Judo Chop: Round Three Exchange Between Lyoto Machida and 'Rampage' Jackson

The UFC 123 main event between Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson offered a much-appreciated gift to fans of footwork like myself. For two rounds, Machida and "Rampage" danced around the Octagon with the grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Machida moved to his right, and Jackson followed to his left with deft lateral movement. Jackson would step forward to throw a punch, and Machida corraled him with his matador's cape.

Some may find this sort of song-and-dance routine trite and pedantic and, well, boring, but I find it to be a fascinating game of tag between two considerable men of talent. I was even more pleased considering the doubts I cast on Jackson leading into the bout.

The fight opened up in round three, though. Machida, cautious to throw punches in the first ten minutes, landed a combination that sent Jackson backward with his arms up to protect his cranium. Pressed up against the fence, Jackson eats a kick and then found himself in the all-too-familiar Thai plum. Machida landed two knees before Jackson exploded out of the position with power punches.

Machida exploited an opening that Jackson left gaping in the exchange, grabbed a bodylock, and planted "Rampage" on the mat. Machida eventually passed to side control and then quickly into mount. Instead of holding position and landing strikes, however, Machida rotated his hips and grabbed a flailing arm. Jackson defended in the only way he knows how - by lifting his opponent to slam him back onto the mat. Machida recognized his plight, abandoned the armbar, and returned to a vertical base, where the fight would play out over the last minute.

I break down that exchange after the break.

I had to cut this GIF close to the action, so it's a bit difficult to understand what's happening right at the start. Jackson steps in to throw a left hook, and Machida throws a straight left to counter. Machida lands first and right on the button, stunning "Rampage." He then lands a right hook and a second straight left - both, again, on the chin - which sends Jackson reeling toward the fence. When he gets there, Machida throws a kick, which looks to have landed hard on the forearms. With Jackson covering up, Machida is able to grab the Thai plum and unleash a couple of knees. Jackson knows he can't stay in that position, and comes out firing: a left hook to the body, an overhand right to the head, another left hook that ends up as a forearm, and a winging right hand that sails harmlessly away. With "Rampage" disoriented, Machida locks his arms around Jackson's body, lifts Jackson just enough to gain control of his balance, and brings the fight to the mat.

At the beginning of the animation, Jackson's half-guard is wide open. Machida maintained the position for nearly 30 seconds after the takedown without moving to pass. Machida finally takes the backward step to pass with three minutes remaining in the fight, but then inexplicably puts his leg back in between Jackson's hips. A very curious decision that Joe Rogan commented on during the bout. 

Check the clock: it's taken Machida almost a minute-and-a-half to obtain side control. In any case, Machida had worked to control Jackson's left arm in a kimura grip. He briefly abandoned the grip to throw elbows to Jackson's left thigh, but regained the hold in order to deceive Jackson while finally taking the back step out of half-guard into side control. 

After taking side control, Machida let go of Jackson's left wrist with his right hand in order to hook Jackson's left leg. He then deceives Jackson a second time with the kimura. He feints grabbing the wrist, and instead controls Jackon's leg as he brings his right leg over to obtain mount. Machida establishes the position with solid fundamentals as he grapevines Jackson's legs with his own and spreads his arms out wide to prevent Jackson from exploding to either side.

I'm not a fan of armbars from mount, especially in MMA. Mount is arguably of greater dominance than back control when strikes are involved. So, I'm a little confused as to why Machida decided to risk his position for an armbar. He could have worked for a kimura /americana, an arm triangle (which he used to finish Sokoudjou), or simply postured up for punches. It should be noted that until Machida swung his left leg over the head Jackson had been flat on his back since the takedown. As Forrest Griffin showed at UFC 86, you can control Jackson from mount for extended periods of time. 

Machida's technique, though, is very good. He keeps his torso very tight to Jackson upper arm and elbow as he swivels his hips. He sticks his left knee right in Jackson's face and controls the hips with his right arm. This allows him to make a short, quick move with his left leg to complete the set up. My only complaint is that he crosses his legs at the end. Jackson, to his credit, recognizes the armbar and turns on his hip to set up his escape.

Here we see Machida making his third and final mistake. Everyone watching knew what was coming once Jackson established his feet. This is how he escapes submissions. He lifts you up and slams you down. Once Machida feels "Rampage" about to lift, he needs to let go with his right arm and hook underneath Jackson's left knee. You can see him reach for the knee, but at that point, it's too late. Machida does, however, recognize the danger and aborts the armbar in lieu of being slammed.