After re-watching the fight, I've just realized that I'm quite okay with the result. I didn't see it as clearly, the first time around because of 3 biasing factors:
a) it was MIND-BOGGLING to see someone land a strike on Machida. This was a huge moral victory for Shogun.
b) it cemented a return to form by Shogun. It quickly became obvious that the Liddell fight wasn't a fluke and its hard not to be excited by that. I've been waiting a long time to see this.
c) even though it was obvious to me at the time that Rogan's commentary was overtly biased (possibly for him because of a and b), I didn't realize how much so until I watched the fight with Japanese commentary instead. Rogan HEAVILY influenced the first time I watched this.
The rounds in question in favour of Machida are 1, 2, and 3. I don't care what analysis has been done, those rounds are RAZOR thin. They could be looked at validly in many ways, and one of those ways is to Machida winning. I now believe that I too would have scored them in favour of Machida.
In my own gut-instinct way, I think Shogun should have won the fight. He was part of a razor thin rounds 1, 2, 3 and then started taking over in 4 and 5.
However, ultimately NO ONE decisively won that fight. And the proof is in the fact that there is so much debate over this. The ONLY just thing to do is have an immediate re-match which appears to be what is happening.
If Shogun won that decision, it would have pleased Dana and there would be a chance that Shogun would be on to fighting other people. Immediate rematches are pretty rare in this business (e.g. Forrest/Rampage). This is ABSOLUTELY the wrong thing to happen. Regardless of the decision, the ONLY legitimate conclusion to this, is to have another immediate rematch.
For me what it comes down to is because the decision rendered has forced a re-match (and yet was plausible) this decision was ultimately was the right one.
btw - as further proof of how much Rogan influenced me in favour of Shogun, I realized upon re-reading this post that I was typing his name Shogan.
4de1 -Now that's funny!
btw - as further proof of how much Rogan influenced me in favour of Shogun, I realized upon re-reading this post that I was typing his name Shogan.
4de1 -
btw - as further proof of how much Rogan influenced me in favour of Shogun, I realized upon re-reading this post that I was typing his name Shogan.
Funny. BTW - I agree 100% with your view. I had Lyoto winning 3 close rounds. I had Shogun winning 2 (not as razor thin). Based on the current system, I agree with the judging.
Well said.
About Joe, I'm usually a supporter of his but this time I find his commentary was a bit unprofessional.
Joe: please do better next time.
No one is saying it wasn't close, but Shogun won that fight.
Immaculata - No one is saying it wasn't close, but Shogun won that fight.
That's exactly what most people are saying - it wasn't close. Most are calling it a robbery and worst decision of all time, lol.
I agree with all of TS points, I've said the same on other threads.
4de1:Your last line is a thing of beauty....you had ROTF....lol :)
Oh your post is right on bro
TS is vtfu for being spot on in their well thought out and unbiased post.
dhughes - Has Rogan been on here since the fight and has he said anything about his commentating?
The Rogan Zombies took this forum over for a while. Glad to see some reason has returned.
Great post.
Rogan said Shogun won.