UFC 98: Rashad Evans' Gameplan Against Lyoto Machida Will Be Boring
by Kid Nate on May 19, 2009 10:18 AM EDT
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Sherdog has a very informative interview with Rashad Evans' striking coach Mike Winklejohn that provides several intriguing hints as to their game plan for Lyoto Machida:
“Machida is a tough nut to crack,” Winklejohn said. “He’s a talented guy with good reactions; he steps back, causes a hole and counters real well. [The] plan is to have Rashad not be there when Machida wants to counter. We are going to counter the counter or make Machida come at Rashad.”
...
“I told Rashad if the crowd starts booing, that’s a good thing; we have the right gameplan,” said Winklejohn, echoing the sentiments he imparted before Evans knocked out Liddell in Atlanta.
This match promised to be an epic of strategy, pitting two undefeated Light Heavyweights together at the top of their games. But it also threatens to be a slow-moving snoozefest to the uneducated eye.
Personally I'm looking at it like a detective story. Will the fight scientists of Greg Jackson's preeminent camp be able to unravel the enigma of MMA's most elusive striker, Lyoto Machida?
Will Machida, one of the games' craftiest players throw a wrench in the works by using his arsenal of trips and foot sweeps to put Rashad the wrestler on his back?
What mid-bout adjustments will be made? I expect the fight to be decided by footwork. Will Rashad take two rounds to figure out Machida's unconventional dance steps and catch him coming in in the third? Winklejohn is predicting a KO in 3.
Or will Machida adjust his game mid-fight so that when Rashad goes to KO Lyoto based on where he was in the first two rounds, Machida instead is somewhere else?
I really don't have words for how excited this matchup is getting me. You've got two of the best camps in MMA today putting up their top stud horses in a race for the marquee championship belt in the sport.
One thing I would like to know -- who has Machida been training with for this fight? Just his dad? What about his sometimes training partners Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort? I'm particularly interested in knowing what wisdom Silva could impart to his teammate Machida.
One thing I don't expect Machida to catch from Silva is the lack of killer instinct. Unlike Silva who's been defending his belt and legacy against a string of mediocrities, Machida is on the rise and still proving himself to a legion of skeptical fans.
Even at his most notoriously slow-paced, Machida has always fought toward a definitive conclusion, relentlessly accumulating points and heading to a clear victory, even in decision.
I think there is too much on the line for this fight not to come to a satisfying and definitive finish, but like a baseball game featuring two great pitchers, I expect the tension to build over the course of the match. Round by round the fighters will test one another's defenses until someone makes a fatal mistake.
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So, Rashad’s gameplan will be to counter the counter. That means it basically comes down to footwork and speed in that arena. I still think Machida wins in that case. If it comes down to inside boxing and hand speed on the inside, Rashad has the edge, but if that’s the gameplan, look for Machida to point him to death.
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Rashad was supposed to have problems against Forrest and Chuck and although he lost some rounds, it was more of a sacrifice for strategy according to Greg Jackson. Chuck may have been “washed up” but he could still hit harder than Lyoto and has an even greater range. Not to say that Lyoto will be as easy to hit as he’s proven to be the best at that because of his footwork and head movement like you say. I’ve picked Rashad from the start although this strategy sounds risky. If he waits for Machida he could easily lose the rounds and if he can’t catch him, the title.
by toughaintenough on May 19, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Eat one and throw one back harder. He really fell in love with his overhand right during the Chuck fight.
This is a smart plan by Rashad. This fight may not be the Borg assimilation I thought.
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Verryyyyy nice post.. I really like how you wrote this..
And to answer your question, I think that on this camp, he stayed on his own camp with his family the whole time.. And aside from ishii, I don’t know who else he has invited to train with him..
I know recs aren’t gonna do shit for this post, but I’ll do it anyway.. I’m really stoked for this matchup, and I’m predicting (and hoping) for a machida win in the fourth round..
by Anton Tabuena on May 19, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
thanks
recs are appreciated.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
Wait, since recs won’t do anything here, what if we just buzz up front page stuff that we like? ..at least that way, we may get more eyeballs for bloodyelbow. :)
by Anton Tabuena on May 19, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
you go girl!
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
Correction
UFC 98: Rashad Evans’ Gameplan Against Boring Lyoto Machida Will Be Boring
At least I’m going in knowing what to expect. This fight will be great even though I know it wont be all action. Mark my words, Machida will get taken down and pounded! :P
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
I don't think rashad will try to take him down though..
