(Photo courtesy of ESPN.)
The other day, Dana White called out Lyoto Machida as possibly the next in line to be "best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA" after Anderson Silva retires. After reading this interview by our pal Ben Zeidler, we wonder if White told Machida that such hype comes with a price — he has to start pretending like he has a personality. In the past, Machida has given interviews like he fights; no frills, accomplish your objective and move on. Now, things are getting a bit more colorful:
BZ: Is there anyone other than Thiago Silva that you would like to face?
LM: Give me the job and I will get it done. Rampage, Couture, Liddell, Vanderlei, Shogun, I work hard to win and will keep winning. Who thought they would see Tito with his back on the floor? Tito is a Great fighter but when he faced me, Lyoto, you know the ending.
BZ: Tell us a little bit more about your training regimens.
LM: My training is very versatile. My life is training, I just make some adaptations for each opponent. They need to worry about me. Look at my past, when I finish the fight I go dinner and have some fun and the other fighters go to the hospital.
BZ: What do you say to fans who say your style is boring?
LM: I am a martial artist, there is a lot of thought and strategy that goes into the way I fight…For some that is boring, I know, but I am beating the best in the world. After my fights I do not have nothing on my face, no scratches, no bruises. I am like a ghost — they can not find me. If that is boring, that is their opinion. But I will be there for long time WINNING.
Zeidler notes that the interview was done through a translator. Unless that translator was Renato Sobral, it sounds like Machida may be trying to change his persona into something more brash. Not a heel necessarily, but cocky — an unkinder, ungentler version of his former self. Will some of that attitude transfer to the cage? An aggressive performance against Thiago Silva at UFC 94 next month could bolster his case as next in line for a title shot if he can score a stoppage victory.
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commentsMay I suggest that Lyoto Machida’s style is considered boring because his opponents do not respond to the hole they are put in with his surgical dissection of them and ability to read and move away from the attack without taking himself out of his range.
The UFC has judges and a point system. A great strategist and fighter like Machida uses that reality to put his opponents in a deep hole on points where they MUST know they will lose if the fight goes to decision. This is the intention. Once aware that they are losing and must come up big to win they SHOULD be highly motivated to open it up and try anything possible.
Those who do (and make mistakes), so far, have been introduced to the incredible skill of the man and destroyed. Those who don’t take the risks or try half-heartedly lose by majority decision. Those who do and have good defense go after him leaving few opportunities to capitalize for Machida and those fights are potentially split decisions or even potential draws.
Lyoto Machida is not a boring fighter without a lot of help from his opponents. Either they lack the skill to solve him or the guts to lay it all on the line. If more of his opponents had the balls to pull out all stops, in the face of certain defeat on points, Machida would be an exciting finishing fighter capitalizing on the mistakes desperate fighters can make.
IMO Machida is a great tactician with exceptional skills who shines a bright light on the weaknesses of the systems, styles and heart of his opponents.
Just my 2 cents.
Who he sent to the hospital: Rich Franklin, Stephan Bonner (both in 2003) Dimitri Wanderley (in 2006)
The winner of the Rampage, Wandy fight will be the LHW champ in a year.
Everyone is all over Machidas nuts right now and expect him to win the fight. Thiago Silva is a fucking BEAST!! and is becoming one of my favourite fighters to watch right now. Machida has to be careful of two things in this fight: 1. he doesn't get KTFO by Silva and 2. he doesn't win by another lack luster decision where he back peddles the entire fight.
Don't get me wrong I like Machida also and think he brings a unique aspect of fighting to the ring. But I think for his popularity and money making abilities he needs to finish Silva in this fight.
Oh and by the way the winner of this fight will be light heavy weight champ within a year.
You're talking about Bonnar not Thiago Silva! Maybe Machida finished Bonnar TKO strikes but it was still a boring fight! Machida ran around and countered Bonnar only as Bonnar rushed in to engage. I do agree he has to talk trash to get noticed because his fights are that boring. I don't see him getting past Silva. He's a good fighter and if he does make it past Silva- Wanderlie or Shogun will destroy him
I think machida has yet to fight a guy as aggressive on the ground and on the feet as Shogun. Its easy to run when the bell rings, but if Machida gets clocked, Shogun begins to stalk around the ring, much like Wanderlai, then your fucked when that happens.
You think so?
I don't know bro, I have to disagree with you. I don't think he is "exciting" to watch at all. I believe Machida, like I said before, is a great martial artist, but not a great fighter (I hope that makes sense to you). Martial arts aka self DEFENSE, is what he comes across as. A fighter, like Wandy or Liddell has perfected the OFFENSIVE style it takes to be a successful MMA fighter, and their reputation as knock out artists makes them "exciting" to watch.
Machida is a great competitor, and a pretty good fighter, but he will never become a champion until he adds a little controled aggression to his arsenal, and starts knocking some mutha fuckas out. If he needs an example, he can ask Silva how he finished him after they wake his ass up.
Lyoto, tudo mundo vai apanhar de voce. :)
I rather see Bader Lay N' Pray on someone then watch Lyoto spar wth someone.
Basically once he fights a GOOD aggressive striker, he's toast. Wanderlei is the end-all for aggressive strikers, but Thiago is 13-0 coming off 8 tkos in a row and will shut people up about Lyoto before Wanderlei gets the chance.
Shit, there's another reason to love Lyoto. His nickname is the dragon.
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