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Seagal Interested in Teaching More Fighters
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Steven Seagal (Pictured: WENN photo), on “It’s Time,” discussing future training possibilities:
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“Lyoto Machida is like a son to me. I don’t want to train anybody that could potentially fight him, but there are some big guys out there that are, without saying too much, even possibly beltholders. You know what I mean by beltholders -- they’re world champions. There are guys out there that are talking to me. I would be interested in and happy to teach guys that are humble, that have a spiritual attitude and a spiritual understanding rather than just ‘how I can be the champion.’” -
Machida Reborn
By: Jason Probst
Lyoto Machida (file photo) looked like his old self at UFC 129. | Photo: Sherdog.com
The MMA bandwagon makes violent, wheeling turns in all directions, and after his epic, crane-kick stoppage of Randy Couture at UFC 129 on Saturday in Toronto, Lyoto Machida’s must be running on bald tires.
“The Dragon” seemingly ushered in a new era of MMA after taking the light heavyweight title from Rashad Evans at UFC 98. At that point, Machida was unbeaten in 15 bouts, with a stellar ledger of victims, including Rich Franklin, Stephan Bonnar, Tito Ortiz and Thiago Silva. His vexing style was MMA’s version of the knuckleball.
Nobody knew how to hit him, and he operated on such evasive lines of attack that opponents froze up and were dissected alive.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua changed all that, and, after a close decision loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 123, “The Machida Era” was dismissed as a mere quirk in the MMA timeline.
Against Couture, Machida looked exactly like his old self. And while “The Natural” was 47, there is no question he remains a dangerous guy in tie-ups. Yet during the few instances in which he grabbed Machida, the slick Brazilian expertly slipped away.
Machida notched a big win regardless of Couture’s age, showing his inventiveness and ability to stay baffling and effective at the same time. A great leg kicker or counter-fighter may well be the best style to defeat him, but you can bet plenty of light heavyweights sighed heavily after seeing Machida work his magic again. Nobody wants to deal with a guy like that. Getting your butt kicked is part of being a professional -- fighters accept that -- but getting embarrassed while getting it kicked takes it to a whole different level. Read more -
Shogun Would ‘Bet On’ Machida Against Jones
By: Marcelo Alonso
"Shogun" likes Lyoto Machida's chances against Jon Jones. | Photo: Dave Mandel
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua does not view light heavyweight champion Jon Jones as an inexorable force, even after their encounter at UFC 128 ended in his one-sided defeat.
In fact, Shogun has already pegged the man to dethrone Jones: Lyoto Machida.
“He has every chance to beat Jones,” Rua told Sherdog.com. “His counterattack style is very strong and tough to beat. I think his style could match perfectly with Jones’ style. I’d bet on him if I had to.”
Machida -- who surrendered the light heavyweight crown to Rua in a first-round knockout at UFC 113 -- has plenty of work to do before being considered for a title shot. The 32-year-old Brazilian will carry a two-fight losing streak into his featured matchup with hall of famer Randy Couture at UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields” on April 30 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Rua favors Machida in that fight, as well.
“Lyoto’s going to win,” he said. “He’s very fast and agile for the division, and Couture is not at his best. It’s very difficult to force a ground fight with Lyoto. He has a strong base and balance. If Couture puts him down, he has a chance to win. He’s always dangerous, but he can only win if he can get the fight on the ground.”
On the rebound following his defeat to Jones, Rua will lock horns with Forrest Griffin in a long-awaited rematch at UFC 134 “Rio” in August. Some have pointed to a potential matchup between Couture and Rua, should they both prevail in their respective bouts.
“I’m 100 percent focused on Griffin,” Rua said. “If I win that fight, and if Couture defeats Lyoto, let’s see what happens. I would accept that fight, for sure.” Read more -
Different Shogun Faced Jones, Machida Says
By: Marcelo Alonso
“Shogun” Rua is better than what he gave Jon Jones, says Lyoto Machida. | Sherdog.com
Former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in a recent interview with Sherdog.com on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s one-sided loss to Jon Jones at UFC 128 in March:
“Shogun is a tough guy. It’s no accident he’s reached the level where he’s at. He has won everything he has won by his talent and effort. I know Shogun has more to show than that. Maybe he failed to bring his game or maybe he felt the pressure of defending the belt for the first time. As I’ve said before, there are other factors we don’t know about, other factors that may have interfered. They changed opponents on him. That can interfere with a fight. I have no doubt he could have fought better. I’m sure if Shogun was the same fighter he was when we fought in Los Angeles the fight would have been much more difficult for Jones. Shogun would have had a great chance, and it would not have been as easy as it was.”
Machida defeated Rua by a contentious unanimous decision to retain the 205-pound title at UFC 104 in October 2009. He surrendered it seven months later, as Shogun won the rematch by first-round knockout at UFC 113 in Montreal. Read more -
UFC 123 Postmortem: Judges, Torn Legacies
By: Jake Rossen
Quinton Jackson file photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com
For once, the problem wasn’t with the judges during a mixed martial arts event; it was with the rules they were instructed to follow.
After two rounds, Lyoto Machida performed the most significant attack in a fight against Quinton Jackson Saturday at UFC 123 by taking him down, mounting him, attempting a submission, and landing blows from on top. He had accomplished substantially more in one round than Jackson had in two. But under the rules of the game, you can’t win one stanza out of three and take the fight. Machida lost a split decision.
If Jackson had burned Machida for those first 10 minutes before getting burned himself, there wouldn’t have been much discussion. But because his edge was almost imperceptible -- mostly based on coming forward and grabbing one brief takedown -- the totality of the fight was weighed against him.
Fighting, like most sports, is intended to conclude who the better man (or team) is. When it doesn’t -- either because of ambiguity, bureaucracy, or both -- fans are left to make up their own minds. Was it a win for Jackson? Sure. Does it mean he’s the better fighter? Didn’t look like it. You saw much the same fight judges did. The result they offered isn’t necessarily the one you have to accept. Read more -
Primer: UFC 123
By: Jake Rossen
Quinton Jackson: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Scheduling Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida as the main event for Saturday’s UFC 123 is almost certainly a nod to Jackson’s ratings winner of a program against Rashad Evans last summer; why else top a show with two fighters coming off losses? It’s more of a I’m-still-here declaration than a lot of forward progress. It also has the potential to be a bit of a bore, with counter-striking (Machida) moving laterally around a self-conscious offensive fighter (Jackson).It might also be good. But it’s all just billing, and the real headliner for many will be a third bout between B.J. Penn and Matt Hughes. Hughes has experienced a late-career resurgence, while Penn is looking for a new path after Frankie Edgar more or less temporarily ran him out of the 155-pound division.
If Hughes wins, it might be time to consider his place as one of the few former champions who keep a steady pace instead of fading out. If Penn wins, he might be motivated to test his chances against bigger men who don’t have the speed to buzz around him like an insect infestation. Either way, it’s a fight with more at stake than anything else on the card. And isn’t that why we watch? Read more -
Brazil Prevails as Machidas Host Shotokan Karate Championship
By: Marcelo Alonso
Shinzo and Lyoto Machida put together a karate demonstration: Sidney Oliveira | Sherdog.com
BELEM, Brazil -- Known for putting Shotokan karate in the mixed martial arts spotlight, the Machida family recently played host to some of the sport’s major powers.
Before a crowd of more than 3,000 spectators at the School of Physical Education Gymnasium, the sixth edition of the Japan Karate Association South American Championship of Shotokan Karate featured the brilliance of the Brazilian team.
Brazilian karate proved itself on Sept. 19, taking first place in a seven-country competition. The Brazilians won 26 gold medals, 34 silvers and 68 bronzes, as they left longtime rival Argentina (20 golds, 39 silvers, 65 bronzes) in second place and Paraguay (12 golds, 20 silvers, 19 bronzes) in third.
Sonia Coutinho won her third championship in the South American individual division, and doubled up by helping her team to the title. What’s more, she did so while three months pregnant. Read more -
Machida: Anderson Would Have a ‘Great Chance’ Against Shogun
By: Marcelo Alonso
Lyoto Machida gives his thoughts on a fantasy matchup between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
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Rampage/Machida Proves Who’s Boss
By: Jake Rossen
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
All the back and forth regarding boxing’s ills and MMA’s emergence as the dominating combat sport can really be boiled down to one thing: boxers have autonomy. Mixed martial artists do not. And while that independence may be the best thing for the fighters, it’s crushing to their industry.
Take Quinton Jackson, who has thrown repeated tantrums over the possibility of a fight with Lyoto Machida. Machida is “boring,” Jackson said, and he didn’t want to follow up a lackluster performance against Rashad Evans with another deliberately-paced bout. (Jackson may also perceive Machida as a poor match for his style, but you won’t catch him saying it.)
What happens? According to MMAJunkie and other outlets, Jackson will fight Machida in November. So much for freedom of choice.
If Jackson were a boxer, he’d happily arrange for a heavy bag with lungs in order to absolve himself of the Evans bout. After a few “warm-up” fights, he’d get serious again. Actually, had Jackson been steering his own career, he probably wouldn’t have taken the Evans fight at all: a year-plus layoff would mean avoiding any real threats until he got his fight legs back under him. Read more -
UFC 113 Post-Mortem: Rua’s Return, Daley Unforgiven, and More
By: Jake Rossen
Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
This is what makes fighters a different breed than the rest: seven weeks after being sedated and cut open for an appendectomy, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua went back into the gym and prepared for a fight that was already the most important of his life. Instead of making excuses, he delivered the first knockout loss of Lyoto Machida’s career, earned a UFC light heavyweight championship, and eradicated the memory of poor performances. It’s a pretty good example of the patient making a successful recovery.
Even though he had all his organs, Machida has nothing to be ashamed of: he canned good fighters in Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, and Thiago Silva, and could very well beat anyone else in the division. (Nobody’s kickboxing is more dangerous than Rua’s.) He also holds the distinction of being the only man in the past three years to defend the 205 lb. title at least once. The fact that it’s changed hands five times since 2007 is a strong case for that belt being the most heavily disputed in the sport.
But his future is unclear. Part of Machida’s appeal was the mysticism he brought into the Octagon -- the puzzle of being a traditionalist in a sea of biker-gang tough guys. Now that Rua has proved pressure is a potential solution, Machida can no longer be sold as an anomaly. Flaws in his system have been exposed. If people tolerated his disciplined approach because they were curious to see him figured out, that appeal is gone. It is up to him whether the return of his family’s karate will be as compelling an attraction as its emergence. Fortunately, most classic martial arts stories revolve around revenge. Read more
