Serious question here. Why are there lots of people who love to watch defensive minded, elusive and smooth boxers like Whitaker and Mayweather, but many people hate Machida's fighting style? I enjoy watching him patiently break down his opponent, like someone precisely chipping away a huge rock using a chisel and a hammer, instead of swinging away and using a sledge hammer.
Machida knows everyone wants to force him to fight their game, but they can't, he been breaking them down everytime, he just master at this chess match. It's like fighters are used to fighting a certain way but no one has face a type of fighter like Machida, so when they get in the ring they seem umcomfortable when he shoots in out of no where. Machida probably learn how to read a fighter's movements to judge the perfect moment to pop in. And Machida is pretty fast so by the time the opponent tries to catch him he is already wraps around them and going a different direction or he toss them to the ground.
Now that I know they are friends, if they ever fight, Machida won't go for the KO but will just decision him. Anderson gets hit, Machida doesn't and just outpoints him easily.
Anderson and Machida are my top 2 favorite UFC fighters. I hope they never fight each other. Just dominate their respective divisions.
How can any MMA fan not wnat to see them fight each other, and for Anderson to get out of the pointless 185lb division? :huh:
I dunno. I also don't like it when 2 of my favorite boxers face each other. It's OK if I just admire or respect the other fighter, but it doesnt feel good to see 2 of your actual favorite fighters bashing each other's faces in. You don't know who to root for. Maybe I'll change my mind, later in their careers.
I was thinking something similar. You have to counterpunch Machida. Make it a boring fight where he has to be aggressive. Wait for Lyoto to make a mistake or overextend and catch him coming in. Sad to say - but Rashad Evans seems the best suited to do exactly that.