For some time fighters tried in vain to unravel the Lyoto Machida bigger picture. Now it is Machida's turn to try to solve his own challenge - 205-pound wunderkind Jon Jones. This fight is the prime example of precisely how quickly a fighter's investment can soar or sour inside the eyes of pundits and fans (Jones' career doing the soaring as well as Machida's doing the souring, relatively speaking of course). It is educational which Machida enters this contest to be a heavy underdog. Only two years before the real-life Karate Baby was UFC champ and also unbeaten. People were raving in relation to "The Machida Era" - in addition to I didn't object. Only the experts who had christened Machida were quickly dispelled. After a 16-0 begin, the fight game's most perplexing riddle dropped a couple of of his past several bouts (to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua along with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson).
So you don't must spend much time scratching your head about why Machida enters the UFC 140 title matchup being a sizable underdog (though not nearly as big 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 in the Year at the Globe MMA Awards - currently represents an aura involving untouchability and unstoppability which Machida himself exuded a little while ago. Jones is 14-1, though that single pimple is incredibly misleading (his or her lone loss came via disqualification for illegal elbows in the bout that saw Jones manhandling Matt Hamill. It was a beatdown therefore memorable it had the power 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 and possesses never encountered even a great deal as a three-second slice of your fight that didn't attribute him essentially toying with his prey. In one regard, Jones' domination reminds me personally of Mike Tyson ahead of his 21st birthday: The only suspense that arises in the Jon Jones fight involves how much time the other guy can survive. "Who wants it more? " and "Who's gonna win? " are NOT questions you thought about while watching Tyson within his short-lived prime. And they are not questions you contemplate during a Jon Jones struggle.
And yet, mindful of the landmines that lurk after you underestimate an opponent, Jones has called Machida the most dangerous foe up to now. I don't think it's lip-service; I think the samsung champ c3300k is sincere - and also 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 chosen Machida to dethrone Jones this kind of Saturday in Toronto.
Now, the polls are not scientifically conducted here, meaning one person with a computer could vote 10 times when they wanted to (incorrect with a scientific poll). And I suspect that the raging nationalism and loyalty of Brazilian fans will be pushing the needle a whole lot. But perhaps fans may also be acknowledging that Machida has become the only man in the 205-pound division who is going to match Jones' unorthodox tendencies with his own equally unorthodox tendencies. Unorthodox usually means capricious, and unpredictable means the likelihood of "anything can happen" blast way up. Make no mistake, these are the a couple kings of unorthodox within the UFC.
An esteemed colleague regarding mine, Jon Anik, also conducted an everyday survey among his 30, 000 or so enthusiasts on Twitter. Anik posed the issue: Who is the 205er best 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 extra ammunition in Lyoto's favour, Machida and Jones were pitted against the other on the UFC Undisputed 3 video game. The results: Jones triumphed 18 instances, Machida won 7. But, as Chael Sonnen could say, "we're going to find out" who the higher man is. Titles aren't won or defended in some recoverable format, or by reporter discussions, or online fan threads, or polls, or video games. Lest we forget, Rashad Evans is one heck of the fighter. 21 wins. And the only person to beat Rashad Evans will be .. Lyoto Machida. So Machida, a former UFC champ c3300k, has been here just before. He knows what it appears like to hold the UFC mild heavyweight title, which, if ever there ended up being a hot potato involving 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 determine Machida pull the disappointed. But my guess is which the challenger must come into your Octagon with a few new surprises, something nobody has at any time seen before (something similar to the front kick of which TKO'd Randy Couture with his last fight, knocking out a the front tooth). It will take a number of new tricks to overcome the superior athleticism associated with Jones and his massive reach advantage (Jones' wingspan is often a whopping 84. 5 inches versus 74" regarding Lyoto. And that reach advantage is actually key for Jones as it allows him to stay range to hit and kick - without being in range to become hit and kicked with the other guy).
MIR VS. BIG NOG
Both of these people, both victims of serious accidents involving cars, are lucky to become alive, let alone sharing your co-main event at UFC 160. I've got to say i have seen plenty of super-tough guys in that sport - Wanderlei Silva, Frankie Edgar, Donald Cerrone and BJ Penn jump to mind - but Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira is the pinnacle of toughness. He is the Gold Standard, the Bushido code personified. I've never seen a man continuously endure more pain and also suffering and exhaustion from the pursuit of victory as opposed to 35-year-old Brazilian. A black belt inside judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Big Nog is unquestionably one of several great heavyweights in heritage, but there are ongoing questions about whether all those wars have taken their own toll. His chin is granite no more, as Cain Velasquez confirmed, as Frank Mir proved during his first go-round with Nogueira 3 years 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 these people fought 10 times, Big Nog might get all 10 of 'em. In my mind . the higher quality standup: Big Nog. The better ground sport: Big Nog. Who wants it a lot more: Big Nog. So I stood in the MGM Grand Garden Area that night literally amazed as Mir abused Large Nog, put on a boxing centre and floored Nogueira three times. I ran into Mir a week later and told him to his face which i was stunned that he not simply beat Big Nog, but did it such convincing fashion.
"No disrespect, I like you Frank, but I didn't see you winning. "
Mir was 260 lbs; I weigh 146 with a good day. This was actually my first ever meeting with Mir (before either of people would start training Brazilian jiu-jitsu under renowned black color belt Robert Drysdale). So I'm standing there alone talking with Mir and being probably far more candid than I should (a negative habit of mine).
"Before this fight We questioned your heart, I questioned your cardiovascular exercise, I questioned how considerably you wanted it, " I told them. "I thought you were a small amount lazy in the health and fitness center. Very skilled and accomplished, but a little very lazy as fighters go. "
I had thought of Mir numerous had, particularly after the 2004 motorbike accident that broke the femur and threatened his / her career. And I told them what I thought, and congratulated him for producing a complete and total liar out of me or anything else. The way Mir replied spoke volumes about them. He just looked me within the eye, let me have my say, and even shared some of the techniques such as that will uppercut/jab hybrid that came at a weird angle and maintained rocking Big Nog. He was a gentleman the full time, never raising his voice, never becoming defensive. I've spoken with Frank Mir often since then, not always in deal on issues, and I've been fascinated by how thick-skinned he or she is to the criticisms that all fighter must endure. Mir is an incredibly confident man, a nimble heavyweight who thinks just like a lightweight, who can pull off of moves most heavyweights wouldn't are brave enough try. And I must point out, the big guy has come far in the gym plus it shows because now the guy can fight three rounds hard. I learned my lesson to not ever count him out. In addition to to be a wordsmith, Mir is a pc professional, and if his wrestling continues to improve, as it has, the 32-year-old BJJ black belt is going to really be able to help keep opponents guessing.
I was one on the people who thought Mir's win over Nogueira was a fluke, but I don't think so any longer. Mir is just in which good. Big Nog has merely fought three times during the past three years, but says he senses rejuvenated after three surgical procedures. The win over Brendan Schaub was one particular turn-back-the-clock moments for Nog and he's gonna have revenge on the mind Saturday in Toronto. He thinks it ended up being a staph infection which weakened him against Mir. That's what makes this kind of rematch so intriguing. Fluke or Trend? We'll find out Thursday.
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