The UFC LHW division is in turmoil at the moment. You have nearly every top LHW in the World in one Promotion. They are all facing each other on a regular basis. So you have top fighters coming up with losses. Because of this there is no clear top contender. In the forefront is Shogun who is up against Lyoto for the UFC LHW Strap.
In Pride Shogun was the man. He left the Organisation with the Pride Grand Prix Belt. He was a force to be reconed with. When he came to the UFC he came after a lay off. His first match was less than spectacular and lost to the Forrest Griffin who soon after gained the LHW Belt. His next match was a rematch with Coleman. He came in looking better than previously but still not the Shogun that his Pride fans new. Then came his match with Chuck. He looked much better. You could see the improvement. He was mixing it up and putting pressure on Chuck til he earnt the KO. Shogun has been constantly improving since joining the UFC. I believe he is one fighter who has the ability to beat Lyoto.
Lyoto has stamped his dominance on the UFC's LHW division. He has beaten all who have stood before him. He has displayed amazing footwork, distancing and timing. He mixes up his stand up and grappling. His defence is phenomenal with barely a punch landed on him through out all his matches. And when needed he can turn on the aggression with devestating effect. He is undefeated and truly deserving of being called the LHW champion of the World.
What sets Shogun apart is his transitions. His ability to go from one range to the other effortlessly. One minute he can be striking and the next shooting in on you. Next he can be going for a submission and as you escape transition to a takedown. He can be dropping down for a shot and then next you know he is landing a looping left. He is well rounded and can do it all. He can smoothly transition from one range of combat to the other. It is this ability that I think that sets him apart and is what gives him the ability to beat Lyoto.
Saying all that I think this title shot has come to early. He has constantly been improving. He is slowly once again begining to stamp his place up the top of the LHW division again. On the other hand Lyoto has only been getting better and really in his stride with his style of combat. Shogun could win the match but I don't think he will. I believe he needs one or two more matches to really get back into his stride. To get back to where he was when he was the Pride Grand Prix Champion. Lyoto is there now. To beat Lyoto he needs his ability to change ranges. He also needs to be patient and aggressive, each at the right time. I think he will come into this match with something to prove. He will come forward and if you come forward too much, Lyoto makes you pay for it. I think if Shogu came in not feeling like he has to prove something he could take the belt. He would be more focussed and in control. He may catch Lyoto and take the match (because he has that ability) but I don't think he will. Lyoto will control the range. He will frustrate Shogun into making a mistake. I predict Lyoto will win this match either by TKO later in the fight or possibly by decision.
I'm gunning for UFC Australia... I hope to see you all there.
I have Machida winning late in the fight...I think Shogun will put up a good battle,but feel like he will start to fade somewhere in the championship rounds.
Mr Irish - I agree that is how Shogun would be Lyoto, but I think he still needs a couple of more matches to get that confidence back and not go into the match to prove something. I think he will go in to prove he can beat Lyoto and that is what will cost him the match. Of course I could be wrong and he could finally have hit his stride again and put it altogether flawlessly but I don't think so.
JT - I am hoping to be on the Australia card. I am in discussions with the UFC and hopefully it all falls into place.
Pretty good. I think the last one I blew because I went with my heart and not my head. But previously I've done pretty well. I will TTT one of my previous threads that had a whole bunch in there so you can see my write ups.
Elvis - Mr Irish - I agree that is how Shogun would be Lyoto, but I think he still needs a couple of more matches to get that confidence back and not go into the match to prove something. I think he will go in to prove he can beat Lyoto and that is what will cost him the match. Of course I could be wrong and he could finally have hit his stride again and put it altogether flawlessly but I don't think so.
JT - I am hoping to be on the Australia card. I am in discussions with the UFC and hopefully it all falls into place.
Elvis
you WILL be on the Austrailia card. The UFC would be fools not to have you on that card.
CRB - I've ttt'ed an old thread with a few of them in there. I also have gotten the last two wrong. Cro Cop more because I was hoping we'd see him back and Rich because I wasn't sure whether Vitor had it all togehter. I can admit I was wrong on both of those.
Info - I have Cain as I think he will grind it out. But saying that I haven't seen a lot of Ben as we weren't gettting the IFC down here in Australia.
THE CACTUS KID - I have Machida winning late in the fight...I think Shogun will put up a good battle,but feel like he will start to fade somewhere in the championship rounds.
Machida TKO round-1 actually. And I am a Shogun fan too...
He will over commit and although Elvis has done well describing his strengths, he omitted his weaknesses: his defense is usually not there and he tends to fight with a lot of urgency on top of that; deadly combination vs. Machida. Besides, Nakamura and lil' Nogueira outstruck him on the feet.
I see Machida feeling him up (save me the beeps :P) for a couple of minutes and then pausing to lure him in only to take him out seconds later. And that's how it's going down.