Quote of the Day: Lyoto Machida

by Nick Thomas on Mar 13, 2009 11:46 AM EDT

"Ever since the last fight [against Thiago Silva, at UFC 94] I’ve only had 10 days of rest. I traveled, went to Hawaii, enjoyed time with my son and my family and as soon as I got back I started training again, awaiting the UFC’s position. That’s always what I do. I train because I like it. Even my wife complains: ‘Geez, you just finished a fight and you’re back at training already?’ But that’s what I like doing, putting on the gi, training, both ground fighting and standing. I like it. So my preparations have already begun.

I know Rashad’s a super-strategic fighter, is good at wrestling, good at boxing, and hits real hard. But I’ve already fought a lot of guys like that. And this is just another fight for me. I can’t let myself think this is some seven-headed monster, I’m going to get out there and do my job. I think that’s what’s important. That’s the mentality that will make me stronger."

-- Lyoto Machida talks with Graciemag.com

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Rashad is going to get picked apart, I feel sorry for him.

by Bandaka on Mar 13, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

Machida is a great fighter, but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that Rashad gets destroyed. Machida owned Thiago Silva, but Silva is awful on the feet and walks right into strikes. Lyoto beat Tito clearly, but there’s long stretches in that fight where Machida is not even throwing strikes. Rashad has a good chance of avoiding taking a lot of damage in this fight, depending on his gameplan and strategy.

by Hardcharger on Mar 13, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree, I see Rashad giving The Dragon his first L

by DJ Soma on Mar 13, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Rashad should be a very tough challenge for Machida

They’re very similar fighters — evasive, counter-strikers, very quick.
It will be interesting to see who wins the clinch game.
Rashad struggled with Tito, Lyoto in the early going made Tito look really bad.
I think the difference will be in the later rounds.
Against Tito, Lyoto faded a bit in the later rounds, Rashad got stronger. Is Lyoto ready for the championship rounds?

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Nate Wilcox on Mar 13, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Machida’s Sumo will be the deciding factor.

by Bandaka on Mar 13, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

because he can push rashad against the cage with his massive stomach?

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Finally…somebody else thinks this too! His clinch game is scary from that sumo training…on par with a great greco wrestler, but much less conventional…watch how he uses little slaps, pushes, pulls, and shoves to get people off balance and set them up for some kind of trip. It’s really I think the most interesting part of his game (even though all anyone wants to talk about is Karate and running away). This fight will be won/lost in the clinch.

by gocjeffe on Mar 13, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

agreed

I’m hoping his victory belt book will talk about the sumo as well as the karate.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Nate Wilcox on Mar 13, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh dang…I didn’t realize there was a book in progress!

After the fight, I wonder if anyone will ask Greg Jackson if they took the sumo under consideration and if so how exactly they prepared for it. He strikes me as the kind of planner who wouldn’t overlook this angle.

by gocjeffe on Mar 13, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

by skeed on Mar 13, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’ll be getting that one for sure.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Charles Awad on Mar 13, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I noticed the slaps in the first clinch he got into with Thiago, it was almost like he just wanted to slap him around the head a bit to piss him off and get him chasing him.

by brad23 on Mar 13, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

whoever wins, i think thisis going to be a fight only the hardcores love… I don’t foresee a ton of action.

evans is going to know machida wants to counter strike. Machida knows evans likes to counter strike. I see a TON of circling going on. and a ton of leg kicks

by dbcb on Mar 13, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Neither of these guys have been in a boring fight in a long time IMO.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

well this comment is basically irrelevant because neither of them have faced another patient counter striker (chuck was not patient at all).

but anyway, the bisbing fight wasn’t exactly awesome and I didn’t particularly like the ortiz fight for machida either.

by dbcb on Mar 13, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Keep in mind that neither has had to game plan for that nature of fighter, either. I think they’re going to know that in order to emerge victorious, they’ll both have to press a little bit. The non-action generally occurs when a hesitant striker, who is normally aggressive, can’t find a way to approach and grows increasingly frustrated. I think these two guys will have a great fight and pick their spots intelligently.

by Charles Awad on Mar 13, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s a tough fight to predict because personally, I wouldn’t bet against either of these guys.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

I am not a Machida fanboy

But I think that Machida will win. Both fighters are counter punchers, so it boils down to who will be the more patient. I think Rashad will get antsy and look for the big punch late in the rounds where he will get picked apart. I really doubt this fight will go to the ground becuase Machida has such good foot work that he will stay outside of the takedown.

by Bandaka on Mar 13, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

however if Lyoto gets the takedown

He’ll have a huge advantage over Rashad.
He very nearly finished Tito at the end of the first round. Rashad’s not known for his guard.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Nate Wilcox on Mar 13, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Lyoto's admits

Lyoto did admit that if one more second had passed by, he would have passed out from Tito’s submission on his back.

by CaptainAmerica1967 on Mar 13, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

this is true

Lyoto did make a rare mistake there.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Nate Wilcox on Mar 13, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Would you have expected Tito to go for the triangle?

