For decades fighters tried in vain to resolve the Lyoto Machida challenge. Now it is Machida's turn to solve his own problem - 205-pound wunderkind Jon Jones. This fight is some sort of prime example of exactly how quickly a fighter's share can soar or sour in the eyes of pundits along with fans (Jones' vocation doing the soaring in addition to Machida's doing the souring, relatively speaking of study course). It is educational of which Machida enters this contest being a heavy underdog. Only two years in the past the real-life Karate Youngster was UFC champ and unbeaten. People were raving concerning "The Machida Era" - and also I didn't object. Only the experts whom had christened Machida ended up quickly dispelled. After a 16-0 start out, the fight game's nearly all perplexing riddle dropped two of his past a few bouts (to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua as well as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson).
So you don't have to spend much time scratching your head about why Machida makes its way into the UFC 140 title matchup as being a sizable underdog (though not nearly as large an underdog as Shiny Serra was four rice when he knocked out Georges St-Pierre and received the welterweight world title). Jones - already crowned 2011 Fighter on the Year at the Planet MMA Awards - at this point represents an aura connected with untouchability and unstoppability which Machida himself exuded not too long ago. Jones is 14-1, though that single pimple is incredibly misleading (his lone loss came via disqualification for illegal elbows in a very bout that saw Jones manhandling Matt Hamill. It was a beatdown therefore memorable it had the ability to send shudders by means of future opponents, making them think twice about signing to fight Jon Jones).
Jones, a New York ancient, has never come near to losing a fight possesses never encountered even much as a three-second slice of an fight that didn't element him essentially toying with his prey. In one regard, Jones' domination reminds myself of Mike Tyson previous to his 21st birthday: The only suspense that arises in a very Jon Jones fight involves the time the other guy may survive. "Who wants it more? " and "Who's gonna win? " are NOT questions you been curious about while watching Tyson inside his short-lived prime. And they are not questions you determine during a Jon Jones deal with.
And yet, mindful of the landmines that lurk when you underestimate an opponent, Jones has called Machida his or her most dangerous foe currently. I don't think it's lip-service; I think the champ c3300k is sincere - along with he's absolutely right. An UFC.com online poll was recently conducted which asked visitors, "How long will Jon Jones reign as champ?" The results surprised me. 31% said at least another year. 15% said at least three more years. 11% said at least five more years.
43% of voters picked out Machida to dethrone Jones this specific Saturday in Toronto.
Now, the polls are not scientifically conducted here, meaning one person having a computer could vote 10 times should they wanted to (not the case with a scientific poll). And I suspect how the raging nationalism and devotion of Brazilian fans will be pushing the needle a good deal. But perhaps fans are acknowledging that Machida is just about the only man in the 205-pound division who can match Jones' unorthodox tendencies together with his own equally unorthodox tendencies. Unorthodox usually means unforeseen, and unpredictable means the probability of "anything can happen" blast way up. Make no mistake, these are the a couple kings of unorthodox inside the UFC.
An esteemed colleague regarding mine, Jon Anik, also conducted an relaxed survey among his 30, 000 or so followers on Twitter. Anik posed the problem: Who is the 205er greatest equipped to beat Jon Jones?
The responses: Rashad Evans (34%); Lyoto Machida (24%); Dan Henderson (20%); Phil Davis (16%), etc.
And hey, just for some additional ammunition in Lyoto's like, Machida and Jones were pitted against 1 another on the UFC Undisputed 3 video game. The results: Jones triumphed 18 periods, Machida won 7. But, as Chael Sonnen would say, "we're going to find out" who better man is. Titles aren't won or defended on paper, or by reporter arguments, or online fan threads, or polls, or video games. Lest we forget, Rashad Evans is one heck of your fighter. 21 wins. And the only gentleman to beat Rashad Evans will be .. Lyoto Machida. So Machida, a former UFC samsung champ, has been here just before. He knows what it feels like to hold the UFC lighting heavyweight title, which, if ever there seemed to be a hot potato among UFC belts, the 205-pound belt will it be.
