The Official Machida Sub-forum

[bchen03]

I'm not sold on him yet. He's elusive and has skill, but I don't know how he reacts when things aren't going his way. I also don't know how good his chin is. I need to see him against a top guy in a hard fight to see what he's really made of...

[Kaydoh**]

The biggest two things that would make Machida a better fighter and undeniable champ material would be to get to be at a less body fat percentage for 205 lbs (more muscle) and learn to be fluent in English. I know the 2nd reason shouldn't matter but it does and he should learn it so Dana likes him more and so he can get more and/or better sponsors. And I can see someone like Tito just bullying him holding him down by out muscling him.

[phenephom]

..it challenges a number of assumptions that we have had about TMA's since MMA changed our outlook.

true.

[Rambamatic]

Originally Posted by bchen03

I'm not sold on him yet. He's elusive and has skill, but I don't know how he reacts when things aren't going his way. I also don't know how good his chin is. I need to see him against a top guy in a hard fight to see what he's really made of...

True that he hasn't been tested against the elite fighters yet, although he did KO Franklin and he's beat Penn, Vernon White, Bonnar, and Soko. These wins prove that he deserves to be given a top 5 opponent to prove himself.

That's why I think that Tito is a perfect test for him because he hasn't faced a great wrestler yet who will pressure him, take him down, and put him on his back.

[Rambamatic]

Originally Posted by Kaydoh

The biggest two things that would make Machida a better fighter and undeniable champ material would be to get to be at a less body fat percentage for 205 lbs (more muscle) and learn to be fluent in English. I know the 2nd reason shouldn't matter but it does and he should learn it so Dana likes him more and so he can get more and/or better sponsors. And I can see someone like Tito just bullying him holding him down by out muscling him.

As far as Tito, I agree that we haven't seen how he will do against that sort of opponent, yet (see my post above)....however, he is exactly the type of opponent that could frustrate Ortiz and get him to make stupid mistakes that Machida would immediately capitalize on.

As far as learning English, A. Silva's English still isn't very good at all, and he's one of the hottest commodities around. I think it means less than you make it out to mean....although it is a factor in marketing of the UFC brand.

[EclipsedAgent]

I've been a machida supporter for a while now. People who train can admire his style, peope who are drunk fans hate him.

The check to leg sweep he did on soko was amazing.

[Sweetbird79]

good post, i totally agree

[williedynamite]

I really like machida style and how he fights. There were times when he was fighting soko when he made him look completely silly.
He's definetely the real deal.
That said I wonder how he does against the elite?

[Hushx]

People continue to forget his training background (repost from another thread):

Machida:

-Shotokan Karate black belt (basis of fighting style is a form of Karate, similar to GSP "in theory")

-BJJ black belt under Anderson Silva

-Trained in Muay Thai in Thailand and under Anderson Silva

-Trains with Black House (A. Silva - UFC MW Champ, Vitor Belfort - Cage Rage LHW Champ, Nog - former PRIDE HW Champ, Assuerio Silva -HW King of Pancrase)

-Trained wrestling w/Antonio Inoki @ New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo alongside various New Japan and Pancrase wrestlers


Tito:

-NCAA State Wrestling background

-Trains with Team Punishment.

-Strong hands

-UFC experience

[Kozmosis Jones]

Originally Posted by Rambamatic

Notice the way that he essentially does an open handed block and redirects Hoger's left hand before he throws his own......that's karate, baby.

Its also called a parry in boxing