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 13, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Rashad will be making a mistake of epic proportions if he thinks the Tito triangle is an indication that he can do the same. I think that was an anomaly.

by Charles Awad on Mar 13, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Disagree. He took Tito down into side control and landed some good shots from the beatdown position, but Tito wasn’t nearly finished. There wasn’t enough time to know either way.

In Rd 2, Tito pulled guard, and regained his feet withing 10 seconds. In Rd 3, Lyoto didn’t come close to passing Tito’s guard or doing any damage after he had Tito dazed from a standing knee, and then got fairly close to being triangled.

If Rashad ends up on his back, I highly doubt he stays there for long.

by Hardcharger on Mar 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Small aside, but he landed an elbow in between the gloves a little bit after dropping him that I think could be classified as damage, but for this fight I’m still not personally sure what will happen if rashad ends up on his back. i.e. in what position he ends up in, what act puts him on his back etc. that could be key determinants in how he responds to it. I’m just looking forward to a very competitive fight from each of these two as I think they match up with each other better than perhaps anyone else in the UFC would against them individually.

by AceofBlades on Mar 13, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Upset Special...

I think Machida’s got this.

by wrakneelyo on Mar 13, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

wouldn’t be an upset according to oddsmakers.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Machida is the favorite...

so not really an upset special.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 13, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

How many times have the challenger come in as the favorite?

by Johann on Mar 13, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

GSP/Serra II

and um…I can’t think of another case honestly.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 13, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Serra was the favorite in that fight? Goddamn, I wish had a betting account set up for that idiocy.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Serra wasn’t the fave for either of them.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

No...

Johann said how many times have the CHALLENGER come in as the favorite. In GSP/Serra II Matt was the champ and GSP was the challenger…so GSP was favored.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 13, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh God

gigantic reading comprehension fail. :P

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

You’ve been on fire with those lately :-D

by Derek Suboticki on Mar 13, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I do what I can. :-D

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the replies..

I just thought it was an odd occurence for a champ to be an underdog. Except for the Serra title defence. Next question. How often did the underdog champs beat the odds? Cause I reckon oddsmakers rarely makes mistakes with their.. odds (?)
But then again this is MMA, we have fuck ups like Thiago/Kos.

by Johann on Mar 13, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Since the underdog champ thing has only happened once as far as anyone remembers I would say that the underdog champion has never beaten the odds.

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Mar 13, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Lesnar was the favorite against Couture.

by Tim Burke on Mar 13, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

that’s what i was thinking, dont know about the gabe fight. i think bj was considered the challenger when he fought sherk and was the fav, but that was just a technicality.

by bdw on Mar 13, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ was the champ

Sherk was the challenger.

by Charles Awad on Mar 13, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

True story, forgot about that one

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Mar 13, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Penn vs Puvler I

Penn was the favorite the first time he fought (and lost) Pulver for the title.

by DrTopo on Mar 13, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Couture/Gonzaga

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Mar 13, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Was Couture/Liddell II one?

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Mar 13, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus...

you guys remember a lot more of these than I do.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 13, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s not about being a fanboy. Heh, it’s about looking at their histories… Lyoto’s a counter fighter as is Reshad, the difference is, Lyoto can move in and score while playing defense, which will make the the other person feel compelled to do something in return.

by adamdd on Mar 13, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

I expect a decision and unless Machida pushes the action (which he hasn’t been known for IMO) I can see him losing to the judges.

by pr0cs on Mar 13, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

wrong

Machida excels at point fighting, he’ll get in and score points while making Rashad miss. When Rashad is at his most evasive == Chuck, Tito == he doesn’t score that many points.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Nate Wilcox on Mar 13, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

point fighting wins 3 rounders, not championship fights. He’s going to have to show some aggression.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

How so?

It’s a round by round basis, no matter whether it’s three or five.

by Charles Awad on Mar 13, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Machida hasn’t lost a round in the UFC, Rashad lost the first two to Forrest and the first one to Chuck. I think it is pretty safe to say if it stays on the feet and goes to a decision, Machida has it.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 13, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah.

Machida’s karate is a huge reason why he’s so good at scoring points. He gets in and out, takes no damage. Machida also controls every fight he’s in through his evasiveness and his intelligence for picking his points of attack. Everyone inevitably ends up fighting his fight, not theirs. We know his wrestling and strength is really good too (eg: vs Tito). And now that he’s working on his punching power, it ends up as a really tough fight for Rashad. Rashad can’t let this go to the judges. He’s gonna have to knock Lyoto out. But that means he’s gotta hit him first. However, if anyone has a chance to hit Lyoto, it’s Rashad. The dude is pretty quick.

