Greetings MMA posters, this is the This content is protected in a series of threads I'll make on this forum, basically ripping off the excellent Classic Forum boxing poster Boxed Ears, who has a series in the Classic called 'Very Good Or Great', where he asks regulars whether they consider some fighters to merit the description 'great' fighters, or whether they are merely 'very good'. MMA Volume 1 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=335373 MMA Volume 2 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=335558 MMA Volume 3 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=335875 MMA Volume 4 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=336732 MMA Volume 5 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=336748 MMA Volume 6 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=336832 MMA Volume 7 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=337416 MMA Volume 8 was This content is protected , see thread: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/...d.php?t=337422 MMA Volume 9 was This content is protected , see thread; http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338084 The choice this time is Lyoto Machida. Machida is different from most of the fighters selected so far in that he very well may still have some of his greatest achievements still ahead of him (same as This content is protected ), so for this thread the question is more, if Lyoto retired tomorrow, has he done enough as yet to be considered a great, or not? Some relevant info about Lyoto: - This content is protected - Machida has only 2 losses on his record; a stoppage defeat to This content is protected and a controversial and disputed three-round points decision to This content is protected . - The most important factor is of course resume, the guys Lyoto has beaten. Make your assessment of this list: This content is protected This content is protected , 2009 - This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected - Other factors to consider: His record is This content is protected , with This content is protected , 6 stoppages and 2 submissions, against This content is protected . I look forward to your verdicts and explanations, and hope to end this series shortly :bbb
I can't answer this one yet. He has too much career left in front of him but now I'd lean towards no. In my opinion, Shogun beat him both times and unless he can avenge that decisively or do something even better like beat Jones, he's not a great.
I think this one is too soon to be honest. Probably enough to be rated very good, but I think we should wait on this one Seems to be unsure of his style since Shogun walked him down, and found it very difficult to cope with Shogun changing level as the kicks to the body and legs took their toll in the 1st match (2nd speaks for itself) and seemed unable of even unwilling to do more than potshot Rampage until the 3rd where Page was basically tired from chasing him round the cage Needs another run at the title before I can evaluate his career
i agree with the above. its too soon. hes clearly a very very good fighter but the stats just arent there to be considered great........yet.
Too much fence-sitting going on for my liking here! The question is not being answered directly as set: This requires a yes or no answer. By all means, further explicate after answering the question as set gents. :good
OK, fine, "very good". I was loathe to answer because he's the first one of this set that I think could still achieve greatness but right now, he's definitely not in that territory.
Thinking about it, is there a guy with 6 former MW/LHW Champs on his record? That's some achievement already
Good at this point. Popkins.. I'd like to see fighters like Severn, Jens Pulver, Dan Henderson, Don Frye, Marco Ruas and the like in the future :good
His resume was the main reason I thought him worthy of one of these threads. Despite the fact he may have many good years ahead of him, the guy has already beaten more top 10 fighters than many of the guys people seem to consider 'great' IMO.
Dan Henderson?! :admin Come on fellah, anyone who says he isn't GREAT needs to check into rehab to dry out. Dan is a stone-cold ATG, never mind just a 'great'. I will make a series-closer tomorrow which should answer some of the other points you've made here. :good
