Shogun is simply a more devastating fighter and I think this is was won out everytime no matter if it was kicks, punches or mindset. It's funny cos Karate katas are supposed to be devastating in approach. I think it's Machida's mindset and physical talent that is geared towards a fencing approach. Machida let's the ko come where as Shogun goes looking for it.
One thing was clear, Shogun recognized from the first fight that Machida keeps his hands too low on kicks. Against 95% of the guys out there, Machida's style works perfectly fine... but what can he do when he's fighting a guy who is crafty enough and skilled enough to reach him when he can usually just lean back from punches?
Agreed. Machida is a top technician and 95% of the time he'll win but it's those defining fights that make the legacy. Machida is fighting on an elite level where everything matters. Can Machida make the technical adjusments. I think he did make adjustments from the first fight but those opened up new flaws like being more open. Machida needs to put that chin down to reduce the pivot on his neck. Plus he needs to think about his balance. On the level they are at, one move and it's all over.
Wow, the poll is dead even! Assuming people didn't vote after the fight... Actually watched the fight and it was entertaining, while relatively short. :good
The reality is, that Machida needed to lose this fight to shore up some holes in his game. Anderson Silva pulls the crap that he does, because he knows it's not going to cost him against the guys he's done it to. It's that comfort zone that Machida slid into, believing that his Shotokan is simply too difficult to combat against. I like the fact that he went for the takedowns, trying to switch up the pace and try to make Shogun more tentative about letting his legs go - but his reliance on reflex for defense was going to let him down at some point and he was never going to adjust for that until somebody took advantage of it. In loss he can find his gain, if he's humble enough to see it.
I am picking Rua to brutally stop Machida in the first round. Oh wait - it already happened didn't it?
Excellent post. Shogun - you proved me wrong. Fantastic win. Machida - work on your game and come back stronger, you are still a supreme talent.
I pick machida but i wanted shogun to win so i'm happy with the result:happy. I thought machida would have adjusted and win this fight easily but shogun came in with a great fight plan. At the interview in espn mma live he said that he fake the kick and then threw a punch which landed and hurt machida. Since machida was so concern with the kicks he forgot about the punch. Now i want to see shogun cleaned up the light heavyweight division.
In My o[pinion Machida just failed to shade the lead leg it is very simple defense against a striker they cannot kick you or hit you with the powerhand
I picked Shogun both times, I did however not expect a 1st rd KO. The problem is, a lot of fans never seen Shogun in PRIDE, I did & knew eventually he`d get back to that level... I seen it vs Chuck, then when he was robbed vs Machida & I seen it again in the rematch vs Machida. Shogun is gonna leave a pile of LHW bodies behind him in the next few yrs, believe it & dont be suprised if he hands Anderson Silva his 1st UFC defeat in a similar manner as he did to the Dragon (tho I DO see Silva as a better fighter than Machida, personally)