Yoshizo Machida: Lyoto Machida Will Attack Rashad Evans' Spirit at UFC 98

by Kid Nate on May 23, 2009 1:57 PM EDT in MMA News

Josh Gross has a very informative interview with Lyoto Machida's father and coach Yoshizo Machida.

I found his discussion of the mental side of fighting very interesting:

I like to incorporate everything, because a lot of it is spiritual and mental when you're going in the ring. How do you control yourself? A lot of times the fighter enters the ring nervous, not knowing what his opponent is thinking. With family being around to offer support and love, that can make him feel a lot more relaxed.

...

A lot of people don't prepare the mental state of their body. So many people are focused on the technical aspect and strength aspect, and they don't work on the mental aspects.

He also discusses the source of Lyoto's defensive approach to fighting:

Really, at the end of the day, I come from a background of martial arts. I always taught my children that in the Samurai days, if you were to get touched it would have been with a sword or a blade and you would have died. So the whole thing is to eliminate getting touched and that's what I've always instilled in my sons. Let's not pretend it's a punch. Let's pretend it's a sword. If you would have been hit by the sword, you'd be dead. That's how I trained him.

But he says that going into the Thiago Silva fight, even he thought Lyoto needed to be more aggressive.

Finally he addresses Rashad Evans and how Lyoto plans to take the belt:

From what I can tell, Rashad Evans is a compete fighter, a technical athlete. He's very fast. Very strong. I respect him very much. What I can't see is how strong he is mentally or spiritually. So, with that being said, that is where Lyoto is going to go after Rashad. He will attack his spirit.

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I was thinking. What if Lyoto comes out attacking in the first couple of rounds and really throws Rashad a curveball? Nobody is expecting that and Rashad is prone to losing the first couple of rounds. I’m not saying that he will be reckless or anything but just what if he switched it up a bit and then settled in to his more prominent defensive mode after the second round?

by dedstrk316 on May 23, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

I’m glad that people are learning more about Lyoto’s background. He is a very unique individual with a lot to offer in terms of marketability. People are slowly coming around on him. UFC Countdown did a great job of illustrating him in this spiritual samurai warrior character. I fully expect Lyoto to win and for this to be the real beginning to his fame and legacy in the octagon.

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 23, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

Attack Rashad's spirit?

I predict Rashad will attempt to aim counter attacks at Machida’s sense of self worth.

by ricker2005 on May 23, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

Boosh. Rec.

by Farthammer on May 23, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

What did you expect his father to say?

Of course his dad / trainer thinks he’s going to win. What kind of father / trainer would he be if he was like, “Evans is tough and I expect him to kick my son’s ass” or something like that?

I agree that the UFC is doing a better job at marketing Machida and he’s a great talent, but how exactly do you attack a man’s spirit in a fight?

by E. Spencer Kyte on May 23, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

how exactly do you attack a man’s spirit in a fight?

You put him in situations he’s never been in.

For instance, when was the last time Rashad was in the clinch or on his back? Perhaps Machida puts him on his back and works from there.

"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 23, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

Also neutralizing his best attacks. Lull him into the situation and meet him at the opening when he attempts to rush in.

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."

-Lao Tzu

by RoyalB on May 23, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

USE THE FORCE, LYOTO...

by JAYGK95 on May 23, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

I didn’t know that Rashad was that adverse to pis breath.

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on May 23, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

nate, there’s a typo on the title.. evans’

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on May 23, 2009 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

fixed it for him

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

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 23, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

With all of the bluster coming from Lyoto’s camp he’d better win this match.

by bigweeze on May 23, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

Bluster?

I’d hate to see your comments about people who really talk shit

by soadtrails on May 23, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I know you are firmly on the side of Rashad in this, but don’t see trash talk where it isn’t. Both camps have been extremely respectful towards each other coming into this fight.

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

by iiowyn on May 23, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

There are many ways to attack one’s spirit. Rashad touching his pee pee pee against Forrest was one way. Another way is the famous kenshiro hokuto technique TENHA KASATSU _;. Let’s see wich one lyoto use.

by spectaa on May 23, 2009 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

If Lyoto gets curb stomped I will be another victim of the vaunted UFC hype machine.

Lyoto drinks his own urine…….wow
Lyoto is a samurai….hope he doesn’t bring a sword.
Lyoto will crush his spirit……. Rashad doesn’t like Jedi mind tricks.
Lyoto trains in the jungle with Brazils very own big foot…hope he has no fleas.
Lyoto IS what Ralph Macchio was suppose to be.

I can’t stand Rashad and think he has lucked his way into the title. I don’t like his show boating or his attitude. But Lyoto is getting set up for a huge fall.

by Riney on May 23, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

I'm curious...

how he lucked his way into a title. He knocked out Chuck when it still meant something (revisionism is unfair), he knocked out Forrest. I’m not seeing a whole lot of luck there.

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

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on May 23, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Didn’t even want to touch that.

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 23, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he could have easily dropped 2 or 3 of his fights. With several loses he wouldn’t have had a title shot.

I think Chuck was done before Rashad hit him. I never really thought Forrest would be able to defend his title.

by Riney on May 23, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't stand him at all for the two statements you made.....

but….I can’t say he lucked his way into the title. He did beat legit competition, I have to give him that.

by soadtrails on May 23, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think taking Evans down may be a smart idea for Machida and its something I expect will happen, especially if the fight goes to the later rounds. Evans has power and taking him down would neutralise a lot of that

by StevenGiles on May 23, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

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