You can say "No, why would he? He won the first fight". But he didn't win the first fight.
So does he change things up or keep on keeping on?
He will use the Rich Franklin created strategy of starting the fight on one knee.
I think if he did what he did last time.. but adds more aggression he should be fine... he has the right style.. but because Machida is always going backwards, he needs to pick up the pressure a little more
louden swain - I think if he did what he did last time.. but adds more aggression he should be fine... he has the right style.. but because Machida is always going backwards, he needs to pick up the pressure a little more
I agree with this.
he'll probably fight harder now that he saw he can get through 5 rounds ok
lets not forget just a couple fights ago he was gassing out faster than anyone in MMA
I'd say it's too close of a fight to really call it, but since I am Lyoto fanboy I say he wins.The last fight was one of my favorites.
Machida's plan to nullify those low kicks was to counter punch but Rua kept such a tight/high guard the punches wern't really effective. When he went for the body with knee shots they usually got through.
I ... See Morepersonally think that Rua is going to come in with nearly the same strategy as last time and Machida will have an answer this time. I don't think he'll try to counter punch as much. Probably use his "elusivness"/dodging(or if your a hater running away) a lot more. To the point that the Rua and most likely the crowd are going to get frustrated. At this point I see Shogun trying to get more agressive charging through with his hands. I personally believe that Machida has the best counter punching in the UFC cept maybe Silva, and I think Rua is going to take quite a bit of damage. Fight will either end by TKO or go to a decision.
That or Rua is going to go with a takedown strategy that a lot of people though he might do in the first fight. I don't think he'd be successful with this at all. Machida's underhook/push-off thing he does is one of his most powerful tools and he usually ends up making his opponent eat one too. If Rua did get to the ground and try to pound out Machida, I still don't see it going well. Machida is a black belt in bjj and would nullify the attack, probably not pull off a sub but get it back to his feet.
Rua's gnp he's known for lost a lot of effect when he got signed to the ufc because of the no kicks to the head of a ground opponent and only axe kicks.
I can see how a lot of people are thinking Rua will win, the last fight he nearly did. But for me I am almost certain Machida has the answer this time.
wont use the same exact strategy, cuz thats what lyotos preparing for
I think he'll mix it up this time and come out with a gameplan designed to keep Machida off balance. I can see him coming out for the first round and a half or so looking exactly like the last fight before completely shifting gears.
He's gonna have too if he wants to win this time around. Even though I felt he won the first time.
I think he should adjust some of what he did for this 2nd fight. I really hope he uses the kicks to the body and legs the same though. I really want to see Machida fight somebody who closes the distance well and make him go to war in a telephone booth. I think he needs room for his stlye to work for him. He likes to jump in and strike and then get out of harms way. So far Shogun is the only one to really have success standing with him since he came to the ufc.
Whatever happens, both will need a plan B and plan C, as they'll both change their strategies and tempo at some point duing the fight, I imagine.
I think Shogun will want to take this to the ground
Machida will be training hard on a counter for them vicious kicks.
Noone has ever been able to hurt him like that before, and knowing how dedicated he is to his art of fighting, noone will again...
BuyTheTicketTakeTheRide - I think Shogun will want to take this to the ground
Machida will be training hard on a counter for them vicious kicks.
Noone has ever been able to hurt him like that before, and knowing how dedicated he is to his art of fighting, noone will again...
Regardless of what the judges say, Shogun did win the first fight. Hes is in fact the first man to defeat Machida.
This fight will be epic.
I would imagine he would be more concerned with the finish since decisioning Machida backfired.
tempus - Regardless of what the judges say, Shogun did win the first fight. Hes is in fact the first man to defeat Machida.But he didn't win man.
WEEZmatical - I would imagine he would be more concerned with the finish since decisioning Machida backfired.we all hope