UFC 94 Preview: Lyoto Machida

by Nick Thomas on Jan 28, 2009 2:18 PM EST

Bad Boy visits Lyoto Machida in his hometown of Belem, Brazil.

HT: MMAMania.com

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I know that a lot of people are turned off by his style

But for me, the guy is amazing to watch. From his fighting style to his demeanor the guy exemplifies a mixed martial artist. Can’t wait to see him in person on Saturday.

by Day Man on Jan 28, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions

Agree. His methodical counterfighting style keeps me on the edge of my seat. His brother does a good job of explaining in the video. Plus, his demeanor and stuff I like. He’s also a born mixed martial artist…they don’t often mention his background in Sumo in addition to Karate, BJJ, and whatever else he does. Gotta root for him all the way to the top.

by gocjeffe on Jan 28, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions

Machida All Day.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Jan 28, 2009 2:46 PM EST reply actions

Machida is a ghost...

That training facility looks really cool. The padded square he is sparring in has a real interesting kind of natural look to it. Instead of the subtitles I would love to be hearing some really mysterious voice over translations. I am so hyped for Saturday.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 28, 2009 3:00 PM EST reply actions

That’s not a movie dude that’s a documentary.

by spectaa on Jan 28, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

you must have been the kid who ran around telling all the toddlers that there was no santa claus……

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 28, 2009 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

he’s not even boring. He beats the hell out of people…. people just think he’s boring for some reason, but i’d bet he throws more punches per minute than most people. I’m curious to see his punches per fight vs. bisping.

by adamdd on Jan 28, 2009 3:38 PM EST reply actions

Check his stats against Tito. IIRC, his output in one of the rounds was so low it was absurd.

I’ve never doubted his skills, I just don’t find his fights exciting because he could finish guys he ends up decisioning, and he’s not even faced that great of competition in the UFC.

I will say that this training footage was great. I want to see more of that in his fights, as I could watch that all day. Great display of every skill in the book.

by Hardcharger on Jan 28, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

Lyoto is the first of a new type of fighter that will bring Traditional Martial Arts into MMA. Lest everyone forget – all martial arts were originally used for fighting – then they got toned down and toned down in the interests of more widespread acceptance.

The reason why BJJ is still so well respected and BJJ black belts are so respected is because it is a young martial art. Anyway – I digress.

There are loads of traditional martial art tools that could probably adapt well to MMA. One of my recent thoughts is that Wing Tsun style strikes could be very useful as a method of striking from top position. Whereas most use their eyes as the sense for where to strike, WT emphasizes using touch to determine the opponent’s open spaces.

Anyway – go Lyoto….

by rainmaker6 on Jan 28, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I’m with you. I love seeing TMA well applied in MMA – - that’s why Karo, Cung Le and Lyoto are some of my favorites.

by Nate Wilcox on Jan 28, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

Me too

I love those guys, and wish they would fight more. But I’ve also noticed a strong correlation between people with a strong Martial Arts background and not wanting to fight much.

I hope as time goes on that changes, because MMA needs those guys more than anything.

by asa on Jan 28, 2009 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

Just to clarify, I don’t mean “Machida’s boring” in the lack of fighting, I mean actual booked fights.

by asa on Jan 28, 2009 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

But I’ve also noticed a strong correlation between people with a strong Martial Arts background and not wanting to fight much.

Maybe it has something to do with TMA’s generally teaching their students that the best way to win a fight is to not get into one. Prime example would be Lyoto, its as if he never went into a fight, he’s unscathe after his bouts.

by Johann on Jan 28, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

This is definitely true

The more you study martial arts, the less likely you are to get into a fight. This goes for BJJ and MT as well.

by rainmaker6 on Jan 28, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

Yes to Le and Lyoto

Not Karo – Judo is great and I think his Judo is great but I don’t like him as a fighter. I think some of the best Judo I ever saw in a fight was Miura’s against Condit.

Love seeing great judo in MMA though.

by rainmaker6 on Jan 28, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

You know Muay Thai's traditional. And older than Shotokan.

by Pandanus on Jan 28, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I accept that some people may consider it traditional

I personally – don’t, and I don’t have any clear cut definition as to what is traditional and what is not. I’m sure boxing is pretty ancient as well but I wouldn’t consider it a traditional martial art.

Maybe my ‘traditional’ is just ‘stuff that isn’t conventionally used in MMA’.

by rainmaker6 on Jan 28, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

My complaint of Machida isn’t that he’s boring, it’s that in a lot of his fights his opponents are basically begging him to finish him [ala the end of Machida/Ortiz with the knee to the liver] and he’s content to just ride out to a decision. Hopefully the almost miracle Tito pulled off will have taught him a lesson on that.

That being said, he’s a very enjoyable fighter to watch and I’m confident he’ll out class Thiago on saturday. And btw that hammerfist to the stomach to set up the armbar from on top was very nice.

by Zack Gobie on Jan 28, 2009 4:11 PM EST reply actions

I agree with your first paragraph. He’s an amazingly skilled athlete who has been playing it way too cautious against opponents he completely outclasses. That in itself is why I don’t enjoy watching him. All I end up doing is yelling at the screen for him to take a risk and end the fight.

Watch Machida’s older fights and compare them to the recent ones. The old ones are way more enjoyable to watch. He still has ridiculous skills but he actually pushes the pace sometimes and looks to have a better killer instinct. Can we get that version back for this Silva fight, please?

by ricker2005 on Jan 28, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

You said it...

“take a risk and end the fight.” Machida is way to disciplined a fighter to do such a thing. He wins. He outclasses. He out strikes. Watch Machida vs Bonner in jungle fight. Total ass woopin’. It looks like Machida picks up a tell from Bonner that lets Machida know when Bonner is going to do something offensively. Machida beats him to every move Bonner begins to attempt.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 28, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

shit I always do that…Bonnar with an “a”

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 28, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8zTpAFFsQQ

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 28, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

Machida is good....

You cannot blame a fighter for taking advantage of the rule system. If the UFC implemented a yellow card system for fighter inactivity, running away, not being aggressive enough than maybee that would motivate him to change up his style.

by Bandaka on Jan 28, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions

And btw that hammerfist to the stomach to set up the armbar from on top was very nice.

I wasn’t the only one that saw that…awesome. It’s a total reaction to a gut punch to give up the arm like that. Hahaha. I wonder if we’ll ever see it in a match?

by gocjeffe on Jan 28, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions

There is nothing bad to say about Machida. I’d rather see him fight over a brawler any day of the week. His technique is so meticulous, and his striking is so crisp. This is the new wave of mixed martial artist — the tactician.

Lyoto will totally out-class Thiago in this fight.

by goodbones on Jan 28, 2009 4:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs