First round will be the feel out round where nothing much happens, second round we'll get one or two punches and leg kicks and by the final minute we'll hear the boo's. Third round will be - I don't want to get knocked out, or risk submission/waste energy attempting a takedown, so I'll take it to the cards, maybe throw a few strikes when I hear the ten second warning! That's most of the UFC's three round main events summed up.
Machida can be elusive but also not engage. Rampage can be destructive but only if you let him. So yes an uninspring fight could take place. Rampage just didn't fight as intelligently or tenaciously against Griffin and Evans as he should have. Machida likewise may we wary of being hit now, even more so than before and even more so because Rampage can bang. On the flip, they both have something to prove. The different elements make this fight very interesting and we've wanted to see it for a while.
Rampage is the sort of guy you need to do something to to keep him off you though. He is going to pursue, and Machida is going to pot shot him and take his legs away. This is just one of those matches where one guy is for the most part helpless outside of one aspect of the fight.
I can't see how you predict a machida fight, he is such an elusive and spontaneous fighter. Disregarding the past 2 fights with shogun ofcourse.
Well, we can match what he does well against what Rampage does well. He is elusive and spontaneous by strategy. So when Rampage lumbers forward, looking to exchange hands, he will get kicks to the legs. When he starts slowing down and looking to check kicks to the legs, he gets punched in the face by light shots. When he starts trying to walk through the light shots, all of a sudden Machida lands a bomb and goes for a finish. That's how he works. He changes up where he strikes, and he turns the power on and off.
Rampage has knocked down every fighter he's fought in the UFC so to say there is no chance is a bit far.
I woudln't be suprised if Machida get's a nice Thai Plumb or two and knee's Rampage into a heap. We've never seen anyone in the ring with Rampage who had a great clinch and knee game since he fought Shogun and prime Wand in pride. We still don't know how he's going to deal with a good clinch and knee game and Machida is pretty damn good at it. I think we'll see Machida attack the leg's of Rampage, break him down donwstairs then possibly get a clinch and finish him off with knee's to the body and head. All Rampage has is a punchers chance. Machida could just leg kick him to death if he want's to play it real safe though.
I was proven correct here: Three rounds isn't enough to produce a clear winner in such a closely matched fight. An unsatisfying decision that proved nothing.
We'll ignore the fact that of the seven UFC events to be headlined by a non-title fight this year three had quick finishes, one finished in the third round and two were uncontrovesial decision victories. But no you're right...OMG YOU CAN NEVER GET A CLEAR WINNER OVER THREE ROUNDS
but you can see his point cant you? three rounds is not always enough for two skilled fighters to fight it out to a clear conclusion.
Not really. 15minutes is plenty. If Machida had been more aggressive or if Rampage had varied his offense more then we would have got a decsive winner.
