The seeds of his destruction…

Friday night I was pretty psyched. I love to see the little guy win. And if MMA was a movie, Karate would be the geeky shy kid that gets punked every day in high-school by the jocks who happen to train at some big rival school with an arrogant jerk of an instructor (Greg Jackson?).

No Karate guy has ever come to MMA and won with Karate. But Machida does. He hops around in a shallow horse stance, his punches look really familiar to anyone who has studied a little Karate…

The Machida clan has fashioned Karate into a deadly weapon the likes of which MMA has never seen and given a much needed breath of fresh air to a sport in which the top level competitors’ styles are starting to look more and more similar every year.

But in the harsh light of day the seeds of Machida’s destruction are apparent. and unfortunately it’s rooted in the very style that makes him so fun to watch ad root for.

Just look at the GIF in the preceeding entry. when Machida is throwing leather, he’s throwing it fast and hard but his head isn’t moving at all and when he brings his hand back after a strike he brings it back very low and leaves his chin wide open. There was one exchange not in the GIFs where Machida lept in and landed 2 quick hard straight punches to Rashad’s face only to get countered with two quick hard Evans punches that backed him up and forced him to break off the attack.

I’m not ready to predict a Rampage upset yet. I don’t want a rampage upset. but lets not forget that rampage just whalloped a guy who was too busy throwing bombs to bother about his chin. and I’m sure if I can spot this, Rampage has too and I would not be surprised if after a little playing possum we suddenly see a hook out of nowhere put Machida on the ground in the middle of what looks like a good combination.

I love Rampage. He’s got personality for days and he’s one of the scarier individuals to face in the octagon. That being said, he’s going to get worked by Machida! I don’t see anyone matching up particularly well with Machida, unless its Anderson Silva, but I doubt that will ever happen.

Really? I have to watch ANOTHER season with Rampage? I mean…I like him as a fighter, but the more he talks the more I believe that he has taken too many punches to the head.

Again, I really don’t see anyone doing better than Rashad did against the Lyoto from Saturday.

Seeing him coach for TUF would be priceless. Who doesn’t want to see a bunch of douche bags drink their own urine? … as opposed to accidentally drinking each others.

Unorthodox vs Rampage aint got the best track record for Quinton. Rampage’s KO victims as of late are cats that are willing to stay in the box and trade hooks and looping rights.

Look at what Griffin and Jardine were able to do by staying outside. I know Jardine lost, but he wasn’t exactly murdered before round three like Chuck and Wanderlei.

If Forrest was able to avoid getting killed while landing decent strikes, what do you think Machida will do? Rampage has a helluva chin, but he has suffered some of the most brutal KOs in MMA after accumulating consistent punishment.

While we’re looking for Machida match-ups, why is everyone overlooking Inoki? Sure he’s older than Moses. But he knows his karate, has as good a chance as any of the other suggestions posted here– and, so far as I know, is the only human being in existence who actually knows what it’s like to hit Lyoto with multiple clean shots.

Objection: he (Inoki) got these shots in because Lyoto kept his hands down out of respect. But this is precisely my point: this RESPECT may be the weakness everyone is looking for. Obvious, really. Superman and kryptonite. Me and Cuervo. Likewise, other-wise-invincible Lyoto can only be struck by someone whom he respects.

Mystical, sure–but hey, so’s karate–and we overlooked something, didn’t we, Greg Jackson?

THE ONLY CHANCE THAT RAMPAGE HAS AT BEATING MACHIDA IS A LUCKY FUCKIN PHANTOM PUNCH. RAMPAGE WILL NOT BE HOLDING THAT BELT UNLESS MACHIDA GIVES HIM A SIDE JOB OF PACKING HIS BAGS AROUND FOR HIM LIKE A LITTLE SLAVE OR SOMETHING. RAMPAGE HAS’NT EVEN EARNED ANOTHER SHOT AT THAT BELT YET.

