A Look at Countdown to UFC 98

by Michael Rome on May 21, 2009 6:41 PM EDT in MMA News

I just saw the Countdown to UFC 98 show that will air tonight on Spike TV. It aired in the United Kingdom last night on Setanta, and it is a great program.

Many will focus on the hype for Hughes and Serra, but I thought the work they did promoting the Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida fight was masterful. The UFC has struggled to promote foreign fighters in the past, but they decided to go all out in creating a karate persona for Machida, and it worked.

For the first time both of these guys really came across as superstars on television. UFC 98's buyrate success does now largely depends on how many people watch the countdown, as I suspect the conversion rate of viewers to buys will be extremely high.

Rashad's team sounds very confident that they've found holes in Machida's game, and Rashad is going to catch him a few rounds into the fight. He had a star-studded training camp for this fight, with all the resources of Team Jackson dedicated to this fight. Is that enough to figure out Machida? I don't think so, but my confidence in Machida has been shaken over the last week.

Make sure to catch the countdown tonight on Spike.

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I don’t think so, but my confidence in Machida has been shaken over the last week.

Care to elaborate Michael?

by ufc4 on May 21, 2009 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

That’s actually a really deep sentence.

by Derek Suboticki on May 21, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

What has shaken you about Machida?

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

by Scott C. Broussard on May 21, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Rome may not have seen this, but there’s a nice thread at Sherdog that shows almost all of the times Machida gets hit with a power shot in the UFC. That’s just one of the things that may be shaking some confidence this week.

by Flying Gogoplata on May 21, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

That, or he’s trying to create some rumors to get the odds down on Machida so he can bet his house on him.

by ufc4 on May 21, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s what I thought when I read Josh Gross’s half-arsed “Five reasons” article.

by Flying Gogoplata on May 21, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the notice. I’ve been rewatching UFC 92 and the right hook followed by strikes Forrest gives Rashad before he brushes it off and slaps him makes me think Lyoto will be hard pressed to shake him.

by toughaintenough on May 21, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

Lyoto’s straight left is far more deadly than anything Forrest could muster.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill

by FlyByKnight on May 21, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

to chumps

by bigweeze on May 21, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Since when did Lyoto have cauliflower ears?

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 21, 2009 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

since long as i can remember.

by Grappo on May 21, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

He got them in the video of his debut in japan.

by spectaa on May 21, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It also airs in the Philippines a couple of days ahead of the setantA coverage… And I agree, they did a good job of making Evans and machida look like stars..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on May 21, 2009 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

His Japanese mentor which name I forgot (that’s the guy who fought with ali right?) gave him 3 good ones, LMAO, that’s the kind of blessing that can give you a concussion.

by spectaa on May 21, 2009 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Antonio Inoki. Although Machida probably got those ears from karate competitions or something.

by Flying Gogoplata on May 21, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Hate to have Inoki as a darts partner. That guy does not know how to celebrate.

by jebushchrist on May 21, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Countdown as awesome.

They really made Machida look great. Can’t wait!

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on May 21, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Whenever Machida says something he sounds very profound.

Keep firing Assholes!

This is a dream competition for me. I drink as much coffee as I want, and eventually I hallucinate.

by Ubernoober on May 21, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

It’s one thing to find holes in one’s game, it’s another thing to get a training partner to imitate it. Countering Machida’s counter is great in theory, where do you find a guy to practice it on.

by Dooda on May 22, 2009 1:40 AM EDT reply actions