On another note, I’m really looking forward to this. Machida is now getting comfortable in the cage and he’s starting to play to the crowd, letting some personality show. He’ll be an awesome champ.

by pud333 on Mar 13, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Great Post

And I completely agree. It’s hard to go against Lyoto because no one yet has, but hell Rashad has the best chance of everyone due to his power and quickness. His shot on Liddel was insane in both it’s power and quickness. In slow-mo it looked like Chuck was fighting through Jell-o.

I see quite a bit of circling too, both out of respect for the others’ games, but the anticipation the circling will make will be epic. I can’t can’t wait for this match.

And yeah, Machida will make an awesome champ, I totally agree. English is the big thing. Learning it will do a lot to gaining fans.

by Dooda on Mar 13, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

There will definitely be a lot of feeling out in the first round for sure, considering both are counter strikers. It’ll boil down to who is more patient I figure. Personally, I don’t see Rashad drawing Machida out of his game. It’ll probably be the other way around.

by pud333 on Mar 13, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Hope Shad shocks everyone and does a quick KO in the first or 2nd. I don’t want him getting hurt and delaying the ‘black on black crime’ :)

WAR SUGARASHAD!!!!!!

Lyotos never been in a 5 rounder has he? O_o

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Mar 13, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

rashad has never been in the championship rounds either though

by dbcb on Mar 13, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s interesting to see the trend of betting against Rashad continue on. I wonder how many people have to get burned betting against him until they realize it’s not good business?

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

As opposed to those guys and their massive success betting against Machida?

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 13, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

All I’m saying is that people love to think Rashad is going to lose “the next one”.

I think he’s going to brutally KO Machida.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s got a shot for sure. I think if it goes into the later rounds, and if Rashad can outpace Machida, he might be able to catch him with a shot. A slower Machida has got to be easier to hit, right?

by pud333 on Mar 13, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Rec’d for the -230 line against Thiago Silva paying for my last Vegas trip

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Mar 13, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL, paid for my small vacation to Florida.

Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

by Leland Roling on Mar 13, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I can’t express how disappointed I am that Machida didn’t mention how explosive Rashad is…

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Mar 13, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

huge problem for you machida fans....

i think machida is going to walk through rashard, but i have been wrong every fight of rashards since the ultimate fighter finale. I think i might even have picked seal salmon (JK)

by pmac06340 on Mar 13, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

His name is Rashad. Not Rashard.

by a tommy point on Mar 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

point fighting won forrest the belt...

so i guess it is somewhat effective in championship bouts

by pmac06340 on Mar 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

If the belt changes waists again, I am going to scream!

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Mar 13, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

why? I like belts changing hands… keeps the division interesting and fresh

by dbcb on Mar 13, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t worry, once it changes this time it won’t for a nice long time.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 13, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

You seem awfully confident here.

by Bigperm on Mar 13, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I happen to be a huge Machida fan. I am biased. The facts however support my biased opinion.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 13, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t worry, once it changes this time it won’t for a nice long time.

Haha, I’m totally with you there. I’m a huge Machida fan also, and I think if anyone can go on a run in the LHW division, it’ll be him. He’s got the best skills to do it.

by pud333 on Mar 13, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been telling everyone for the past year that Machida will obtain the belt and hold it as soon as the UFC would give him a shot.

by J_Maddux on Mar 14, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he's pretty wild eyed

I think he’s going to brutally KO Machida.

by Charles Awad on Mar 13, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

The scary thing is, Lyoto hasn’t even reached his peak yet. If Rashad tries to get in an out quick against him like his past opponents, I could see Machida landing many matrix-like counter left hands on Evans

by smoogy on Mar 13, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

Do you think either of them has peaked yet?

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Mar 13, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Rashad started so slowly in the fight with Forrest. I think that Lyoto will inflict some serious damage in the beginning of the fight before Rashad gets loose.

by J_Maddux on Mar 13, 2009 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

This is why I favor Machida in a fight that is more likely to go the distance than it is to be finished. Rashad’s tendency to throw away the first round might not seem like a big deal in a 5 round fight, but it is. When you lose the first round of a championship fight, excepting 10-8 rounds, you can only win a decision if you win 3 out of the 4 remaining rounds. It’s one thing to realize you’re behind and turn up the heat on fighters like Forrest and Tito, but getting aggressive on Machida only plays into his game.

by Jahbulon on Mar 13, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Betting on Machida will be the first time in ages I’ve bet on a fight

by goo on Mar 13, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

Machida is the seven-headed monster.

The line just went from -170 to -200 on Machida at bodog. :(

by J_Maddux on Mar 14, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

The hate continues for Rashad...

No matter who Rashad beats everyone wants to bet against him. If you think Machida is going to walk through Evans, wake up from that dream. As far as I can remember Machida only knocked out one person. Evans has proven himself time and time again. Except for Bisping and Ortiz, he’s made light work of his opponents.

While Machida has a style that could beat Evans, Rashad also has a style that can beat Machida. He has good stand-up and ground game. This is a fight that comes down to who makes the first mistake. Both have the potential to knock out their opponent or submit them.

by Akorn on Mar 15, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions