http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_y...o14?slug=dw-machida111809&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Looking forward to it but it sucks that we have got a bit of a long wait.
I wonder who the long wait will benefit the most. I didn't score the fight close in scoring, but it was a close fight. Similar to Couture in Nogueira. I believe I had Nog winning all 3 rounds, but that was the most competitive shut out I can think of. Shogun vs Machida was a stand-up fight, and I am more familiar with boxing than any other stand-up form of fighting. Glenn Johnson brought a lot of pressure to Antonio Tarver in their first encounter, and won. Tarver won the rematch. Glenn Johnson also brought a lot of pressure against Chad Dawson, and many thought he deserved the nod in that fight. Dawson didn't leave any doubt the next fight, and won by decision in a competitive fight. Floyd Mayweather was better in his rematch with Jose Luis Castillo, Terry Norris was better in his 2nd fight with Simon Brown, Ali was better against Frazier in their rematch, the list goes on and on. Oh, I'm equating Machida with the first fighter mentioned in each example, with Shogun being the second. I would make a list in Machida's favor, but all but 3 or so people posting in this forum actually thought he won. I picked Shogun to win the first fight in this forum's prediction league. I feel that he did. I have not picked my rematch winner yet. What do you think will happen?
I belive Machida will learn to adapt to Rua's way more than Rua can adapt to Machida's. Machida will win again imo.
I hope Shogun can take him down this time, he has shown he can (or rather can with competent judges) win some rounds standing and not get seriously hurt. I think if he gets on top he could put an extra round or 2 in the bank. His takedowns are an enigma; he does not have particarly good looking technique and doesn't appear to overpower people, but he has taken down several people I would have never thought he would.
