Lyoto Machida overwhelms Rashad Evans
In one of the most stunning and exciting outcomes in UFC history, the light-heavyweight belt changed hands in just two rounds of a masterful display by the challenger. It wasn’t exactly unexpected as the online voting had something like 63% of the fans of the opinion that Machida would win it against 37% for Evans.
Round 1 seemed to confirm people’s belief as in the last minute Machida kicked Evans to the right side of the body and followed up with a straight left punch to the face, knocking down the defending champion. Evans did get up and survived the first round.
Besides Machida’s left kick to the body of Evans at 2:00, practically nothing happened in the first three minutes, as both fighters were still probing, waiting for each other to make the first significant attack and counter – which is a big part of both fighters’ styles.
At 3:03, Machida struck with a left roundhouse kick to the head of Evans, then Evans came back but missed with left overhand right.
At 1:21, Machida let go of a quick left straight punch and right straight that didn’t do any damage.
Round 1 obviously went Machida’s way.
In Round 2, both fighters again took some time to warm up. In 3:30, there was an exchange of punches but not many landed. At 2:22, Machida missed with a right frontal kick to the body. At 2:13, a left roundhouse kick to the body by Evans missed. But then, with 1:28 left in the fateful round, a hook to the jaw of Evans started it all. Evans crumpled. Machida got side mount and let go of several right straights to the head of Evans. Evans struggled to get back on his feet and got as far as the Octagon fence where Machida kept abusing him with punches to the head. A right hook to the jaw and a left to the other side knocked Evans senseless, falling on his back like a limp rag doll.
If Evans had not fallen properly, there would have been a repeat of the terrible accident that broke Mirko Filipovic’s ankle in UFC 70 when he fell after receiving a right roundhouse kick to the head by Gabriel Gonzaga.
The Lyoto Machida legend has been cemented. He had earned the reputation of being the most elusive fighter ever in mixed martial arts. Translation: Hard to hit. Very hard to hit. He has a knack of dealing so much pain while remaining unscathed. Ironically, that also earned him a lot of skeptics and naysayers had a field day sniping at him. They accused him of being afraid to engage in an offensive attack. Until yesterday, that is.
Well, Machida’s destruction of Thiago Silva (in one round) and Evans (in two) in succession should cancel out that criticism. Elusiveness equals good defense. And it makes a lot of sense. Why should you get hit in the process of hitting someone? MMA is not Christian charity. It is a black eye for a black eye, a broken tooth for a broken tooth. But if you can avoid getting hurt while beating up on someone, why not take that blessing?
Machida is a very quick and powerful striker. His martial-art base being karate, he is a natural striker. Add to his arsenal a black belt in Brazilian jiujitsu, sumo and muay Thai training, and maybe also in other arts, make him one well-rounded mugger.
Indeed, and if he stays elusive as an eel with the sting of a stingray, it will be sometime before he gives up the UFC lightheavyweight championship belt.
UFC 98: Enter The Dragon Machida
Posted by Paul Taneo Labels: lyoto machida, mma, paul taneo, rashad evans, UFC 98
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2 comments:
Nice to see you back sir! Aldie here!
I think Machida will hold on the his belt for a few years until someone could figure out how to counter his counter fighting style. I cannot see anyone in the UFC roster that can beat Machida at this point in his career. the first thing they have to do is to cut off Machida and prevent him from using the cage as a track oval. I can only think of Forrest Griffin who can effectively cut off the ring. But then again, you have to have a very very tough chin before you achieve it coz you might have to eat a few punches before you can do that.
Anyway, good job in judging during last week's URCC. Only Sabah's fight went the distance and the other fights did not even go the 2nd round.
See ya again on the mats sir!
Hi, Aldie! Glad to see you back here on Free-For-All, too :) I saw Norman last December. I told him I plan to go back to training with you guys. But you know how it is -- time and tide will tell. I guess you have added another stripe to your belt.
As to Machida's reign in the lightheavyweight division -- it might not be that difficult anymore to dethrone him. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has probably come up with a blueprint to beating the still-formidable karate stylist.
Many are of the opinion that Rua should have decisioned Machida in UFC 104 instead of it being the other way around. I'm a Machida fan, but the fight did seem to go Rua's way.
The only way to settle this issue is a rematch, and we will see one in May.
See you around, Aldie. Keep reading MMA in FFA. I will do my best to post more often this year.
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