I'm very much looking forward to this fight. And it wouldn't surprise me to find out Machida pull the disappointed. But my guess is which the challenger must come into your Octagon with a few new surprises, something nobody has ever before seen before (something such as the front kick that TKO'd Randy Couture in his last fight, knocking out a the front tooth). It will take many new tricks to conquer the superior athleticism associated with Jones and his massive reach advantage (Jones' wingspan is often a whopping 84. 5 inches versus 74" pertaining to Lyoto. And that reach advantage is actually key for Jones given it allows him to stay range to hit and kick - without being in range to always be hit and kicked with the other guy).
MIR VS. BIG NOG
Both of these guys, both victims of serious accidents involving automobiles, are lucky to become alive, let alone sharing this co-main event at UFC one hundred forty. I've got to say i have seen plenty of super-tough guys in this sport - Wanderlei Silva, Frankie Edgar, Donald Cerrone and BJ Penn jump in your thoughts - but Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira may be the pinnacle of toughness. He is the Gold Standard, the Bushido code personified. I've never seen a man over and over again endure more pain along with suffering and exhaustion from the pursuit of victory versus 35-year-old Brazilian. A black belt throughout judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Big Nog is unquestionably on the list of great heavyweights in history, but there are ongoing questions about whether all those wars have taken their particular toll. His chin is granite will no longer, as Cain Velasquez demonstrated, as Frank Mir demonstrated during his first go-round with Nogueira 36 months ago.
I must confess, I never saw Mir busting Nogueira. I had presumed it had been a bad stylistic matchup intended for him, presumed that if they will fought 10 times, Big Nog might get all 10 of 'em. In my mind . the better standup: Big Nog. The better ground sport: Big Nog. Who wants it additional: Big Nog. So I stood inside MGM Grand Garden Area that night literally astonished as Mir abused Large Nog, put on a boxing clinic and floored Nogueira 3 times. I ran into Mir a week later and told him or her to his face that we was stunned that he besides beat Big Nog, but did it such convincing fashion.
"No disrespect, I like you Frank, but I didn't observe you winning. "
Mir was 260 weight; I weigh 146 using a good day. This was actually my first ever ending up in Mir (before either of us would start training Brazilian jiu-jitsu under renowned black belt Robert Drysdale). So I'm standing there alone talking with Mir and being probably far more candid than I should (an undesirable habit of mine).
"Before this fight My partner and i questioned your heart, I questioned your cardio, I questioned how much you wanted it, " I told him. "I thought you were a small amount lazy in the gym. Very skilled and proficient, but a little sluggish as fighters go. "
I had thought of Mir several had, particularly after the 2004 motorbike accident that broke his or her femur and threatened the career. And I told them what I thought, and congratulated him for making a complete and utter liar out of me and there are others. The way Mir replied spoke volumes about them. He just looked me inside the eye, let me have my personal say, and even shared some of the techniques such as of which uppercut/jab hybrid that came in a weird angle and kept rocking Big Nog. He was a gentleman the full time, never raising his tone of voice, never becoming defensive. I've spoken with Frank Mir often times since then, not always in agreement on issues, and I've been impressed by how thick-skinned they are to the criticisms that all fighter must endure. Mir is a very confident man, a nimble heavyweight who thinks being a lightweight, who can pull off of moves most heavyweights wouldn't dare try. And I must declare, the big guy has come a long way in the gym a nd yes it shows because now he'll fight three rounds difficult. I learned my lesson never to count him out. In addition to being a wordsmith, Mir is a technical assistant, and if his wrestling continues to improve, as it has, the 32-year-old BJJ black belt will really be able to hold opponents guessing.
I was one of the people who thought Mir's win over Nogueira might have been a fluke, but I don't think so any further. Mir is just in which good. Big Nog has solely fought three times in past times three years, but says he feels rejuvenated after three surgical treatments. The win over Brendan Schaub was among those turn-back-the-clock moments for Nog and he's gonna have revenge on his or her mind Saturday in Toronto. He thinks it seemed to be a staph infection in which weakened him against Mir. That's what makes this specific rematch so intriguing. Fluke or Trend? We'll find out Saturday.
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