I think they’ll try to counter like what they did in the chuck fight, but they’ll find out that machida is a different animal on a whole different level..
by Anton Tabuena on May 19, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
They already know he is a different animal. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be surprised if Jacksons plan is for Rashad to use his superior wrestling skills to put Machida on the ground (look for double legs a la GSP ;) and pound him out that way. This isn’t the fresh outta TUF Rashad where he was bigger and gassed easily. This Rashad is faster and leaner.
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 May 19, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
As fans, we should be ready for this fight to not be well received by the live audience. I hope it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of those of us looking forward to the strategic battle.
I’m not surprised to hear Rashad’s gameplan articulated in this manner. He’s a faster, more explosive athlete and doesn’t have to play into Lyoto’s game. They’re taking the right approach. Rashad has the power to do real damage when he catches Machida.
by Hardcharger on May 19, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
If there is anyone at LHW capable of utilizing this gameplan, it is Rashad. Rashad always takes the first round or so to get in tune with his opponent’s timing, I don’t see it being any different here. This reminds me of post-play in basketball, where you have moves, and counter-moves and further counters off of those. However, it is risky and difficult to engage in a prolonged standup battle because anticipating how Machida will react will be difficult as he hasn’t been tested to any great extent on the feet.
I can see Jackson’s using a very similar strategy here compared to what was used vs. BJ. This involves Rashad mildly engaging Lyoto in the standup, but being mindful of not allowing his bread and butter counters such as the straight left, knee to the body or trip. Rashad will use the takedown to mix it up which should leave Lyoto tentative and guessing when they are standing. I think they can take advantage of a tired, slow Machida, so they will put heavy pressure on him should they get top position. I think it leads to a late TKO or decision victory over a slowed Lyoto when all is said and done.
This made me think
perhaps the Rashad strategy will involve some aspects of the GSP/BJ Penn fight in that they will want to take steps in the first round to tire out Machida’s arms and slow down his punching speed and movement?
I’m not sure it would work, since Machida avoids the clinch very well and has the judo/sumo skills to make even that a dicy proposition, but considering Rashad’s wrestling background and inside game…camp Jackson might try and go that route.
Why slow down his punching?
Why not waistlock and blast his legs with knees and transition into a guard with elbows to the quads a la Lyoto himself? And leg kicks when they become available.
He can’t run without wheels.
Guys, checkout cage potato, Anthony Johnson got injured.. (I’d post a fanshot/post if I could, but I’m on my itouch now)
he had to pull out of his fight with matt brown, and they’re promoting lytle vs burns to the main card..
by Anton Tabuena on May 19, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
AHHHHHHHHH HORSESHIT!!!!!
These guys are getting out of hand in training. >:(
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 May 19, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm always suspicious of gameplans
that are commented on prior to bouts. I usually assume what is reveals is part of the greater strategy to throw off the opposing camp.
Maybe not.
But I do know if it was me, I wouldn’t be saying shit about my strategy.
I find it a little strange that Rashad’s striking coach is giving away game plans.
by artelussonnier on May 19, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions
I’m sure nobody is “giving away the game plan”. But this fight might be the impetus for athletic commissions to institute yellow cards. I have a feeling it’s going to be like watching Bernard Hopkins fight Bernard Hopkins. I will surely enjoy it but I don’t expect a thrilling conclusion.
Do you honestly believe Greg Jackson and CO will be divulging any details to a retard on sherdog… This is all fog and mirrors.
Rashad has a bad habit lately of giving away rounds to feel out his opponents… That is something you can not do with Machida.
The main reason is the probability of finishing Lyoto is extremely low. Greg Jackson knows this… So his entire strategy revolves around winning at least 3 of the five rounds.
They are trying to make people believe that Rashad will use the strategy he used on “chuck” the difference is chuck fights moving backwards and to the side so to get him out of his comfort zone you make him move forward.
That’s not the case with lyoto. He can fight moving in all directions – even though it’s still a counter style.
Greg Jackson does one thing and that’s to figure out where your comfort zone is and try to take you out of it.
Rashads only hope is putting Lyoto on his back long enough to win rounds. HE CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE THE FIRST 2 ROUNDS TO LYOTO – so expect countering the counters with takedown attempts.
