and so might sign on the dotted line, but how many more PPVs would a Jackson Wandy matchup or Chuck wandy fight sell. If Machida wins against either of those guys (and he probably could) those matchups get hard to make. Unless Joe Silva thinks one of these guys has a very high chance of bringing Lyoto down, I don’t see him making the match.

If the Wandy fight happens I’ll bet Lyoto looks to take him down right away and slowly and methodically submit him or grind out the decision (ala Ricardo Arona). Public relations nightmare waiting to happen.

It has to be Thiago Silva, Thiago is gaining popularity but is still expendable and the matchup would still result in a match that could be fan friendly.

btw – How many people have seen some of Soko’s other fights? He came into the UFC with huge hype for a reason. He knocked out Lil Nog with a very short punch, you could hardly even see it coming and it knocked him out VERY cold. He has big power for sure so does Franklin but none of these dudes could land on Machida. I like him, and if you listen to fighters talk about him they all admire his skills (Rampage I’ll bet would criticise) but he definitely does not sell much. Maybe if the UFC can play up the samurai warrior/Wax on Wax off angle more they can get the fans to at least respect him, but he is never going to be a PPV draw IMO.

by BloodJunkie on Jul 15, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs