I am a Machida fan, not a Rua fan, but I had it 4-1 for Rua. Machida will win rematch

The rematch will be a war no doubt, I expect Machida to be more aggressive, Rua will stick to the same patient game plan but probably sustain his attacks for longer periods, he made Machida look uncomfortable in the last 2 rds, he will make Machida go to the trenches in the hope that it will be his fight late on, similar to last night.

The rematch is a tough one to call, Im sticking with Shogun, purely on the basis that he deserves it more & he is better to watch.

 

Damn sry, about the vote. Rua clearly won that fight.

 

I thought I was the one that started this thread -- thats how much of it I agree with it... the subject sums it all. I am also a Machida fan, but I found Rua won on activity and overall effectiveness; he took Machida out of his game and made him look like a different fighter (dare I say average?) by the fourth round. That's quiet an accomplishment. However, I don't think he can pull it off two consecutive times and will have a taller order the second time around... it will be up to Machida to improve on his gameplan which I believe he will certainly do considering the mistakes he made were pretty apparent.

 

Of course Machida wasnt doing too much come the last two rounds - he'd had his legs battered by baseball bats for 3 rounds!

Hopefully they can come up with an effective strategy to deal with this next time around. It was a useful fight for Machida as it highlighted a part of his game that needs tightening up - dealing with attacks to his body and legs


Rua's a beast though, i'm not so sure Machida will be successful in the rematch

 

I thought Machida might wreck Shogun as he has been untouchable in his previous UFC fights.

But i had it for Shogun 4-1.

 

was by no means a robbery, had it 3-2 rua but can understand a machida 3-2 score

 

and you vote for the wrong person on the poll?

 

Machida will find different methods of attacks and study what he did wrong. I don't think Rua's game plan will change very much as that would just fall into Machida's hands. Rua fought the perfect fight against Machida but the rematch will be different and won't be as close with Machida winning.

 

I agree with absolutely everything the OP says.

 

The reason people think Machida lost is because Joe Rogan was impressed with Rua's conter kicks which is basically flick in muay thai and Golberg just repeat what Rogan says. Rogan kept saying beautiful body kick for everything Rua did, but he was getting punched in the face and was being completley bias towards Rua.

Don't get me wrong i thought Rua fought well and was back to his best, but he didn't offer all that much accept a counter inside kick.... Rua basically bruised Machida's legs, thats it.

You can make an argument Machida won every round accept for the last one.

 

Well I dont think you can base your arguement on Machida's punches bein more effective than Shoguns kicks can you? They had more of an effect imo, Shogun wasnt really wobbled once by Machidas counters where as Shoguns body/leg kicks totally destroyed Machida's movement and ability to put power in his shots by the 4th & 5th rounds

 

Machida wobbled Shogun at the end of the third round, Rua didnt wobble Machida at all.

Rua had the wrong strategy, I don't think he could have won the fight by just kicking Machida in the leg / body.

 

Well thats fair enough fella, but this isnt boxing, it's mma and leg/body kicks are just as valueable as a punch to the the head, especially when they come in high volume and with power. Almost everyone who saw the fight, except you and the judges disagree.
Dont get me wrong I wanted Machida to win, and was hoping he could pull something out of the bag in the 5th because I had him 3 rounds down. But those leg kicks made it impossable for him to keep his distance and counter, thus winning the fight for Shogun.