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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=438323" target="_blank">
Bisping: Machida needs to change his style
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<p>Lyoto Machida lost a close decision to Phil Davis at UFC 163, a decision many thought should have gone in favor of the Brazilian. Whether you believe the judging was bad or not, UFC middleweight Michael Bisping believes it may have been Machida's style that lost him the fight:</p>
His words on FUEL TV's UFC 163 post-fight show:
"Lyoto didn't do enough in this fight. He was hanging around and letting Davis do his work. Davis impressed me with his striking. Machida wasn't overly active. Maybe he needs to change his style. I didn't see the killer instinct. He needs to be more aggressive. He's too reserved and too hesitant."
Machida has often been criticized for his elusiveness and preference to counter strike as opposed to pressing the action. That strategy, however, has proven successful for "The Dragon" in the past, leading him to a UFC Light Heavyweight championship back in 2009.
First and (presumably) only time I'll ever agree with The C(o)unt on anything. Machida tries to win fights by winning the only 30-45 seconds in total that he actually engages, and that's why he loses fights to Rampage and Davis.
I've never been bored by a Machida fight. I enjoy his style. He's smart. He avoids punishment and he dishes out a lot of it.
But the problem is he's not dishing out any damage lately. If he was he wouldn't be ending up with these close decisions. By being so elusive your giving away 2 judging criteria straight away in the judges eyes, aggression and octagon control. He needs to either get more aggressive again or at least pick up his counter striking. Cos staying out of range all night is asking to be on the wrong end of a decision
KrisDonahoo - First and (presumably) only time I'll ever agree with The C(o)unt on anything. Machida tries to win fights by winning the only 30-45 seconds in total that he actually engages, and that's why he loses fights to Rampage and Davis.
That's EXACTLY what Davis did. He won round 2 with 10 seconds of GnP which only half came close to landing.
I'm glad that the judges didn't reward Machidas back pedaling style. If your refuse to engage as much as he does, you should lose the fight. If his opponent fought the same way, there wouldn't be a strike thrown.
painfulapathy - He's an analyst for FOX he gets paid to give his opinion and lets be fair he's right!
This, as an analyst he's entitled to give his opinion even if I don't necessarily agree. It's not as if he just brought this up in an interview by himself