Based on Rashad’s prior fights, I don’t think he has a particularly good sense of where he stands on the judges scorecards. I’d need to rewatch them to be sure, but I clearly remember wondering why he’s not turning up the heat more in many of his fights.
Yeah, Rashad’s bad habit of losing rounds got him a TKO against Forrest to win the LHW belt and a KO against Liddell that was the most spectacular KO in recent memory.
Your insistence that Rashad has only one hope of winning the fight is widly inaccurate and obviously incomplete. People counting out Rashad seriously underestimate his skills.
by Hardcharger on May 19, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s his best hope. He’s not winning a decision.
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I think what he was getting at was the fact that Machida is great at point fighting. Considering how hard it is to hit Machida, if Rashad can’t hit him, he’ll have to go for takedowns to win some points, or else Machida will just point-fight him to death. Chuck and Forrest are easier to hit, so it’s one thing for Rashad to give up a couple rounds against those guys, but if he gets behind points to Machida, he’ll be in trouble.
That being said, if anybody can find a way to beat Machida, It’ll be Rashad and Team Jackson.
I love me some Sexyama!
By thinking he can catch Machida like he did Forrest & Chuck
aren’t you severely underestimating Machida? I am not sure how this is going to go, but I do not see it being anything but a decision based on each fighters usual fight styles.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
I’m stating it’s a possibility. I agree that this fight is a likely decision, but IMO it’s absurd to believe that it is impossible for Rashad to catch Lyoto.
As far as I know, and I may be mistaken,
but Machida is still human, right? lol
This is MMA & anyone can be caught & Rashad has the quickness & power to do it.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
so you agree that this fight is a likely decision yet you continue to make your asinine arguments…
Go tally how many rounds Evans has lost in his career and how many rounds Rashad has lost and then you may get a glimpse as to what will in all probability transpire in this fight.
What is likely is different that making absurd statements like Rashad has only 1 chance at winning. I realize basic logic is very difficult for you, but keep trying.
You may also want to look into that quality of opposition thing. Another free tip for you.
When you look at trends there are certain factors and indicators which paints the future pretty accurately. The wealthy understand the important factors and the clueless watch CNBC.
In this fight here are the most important indicators one needs to look at:
Rashad loses rounds. Lyoto doesnt.
Rashad gets hit. Lyoto doesnt.
Yes Rashad hits hard but the probability of Rashad finishing a guy who has never been finished or even hurt… and yes who hardly gets hit is almost nil.
The Math is not on Rashad’s side. The betting odds reflect this.
This entire fight comes down to whether or not Rashad can get Machida on his back and for what duration.
The answer to this question = who wins.
Your math renders the previous math irrelevant and obsolete. Nicely done.
by Hardcharger on May 19, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Forrest is the best LHW Rashad has beat so I agree Rashad has beaten the best opponent of the 2.
But that’s only because Forrest didnt want to fight Machida you dumbass.
Like I said in the original comment weighted against everything else this is a meaningless factor.
Funny that Forrest didn’t want to fight Machida, yet he signed to fight Machida at UFC 70. Only a staph infection took him from the fight.
LOL at level of competition being meaningless in analyzing the results each guy has seen against different competition.
I though they offered Machida to Forrest
after the Rampage fight?
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
I don’t think they ever offered a Machida title fight to Forrest
It was supposed to be Chuck then turned into Rashad
You may be right,
I cannot remember the timing of Forrest being offered Machida but I did not think it was before he got the title shot.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Honestly, I cannot remember at all
the order this stuff transpired.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Wrong. Machida makes rising top LHWs irrelevant and look moronic. Rashad squeeks by top LHWs, makes them look good, thus always goes into his next match the underdog.
Who are the top rising LHWs Machida made look moronic? Sokodjou? LOL. Thiago Silva? He’s beaten nobody, been battered repeatedly on his feet, and will get battered again by Jardine. David Heath? Nakamura?
Rashad didn’t squeak by Liddell or Forrest. He wasn’t as good as he is now when he fought Bisping or Tito, and those weren’t great performances, but recently Rashad has looked great.
He looked great?
He was losing both fights you dumbass. He landed one punch and he won. That’s not looking great – that’s having knockout power.
Rewatch the Chuck fight – he was dominating the second round.
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Ahh, resorting to ad hominem attacks. A sure sign that you’re frustrated at being exposed as a fraud.
Rashad had already bloodied up Chuck’s face in Rd 1, and Chuck had landed nothing. He lured Chuck in and landed the overhand right – just as the gameplan called for – land left Chuck in a crumpled heap on the floor. That’s perfect execution.
Rashad will be more than happy to leave Machida in a similar comatose state if he makes a mistake. And I’m sure you’ll be fist in line to tell everyone how bad Rashad looked, right up until the point where he won. You see, finishing fights is something you’re not familiar with as a Machida nuthugger, amongst your other shortcomings and laughable posts.
easy on the namecalling
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
“He’s beaten nobody, been battered repeatedly on his feet”
When was he ever battered on his feet?? Unless you have to make a special exception in Machida’s case, and call getting hit a couple of times “battered.”
Thiago Silva got knocked down early by an Antonio Mendes headkick as well. Who is Antonio Mendes you ask? ….
It's like you're talking directly to me!
“…Machida is on the rise and still proving himself to a legion of skeptical fans.”
Let’s play skeptic for a minute and look at Machida’s record:
- Thiago Silva – One-dimensional
- Tito Ortiz – Has-been
- Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou – Over-hyped
- Kazuhiro Nakamura – Nobody
- David Heath – Nobody
- Sam Hoger – Nobody
- Vernon White – Nobody/Has-been
- Dimitri Wanderley – Nobody
- B.J. Penn – Lightweight
- Sam Greco – Nobody
- Michael McDonald – Nobody
- Rich Franklin – Impressive!
- Stephan Bonnar – Nobody at the time – and kinda still is
- Kengo Watanabe – Nobody
So I know he’s undefeated, but I’m only really impressed by his wins over Rich Franklin (a middleweight), Thiago Silva, and the fan-boy in me liked seeing him beat The PredatorSokoudjou.
Not that I’m trying to build up Rashad – his collection is the same except he lost (admit it) to the same has-been(Tito), beat an additional has-been (sorry Chuck), and only has one win that means much of anything (Griffin). Although that’s at least recent.
I’m just saying: we all need to take a step away from Machida’s nutsack and judge him for what he is – and not pretend that his style is unstoppable because he beat Sam Hoger and David Heath.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
If I am not mistaken Thiago Silva is a BJJ blackbelt with a very impressive full mount, and he also has a very aggressive muay thai style. I wouldn’t call him one-dimensional based on his previous performances (and I am not a fan of Thiago Silva by the way). Also, mentioning David Heath and Sam Hoger at the end of your blurb is somewhat ridiculous because you are only pointing out his victories over lesser opponents from the past that don’t mean anything. I can point out Evans’ wins over Brad Imes and Sean Salmon and make the same statement that you made in regards to Rashad.
Nothing is unstoppable, and Machida’s style isn’t some other worldly style. He has great timing with his punches, has good feints, and great footwork that utilizes a karate style. That’s just good fighting talents to have, and he has proven that he can make it work. It is hardly being on his “nutsack,” but him showing that he has strong talents in fighting.
“I wouldn’t call him one-dimensional based on his previous performances”
You wouldn’t call Thiago Silva one-dimensional? Are we counting his single submission victory over Dave Dalgliesh (who?)? REALLY? Come on!
“I can point out Evans’ wins over Brad Imes and Sean Salmon and make the same statement that you made in regards to Rashad. "
You’re either missing the point, or you skipped right past, “Not that I’m trying to build up Rashad – his collection is the same.” I’m not saying that Rashad has a better record than Machida. I’m saying that neither of them has a history of beating top-ranked competition.
My point is that people hold up Machida as an unstoppable force, but he doesn’t actually have the record to back that up. I’d be making the same case against Rashad, but nobody is making those claims about him.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
It’s just insane that he’s never lost a round on a scorecard, jemaleddin. That and that weird ‘strikes absorbed per minute’ stat that only Fedor beats him in that we all remember.
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Fighting slower than average helps that strikes/minute stat..
Strikes landed could be 0 – 0 and the fight a draw over 25 minutes, but you would like an unhittable god. Obviously extreme, but Machida’s pacing definitely helps him there.
And waiting until the last minute of each round to engage… And fighting mostly scrubs…
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
I keep hearing this “never lost a round thing” but he won a split decision against Sam Greco in 2004 – was the decision split between “he won” and “he super-won”? :-)
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
He has never lost a round in the UFC.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
And that’s a) not how people keep saying it, and b) very different.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
You’re right – I forgot about that split. The UFC streak is pretty damn impressive nonetheless.
by Derek Suboticki on May 20, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I get your point now
But you have to admit the Hoger and Heath line opened up your argument to negative interpretation. Otherwise, I see what you are saying. And like I said, and this is coming from a guy who’s favorite fighter is Machida, but “nothing is unstoppable.” It is not that Machida is “unstoppable,” Machida has shown certain skills in the Octagon that many good to great fighters don’t possess.
However, I don’t agree with your Thiago Silva assessment still because he may have not submitted fighters on the ground, but has taken fights to the ground many times and won there.
But ground and pound isn’t BBJ – right?
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Lets take a look at the guys both guys fought...
before you try and downplay Machida’s resume.
They both faced:
Bonnar- Machida TKO versus Evans SD
Hoger- Machida UD versus Evans SD
Ortiz- Machida UD versus Evans Draw due to Ortiz penalty
Evans also has split decisions against Brad Imes and Bisping.
Based on records, Machida has proven to have more decisive victories than Evans so I don’t think your point hold much weight.
That’s because your missing my point. But that’s cool.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
You did say that Evans beat better fighters than Machida when you replied to bigweeze’s reply above. So what point are you arguing?
You can list pretty much all elite fighters records and there will be fights where you go “who?” and “really?” as they are coming up but that doesn’t make their victories any less significant. It is how they and win so far Machida’s record is flawless (hasn’t lost a round in the UFC).
Machida hits guys and barely gets hit back. No one has yet to figure out a way to fight against his style so maybe thats where he gets his reputation as an unstoppable force.
And I am not discrediting Evans because I like the way he fight too (I just think Machida will take this). He has simply wrecked his last 2 opponents and toughed out so many close decisions.
See? Still missing it. Here it is, but this time I quoted it and made it bold:
“I’m just saying: we all need to take a step away from Machida’s nutsack and judge him for what he is – and not pretend that his style is unstoppable because he beat Sam Hoger and David Heath.”
I’m not saying that Evans is better, or that Evans has a stronger schedule. In fact, I wrote just the opposite! Let’s be clear: I am not a Rashad Evans fan. I do not think he’s a better fighter. I AM rooting for him to win, but only because of my rule: if you hate them both, root for the underdog.
My point is that Lyoto is still very much an unproven commodity. Yes, he beats journeyman fighters, yes he beats scrubs, and yes, he kicks a lot of has-been ass. But there are dozens of LHWs floundering in the middle of the pile without a title shot that beat these same fighters.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
You can’t be unproven and have a win over Rich Franklin. You yourself said that was impressive and doesn’t fall under journeyman, scrub, or has-been.
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
1 fight, in Japan, unregulated and almost 6 years ago. I’m gonna discount it’s value.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
I think I do get it and that you’re contradicting yourself, unless you meant something else when you said:
That’s what I said. Only shorter…
in response to when bigweeze said:
Rashad beats top LHWs, Lyoto doesn’t.
But to me that means you think Evans has the stronger schedule.
Who else do you think deserves a title shot in the LHW div. besides Rampage?
a) That was a JOKE. At my own expense. bigweeze said something very similar – he attacked the strength of Machida’s schedule – in a shorter and pithier way. That’s all. See?
b) Rampage (good call), Keith Jardine (I know, I know – they’re friends), Dan Henderson (not that he’d win). That should get us through the next few months. :-)
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Never count out Decision Dan. Him against Machida would be a decision on top of a decision, served inside another decision.
by Derek Suboticki on May 20, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Rashad only recently learned to box properly.
Machida already had what, 20+ years of experience in karate? That’s essentially his entire life.
and he had trouble keeping Bisping down once he got the take down… could not out wrestle Tito and hes been wrestling basically his enitre life
Thiago Silva’s problem wasn’t that he’s one dimensional. His problem is that he’s overly aggressive standing and kinda chinny.
"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 May 19, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, I didn’t say what the dimension was. :-)
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
It doesn’t really leave him a lot of fighters to beat. Rampage I guess. You can label them all you want, they’re all impressive fighters that dedicate themselves to fighting and win a lot. You can say anything you want about any fighter and justify it.
Thiago – Unbeaten. Destroyed all his opponents.
Tito – Had just beaten Forrest, was robbed of beating Rashad.
Soku – Super dangerous and strong and knocked out some top LHWs.
Bonnar – A tough fight for anyone. Took Forrest to a tough decision. Has some impressive victories.
And your little list neglects to mention that not one fighter got even close to him. Maybe Tito did…maybe. Lists are useless. I could make a list of all the fighters Rashad has almost lost to.
Forrest. Chuck.
Tito.
Bisping.
and then compare it to Machida’s list of fighters that he has completely dominated, then conclude that somehow this means that it’s justified that I worship the guy.
“Bonnar – A tough fight for anyone. Took Forrest to a tough decision.”
I don’t know if you’re serious or joking.
Machida fought Bonnar before Bonnar was even on TUF 1. Bonnar is pretty average today for UFC standards, and that’s worlds better than he was in 2003 at the time when he fought Machida.
Yes, the fighter’s Machida completely dominated on his way to a STUNNING and BONE-CRUSHING decision…. :-P
Also: Thiago was unbeaten. He destroyed all of his FEARSOME opponents. Such AMAZING TOP NAMES as Tomasz Drwal! Or the terrifying Claudio Godoi! :-)
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Your characterization of many legitimate professional fighters as “nobodies” makes me fucking sick. While I’m certainly not a big fan of either Machida or Evans, there’s a lot of tough dudes on that list of yours.
jemaleddin = nobody
by mictlantechutli on May 19, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
please please
play nice
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
a) In the fight game? FOR SURE. And at 6’ 220, LHW would be my division – but I’d NEVER fight as well as any of those guys. You are absolutely right.
b) Do you then contend that beating Kazuhiro Nakamura, David Heath and Sam Hoger indicate that Machida is the greatest martial artist in the history of history itself? Because that’s the vibe that’s been going around. And I’m just saying: I’d like to see more before I make up my mind.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Kid Nate is right, and I apologize for being rude. I took offense to your comment and should have phrased it in a less confrontational manner. While I do not fight professionally, I train with guys that do, and to know their sacrifice is not always appreciated by fans of the sport is a painful reality that I need to learn to accept. I just feel they deserve more respect than that.
I don’t contend that beating Nakamura, Hoger, and Heath makes Machida the greatest martial artist in the history of history, but I understand what you are saying. Keep in mind, Nakamura and Heath both had very successful careers outside of the UFC, and Kaz has only lost to top 10 competition. His UFC career has been less than stellar, but he’s a damn good fighter and certainly not a “nobody”. Michael McDonald was a dangerous striker back in 2004, and while he may not have a phenomenal MMA record, at the time he was a serious threat to anyone.
Am I drinking the Machida Kool-aid (I’m thinking urine and acai flavor)? No, but I think he’s proven himself to be an incredibly dangerous fighter worthy of a title shot, and I think this is a good matchup.
by mictlantechutli on May 20, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
You and I mean very different things when we say “good matchup” sir.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
That may be the case, but with 130+ comments, there must be some level of interest in this fight.
by mictlantechutli on May 20, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
My interest is in not seeing the belt go to the most boring fighter. But in that case, WHO DO I ROOT FOR?!?
They should tell the judges: “It’s not striking, it’s not grappling, it’s not octagon control. For this one fight we judge on excitement.”
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
machida
thinking back on machida’s last fight against t. silva, the crowd went absolutely CRAZY after his victory (i realize most crowds do after a knockout). but this felt different. it almost feels like fans are desperate for a reason to cheer this guy. they WANT to cheer him. they know how good he is but they need a defining reason for him to become their favorite.
i am very excited for this fight. maybe im having to high expectations but this fight absolutely intrigues me.
Great post, Nate.
Personally, I’m gonna be on pins and needles throughout the whole match. I’m really hoping for a definitive conclusion (stoppage, KO, etc) because I think that would be the icing on the cake after several rounds of cerebral fighting.
At this point, it appears there’s more pressure on Machida to put on a good performance and finish. At first I didn’t think so, but as the match gets closer, I’m starting to shift. Maybe Rashad can actually outlast Machida, being no stranger to fans booing or not liking him in the past? Normally Rashad would have more to prove, since as the saying goes, you’re not a champ until you defend the belt successfuly, but in this case, I think it’s Machida that has most of the pressure.
I love me some Sexyama!
I just think people are over estimating the abilities of Sugar Rashad. Yes he is an excellent fighter but he is not the elusive fighter people make him out to be.
