I realy think Macheda has brought something new to the striking in MMA his stance his head the way he bounces, his foot work and transitions from striking.
I look at it and think... no that is all wrong, but some how it works very well for him.
I can see the Karate influence in his game the distance guaging and his one shot timing, being a MT guy I obviously have never given Karate "at its best" the respect it deserves.
I love watching Machida fight but I also love watching Mayweather box. So it figures.
His ground game looked similar to his stand up game; safe, high percentage stuff. I honestly believe Machida would be a deadly street fighter. No reliance on clinching (which will get you stabbed to fuck where I live) or grappling (which will get you kicked/stamped to fuck) while being super elusive. When you're as accurate as him you don't need power on the street; every kick's to the balls and every strike's to the windpipe or eyes.
Machida would fucking rape 99.9999% of MMA fighters in a no rules situation.
Soko is a very good win considering Soko has completely destroyed both Arona and Lil Nog in the first round.
Cap, I see your point about the level of Lyoto's UFC opponents before Sokoudjou. However, you really underestimate Soko's wins against Rogerio and Arona. Arona's only other losses at 205 before that fight were against Shogun, Rampage, and a very close decision against Wandy (who he also beat in their earlier fight). Rogerio had only one loss (a close decision to Shogun) at 205 in like 5 years. He also beat Hendo by armbar during that stretch. Lil Nog and Arona were definitely among the top 205ers at the time, and Soko steamrolled them.
I can understand how people find Machida to be boring. However, I enjoy watching him. It just amazes me how he can completely avoid damage.
Arona beat Wandy at a time when he was on an incredible win streak at 205. Rogerio finished Hendo when no other fighter at 205 or ANY weight class (other than his bigger brother) was able to. Please enlighten me about all those 205ers who have accomplished more during this time, since Lil Nog and Arona were merely "fringe contenders" and "gatekeepers" when they fought Soko.
Whether you consider it lnp or not, Arona shut down Wandy and won a clear decision at a time when Silva was on a dominanting win streak at 205 and was considered one of the most feared strikers in the world. Also, small or not, Hendo has always been at his most dangerous at LHW. How many LHWs can say they have a win over him? Add those big wins to their impressive overall records at LHW. And you bring up five elite 205ers in Wandy, Shogun, liddell, rampage, couture and use that as a good reason to consider Arona and Lil Nog gatekeepers and fringe contenders? Ridiculous.
Yeah, I don't consider being top ten (which Arona and Lil Nog were when they faced Soko) the same as being a gatekeeper. So you're right, we have different definitions. It all boils down to whether Arona and Lil Nog were top ten fighters when they fought Soko. Again, how many fighters had more impressive resumes than those two at that time? Simply put, if you beat top ten fighters (especially two in a row), you become a top ten fighter (IMO of course). That's what Sokoudjou did. As to who would win the rematches, who knows. That's why fights aren't done on paper.
A few years ago, Machida came and trained with us. He got tapped by
some of the black belts and the bigger brown belts but what was so
impressive about him was his conditioning.
He sparred for probably about 40 or 45 minutes nonstop against EVERY
guy in the gym. Lyoto was on the mat and everyone rolled with him until
someone tapped, then he would move on to a new guy who was fresh and
rested. He tapped to the black and browns but he was exhausted and
they were rested. I was incredibly iimpressed by his heart; he never gave
up and kept fighting for the entire 45 mins.
Didn't train stand up with him but his brazilian friends said his striking
was way better than his JJ, so I was like, "Man, I would never want to fight
this guy."
Listen, I know that wrestlers get all the fancy ladies and creams and lotions but my life is good. Reaally good. It's fantastic.
Cap, why would you even mention Vitor? His last big win was the cut victory over Randy all the way back in Jan. 04 and he's had a mediocre record since. Now Tito is more legit, although I don't think his win against Forrest nor the level of the opponents in his other wins justify him being clearly higher ranked. Maybe not Top 5, but I definitely considered Soko Top 10 after those two big wins. In turn, Machida's performance may not make him a god, but was definitely impressive in my book. As far as Jardine, ever since he beat Chuck, I do consider him Top 10 and a contender. That's a huge win when you look at Liddell's dominance at 205 for years.
Vitor had no big wins in 05.
In his grappling competition record, he has a win over Rafael Lovato Jr, 'nuff said.
DLR Black Belt ? WOW!
This guy just keeps impressing me.
I could see him taking the LHW belt, then dropping to 185 to win that belt too.
lyoto train with anderson silva. i dont see him droping to 185. maybe to heavy but not down.
he's a good fighter, he know how to control fights and opponent.
A few years ago, Machida came and trained with us. He got tapped by some of the black belts and the bigger brown belts but what was so impressive about him was his conditioning.
He sparred for probably about 40 or 45 minutes nonstop against EVERY guy in the gym. Lyoto was on the mat and everyone rolled with him until someone tapped, then he would move on to a new guy who was fresh and rested. He tapped to the black and browns but he was exhausted and they were rested. I was incredibly iimpressed by his heart; he never gave up and kept fighting for the entire 45 mins.
Didn't train stand up with him but his brazilian friends said his striking was way better than his JJ, so I was like, "Man, I would never want to fight this guy."
Cool story, thank you. I also did NOT know about his win over Lovato Jr, very impressive.