Its good to see Davis get a big fight, but based on what I have seen from him I think he gets starched in this matchup.
I suspect it was made to line Machida up for the next title shot. 
His stand up has improved and he has a good ground game 
Davis's standup is to slow and plodding for Lyoto.
All he will have is his wrestling, which Lyoto has seen a million times by now.
If what happened to Bader, and Rashad is anything to go by, its going to be a long night for Davis
The blueprint is out there now on how to beat Machida. But Davis's stand up is vastly inferior to Machida's and he is going to eat a ton of punches before getting the single leg.
luctaro - The blueprint is out there now on how to beat Machida. But Davis's stand up is vastly inferior to Machida's and he is going to eat a ton of punches before getting the single leg.
What is the blueprint to beat Machida?
To eat his straight counter and throw a huge overhand over the top?
Or to pin him against the cage, double leg him, dizzy him and then counter him?
I don't think anyone else in the division besides Shogun and Jones can do those.
Machida is a HORRIBLE matchup for Mr Wonderful... even if Phil got him down I'm not sold that he could hold him there. While he may be a better wrestler than Bader, there isn't the threat of a one punch KO that Bader had, and I don't feel Phil's wrestling will give him any more chance of taking down Machida than Bader did.
I don't think Phil is any more explosive than Bader (possibly less so) and his takedowns are more drag-you-down type which doesn't help him against Machida.
raags -luctaro - The blueprint is out there now on how to beat Machida. But Davis's stand up is vastly inferior to Machida's and he is going to eat a ton of punches before getting the single leg.
What is the blueprint to beat Machida?
To eat his straight counter and throw a huge overhand over the top?
Or to pin him against the cage, double leg him, dizzy him and then counter him?
I don't think anyone else in the division besides Shogun and Jones can do those.
Machida is a HORRIBLE matchup for Mr Wonderful... even if Phil got him down I'm not sold that he could hold him there. While he may be a better wrestler than Bader, there isn't the threat of a one punch KO that Bader had, and I don't feel Phil's wrestling will give him any more chance of taking down Machida than Bader did.
Because Rampage did soo poorly agaisnt Machida too right. And its not like Rua vs Machida I didnt happened where he made Machida eat leg kicks all day long too.
Okay so... Machida 1... the blueprint is to flurry moving against Machida, withstand his counters and back him up against cage and then punish him with heavy kicks and lose a (controversial) decision?
Rampage did pretty poorly, he backed Lyoto up but landed nothing while Lyoto rocked and put him in danger in the third.
I don't see how either are a viable blueprint for the vast majority of the division, let alone Phil Davis, to beat machida.
Are you slow? I just said I dont think Davis has the necessary abilities. Let me copy-paste my intial post:
"The blueprint is out there now on how to beat Machida. But Davis's stand up is vastly inferior to Machida's and he is going to eat a ton of punches before getting the single leg. "
Okay, so explain what the blueprint is that a number of fighters (aside from Jones and Shogun) can follow to beat Machida then?
raags - Okay, so explain what the blueprint is that a number of fighters (aside from Jones and Shogun) can follow to beat Machida then?
Swing at air and hope the judges give you the nod
Phil is gettin KO'd brutally.
Waffler742 -raags - Okay, so explain what the blueprint is that a number of fighters (aside from Jones and Shogun) can follow to beat Machida then?
Swing at air and hope the judges give you the nod
k when facing Machida, you know he likes to move around, so the first thing the doctor orders is to
-Kick the Leg! (Rua's coaches would agree)
Regretably there's not much else for you to do except for gaining octagon control by ocuppying the center of the octagon. But make sure to
-Not follow him around! (Randy's teeths aprove of this message)
Machida is a counter puncher so is not wise to engage hoping for a brawl, but rather use footworks in an attemp to corner him enough to
-Go for the clinch instead of the takedown!
Because straight going for takedowns will be evaded or even get you KOed, you are better off playing the old dirty box and soften him up in the clinch, maybe go for a takedown if theres an opening.
There, the ugly, boring and not so detailed but incredibly hard to do Guide to beating Machida.
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With the exception of Jones, all Machida has faced since Rua are wrestle-boxers. Prone to fall right into his trap. None of them have a strong leg kick game, or footwork to even try to corner The Karate Kid.
Davis has good kicks but I seriusly doubt they are so developed that he can emulate the success of a Muay Thai veteran like Rua. And he likes to go straight for takedowns so I dont think he will try the wear and tear agaisnt the fence aproach either.
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Fighters with considerable longer reach dont need to do anything super-complicated to defeat Machida. They just need to "fight long". Because Machida is a counter-puncher, a longer ranged fighter forces HIM to become the agressor wich is out of his comfort zone. The Mauler is the favorite if they ever face each other.
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People have to remember that if anything of what I have written here makes any resemblance os sense, its because of Lyoto's recent struggles. There's was a time when no one had any idea of how to face him and tought he would bring about a New Era.
luctaro - The blueprint is out there now on how to beat Machida. But Davis's stand up is vastly inferior to Machida's and he is going to eat a ton of punches before getting the single leg.Davis's stand up is inferior to Machida's?
Lol wut!?
Outlaw'd by Lytle -luctaro - The blueprint is out there now on how to beat Machida. But Davis's stand up is vastly inferior to Machida's and he is going to eat a ton of punches before getting the single leg.Davis's stand up is inferior to Machida's?
Lol wut!?
alrighty then
Phil Davis has superior stand up compared to Lyoto 'The Dragon Machida'.
Is it the right way now? :)
Going for leg kicks without proper setups or pressure will lead you to eating a straight right counter.
How are you going to corner him (I assume you mean 'cut off the cage' as an eight sided octagon doesn't really leave room to 'corner' him) WITHOUT following him around? If you put pressure on him and back him up into the cage, you aren't forcing him to come to you... Your statement to "not follow him around" is at odds with this.
When has Machida been dirty boxed? He has great timing and balance in the clinch, and his step forward knees and movement make it difficult to even get the clinch with him.
Not a great blueprint bro.
raags - Going for leg kicks without proper setups or pressure will lead you to eating a straight right counter.
How are you going to corner him (I assume you mean 'cut off the cage' as an eight sided octagon doesn't really leave room to 'corner' him) WITHOUT following him around? If you put pressure on him and back him up into the cage, you aren't forcing him to come to you... Your statement to "not follow him around" is at odds with this.
When has Machida been dirty boxed? He has great timing and balance in the clinch, and his step forward knees and movement make it difficult to even get the clinch with him.
Not a great blueprint bro.
Anything you do without proper setups or pressure will lead you to eating punishment. Dont act like Rua didnt kick the heck out of Machida for 25 mins.
You CANT FOLLOW MACHIDA AROUND!!! What you have to do is 'cut off the cage'. But really do it. The boxing way. Not just follow the guy around. Thats what Couture did, and many others. There's a difference.
Occupying the center of the cage does not mean staying in the center of the cage like youre glued to the floor. Lets not be simpletons here.
Davis is in big trouble here
i think davis has the fight IQ to win this. walk machida down, hands up, clinch, wall and stall. he has the reach and good enough grappling. honestly im gonna say mr wonderful rd 2 anaconda