LOL. I wouldn’t call Rashad elusive, because he doesn’t fight to be elusive. He is, however, very fast, very quick, and very explosive. He uses those traits to their fullest. You may catch Rashad with some shots, but he’s got a great chin. You may not want to catch one of Rashad’s best shots, however.
Especially if you are Lyoto and you stand straight up and forget to tuck your chin half the time you exchange.
Yeah, Lyoto’s sloppy as shi… wait, he’s actually the second least hit guy in the game. You ever think he’s baiting people with his chin?
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
The fact that he hasn’t gotten hit hard yet doesn’t mean that his open hands won’t come back to bite him in the ass.
It took a while before people realized they could come down the pipe effectively on Chuck. But once they could… All it will take is Lyoto hesistating half a second before scooting away to get hit with a big punch. If his hands were close to his face, the blow would glance instead of catching flush, but he doesn’t seem to care.
I would love to see him in a boxing match vs. a decently skilled opponent. Apparently 25 years of karate can’t teach you hands up, chin down.
He has been hit hard. Sokoudjou nailed him early in their first fight, for instance.
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Damn there is a lot of bullshit in this thread, from both sides…
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on May 19, 2009 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Don’t be silly. There are way more than two sides here. There’s:
- Rashad is just a wrestler
- Rashad is a sloppy striker
- Rashad is good striker, but he’ll never catch Lyoto
- Lyoto is a god
- Lyoto is the second coming of Jesus
- Lyoto cured my mom’s cancer
- Lyoto appeared to me in a dream
- Lyoto appeared on the wall of a gas station and touching it heals those afflicted by athlete’s foot.
And I say: TEACH THE CONTROVERSY.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
This is absurd trolling, but whatever, I’ll bite. Who’s saying Rashad’s just a wrestler at this point? Who’s even saying he’s a sloppy striker? I’ve seen someone in here call Lyoto a sloppy striker, but not Rashad that I recall.
As for raising someone’s status to that of a god, have you read any of bigweeze’s posts?
It’s actually called humor, not trolling. You should look into it – I hear it’s going to be big.
Also: bread you can cut into slices.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
The trouble is, it’s not funny. It’s annoying, juvenile and the type of bullshit we’d rather not bother to read.
by Flying Gogoplata on May 20, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought it was pretty funny. Let’s not now decide what people can and can’t say as long as it follows the rules.
by Derek Suboticki on May 20, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
We? Oh man – now I’ve done it. I’ve upset FG AND the mouse in his pocket. Crap.
Oh well – some people fight Two and a Half Men Funny – can’t please everyone.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
How about no one.
Just stop trying. It’s getting to be a lame, tired act.
by Flying Gogoplata on May 22, 2009 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Man, I bet that (“Wah! I don’t like you! Go away!”) works a lot better on people who care about your opinion (“Hi Mrs. Gogoplata, can Flying come out to play?”). I – and the rest of the folks you meet on the internet – am not here to amuse you, but rather to amuse myself. In Arabic we say, “Illy mish rugboo, roah” – “If you don’t like it, leave.”
Alternately, you could ask the admins for a “kill file” feature – I’ve been begging for it to little avail. T’would make this place a lot more bearable for folks like you and me. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_file )
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
You could not really have
thought he was serious, did you?
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Oh, it’s possible. I told a guy that I thought Rashad was going to knock Chuck’s head off and he went off on the physics of punching and the durability of the connective tissues in the spinal column.
At which point I thought, “I could argue with this guy, or I could try to explain that it’s a figure of speech. But why in the hell does he know so much about that it takes to sever a human spine?” So I just left it alone.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
lol, when will people learn
to A) not take you too seriously and B) not argue with you at all!
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Most of the opposition arguments in this thread argue that Machida is not unstoppable and that Evans can beat him.
First, no one in this thread is saying he’s unstoppable; to claim otherwise is a straw man. Second, even if Evans can beat Machida, do you honest believe Evans likely will? That is, do you believe Evans has a [much] greater than 50% chance of defeating Machida?
by Flying Gogoplata on May 19, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions
Evans will beat Machida who has gotten tons of hype on here while Rashad has actually gone out and beaten top fighters and is the champion. Rashad will have the speed, power and game plan to beat Machida and he has 5 rounds to do it in sooner or later he is going to catch him and put him down like he did Chuck and Forrest.
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