Hold on people… let’s not get carried away. I am a fan of Lyoto as well but to say that Rampage doesn’t have a chance is rediculous. First of all… Rashad is a mid level fighter at best. He was losing to chuck when he landed his windmill oveerhand right. His highlight reel kick was to sean salmon ( a nobody), and he couldn’t do shit to an ailing tito ortiz. Hell be good one day, when he stops his antics and running and actually fights..

But Rampage is a different animal. He can punch and take a punch. He can eat one or two of lyotos shots and keep coming. Can we say the same for Lyoto? Does lyoto have a chin? We don’t know. We know for certain that Quinton can take a beating and keep on coming. Page’s boxing is far superior to rashads.

I’m not saying I think rampage will win the fight. But to say he has no chance is crazy. Don’t be suprised if the answer to the Machida riddle is a simple right or left hook to the chin.

for all you Dana-haters; there was 10 minutes of the “proper” demeanor of a sports commissioner with not one “fuck”, “fag” or “pussy” – at a press conferenece, not a blog or an interview with a reporter in an informal setting.. I talk shit about the dude plenty, but seriously, without Dana the UFC would be nowhere, and I dont want to switch him for a sack-less Roger Goodell or some douchebag like David Stern… Dana is da man. I bet Roger Goodell doesnt let nerdy fans that bother him on the street take photos inside his Ferrari – 3 different times for each dude.

I totally agree, video. The only snag is that Anderson and Machida say they won’t fight each other. A shame…

This just seems like a bad deal for Quinton. You just know he’s gonna talk all kinds of smack on the show… AGAIN… and then get beat… AGAIN… only much worse this time. Two high-profile losses like that could really damage his credibility and ego – even worse than before.

Someone better take his keys before the fight this time.

Although Rampage vs. Lyoto is still a fight i’d love to see, i would rather see Rampage fight Rashad. let the winner of Forrest vs. Anderson fight Machida first and them fight the winner of Rampage vs. Rashad.

@ House Party

“Does anyone else think that matt hughes talks like a pompus ass?”

Dude…you just noticed?

@ Judo Im Right

“O and Rashad didn’t try for one shot or any amount of grappling. These guys need to take a page out of the Royce Gracie book and use whatever method they can to “close the gap” on superior strikers, who will then be useless without enough space to strike.”

Amen to that, brother!

The only time Rashad hit the mat was when Lyoto was on top of him and pulverizing his head.

All of the articles I’ve seen here on CP echo EXACTLY what I was thinking after watching the fight:

• Who in the 205 division can beat Machida?
• This looks strangely similar to the dominance of A. Silva.
• How do you beat Machida?

Who in the UFC at 205 can beat Machida right now? I don’t know. The only two that I can think of would be Rampage or Anderson Silva fighting 205….and we all know we WON’T be seeing the later. Rampage has a chance, but I wouldn’t put money on it.

I think that ‘Judo Im Right’ hit on what I was thinking. Like A. Silva, you’re not gonna win the fight standin’-and-bangin’. I think that both of these guys are more vulnerable on the ground. No doubt that both Silva and Machida are skilled in ground fighting, but when they’re standing up, they’re in their element.

Lutter almost beat Silva on the ground. Tito almost beat Machida on the ground. If you stand and trade with these guys, your gonna get murdered.

Rashad should have taken Lyoto down; or at least tried. He really looked like his game plan was to somehow beat him standing. It looked like Evans’ gameplan went right out the freakin’ window 2 minutes into the first round.

I wanna get bitch slapped by Antonio Inoki too.:(

Rampage stands less of a chance against Machida than Evans did. He has a similar style but is slower and more powerful and only shines against guys who will trade with him. Machida does not trade, he donates. Think of it this way: If Forest Griffin could work out a five round decision victory, Machida (roughly 10x better than Forest) will destroy Rampage.

As for Machida on TUF… I don’t know if “jocks” can learn enough of the precepts of Karate in a matter of weeks for it to be beneficial to their fight game. It’s more likely to confuse them and take them out of their game. Never-the-less, Machida could brush up on his English skills and I think TUF would be a good immersion program for him.

I really want to see Machida vs. Rua.

I just watched that press confrence….does anyone else think that matt hughes talks like a pompus ass?

yawl think Anderson Silva has dominated his weight class in the UFC…you ain’t seen shit…yet.

Dana better have his man looking high and low for 205ers…cuz Lyoto Machida is gonna stack them poor bastards like cord wood.

i’ve been on the Fedor train for a long time…and haven’t seen any fighter at any weight that had any hopes of changing that…til now.

war Machida……….so powerfull you don’t even have to yell it.

“We can’t wait to see a group of hulking former football-players strapping on gis and doing katas in unison at 5 a.m.”

-Just because Ben said this, this show now has to happen. I’d honestly be curious as hell to see how Lyoto would coach his brood, and you can be damn sure I’d love to see Rampage every week. Love that guy.

Although another season of TUF is unavoidable, I’d prefer if they’d leave the champions off the show. I’m also worried that Machida may not have enough personality to make the show. I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of Rampage if it does happen, and Machida’s destruction of Evans makes him an instant fan favorite, but Dana has to be worried that the show might be absolutely terrible. When Nog and Mir did the show, Nog made up for his lack of showmanship by being a genuinely great guy and friend to his team members, but is Lyoto the same type of coach, and can he handle Rampage’s trash talk for 6 weeks?

O and Rashad didn’t try for one shot or any amount of grappling. These guys need to take a page out of the Royce Gracie book and use whatever method they can to “close the gap” on superior strikers, who will then be useless without enough space to strike.

For the record: Judo I was wrong on Rashad, but my prediction may have been based on hometown love rather than my brain. apologies

I see Rashad as a younger slightly smaller, but more athletic Rampage. Sadly, I see Rampage falling to the new pee pee taster. ahhh I take that back. Even though Machida took out my boy Rashad, it’s kinda hard to hate him after seeing him overwhelmed with emotion post-fight.

All of these wrestlers need to remember where they came from. Sherk thinks he is a boxer now, but his hobbit lengthed arms don’t allow it. He didn’t try for a shot until late in the third when he was too tired and f’d up. Hughes remembered his roots and pulled out a fight that he shoulda lost, he was further down “on queer street” than a person visiting Thailand for cosmetic surgery.

The Machida era is upon us.

Or even Edgar vs. Varner or Edgar vs. Miller. Either way with Edgar vs. Varner, Miller, or Maynard we give Edgar the step up in competition that he deserves although i’m kind of partial to see Edgar Maynard 2 myself at this point.

Rampage offers nothing that can will really be new to him. But a fights a fight.

As for TUF, Machida has already been on TUF. He came in as a guest coach during one of the episodes for Minutaro. I think it was the same one that Anderson Silva showed up on.

Rashad was a +200 underdog Quinton won’t be.

machida doesn’t stand a chance.

Machida is straight up scary. I honestly can’t think of any 205′er that could trump his wierd ass karate style. when rampage and machida fight i think he will lose worse then evans…and i am a big rampage fan

@ Lowell – “I would avoid driving around in the area”- hilarious !!!!

WAR MACHIDA! I pity the Rampage. As for Hughes give him Carlos Condit has his next test in the UFC. Lets clear up the LW picture by having a Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard eliminator. J5 out.

Machida is going to leg kick Rampage into submission…the over/under for first round leg kicks that connect should be around 15 or so.

Rampage is not one for strategy, and will stand up with Machida until he gets knocked out. I would avoid driving around in the area after he loses.

rampage’s gonna get a whoopin

rampage got worked on the ground by forrest. think he’ll do any better against lyoto’s black-belt skills? think he’ll do any better standing up? think again.

machida’s here to stay