Did Shogun Rua Solve The Lyoto Machida Puzzle In Defeat At UFC 104?
by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 25, 2009 4:08 PM EDT
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You may remember me making the case for Shogun Rua earlier this week. I didn't think Rua was going to win the fight, but I did give him a better chance than most. I went back and looked at the Rua/Liddell fight and found these positives that could help Rua get the win against Machida:
-Good Head Movement...could make him vulnerable to head kicks, but he guarded his head well
-Good Chin...Liddell tagged him a few times and Rua took the punches well
-Still explosive and seemed pretty light on his feet
-He timed his take downs well and was successful against someone with great take down defense
-His hands were down near his chest a lot, but he put his guard up when he was within striking range and blocked a lot of Liddell's punches.
-Threw several big overhand rights that could be a good counter to Machida's kicks if he can time it right
-He didn't do any of his crazy flying, spinning head kicks, or basically anything too aggressive that would leave him vulnerable
-He was the stalker in the Liddell fight, every time Liddell launched an attack Rua disengaged or blocked and then came right back with his own offense.
Rua was able to implement almost all of this against Machida, all except actually getting a take down and using the big overhand right as a counter. Rua used an even better counter to most of Machida's offense, thumping leg kicks. These legs kicks were effective on multiple fronts:
-They scored heavily and took away much of Machida's explosiveness later in the fight.
-This prevented Machida from moving as fluid as he normally does and allowed Rua to use his forward style more effectively.
-These leg kicks also prevented Machida from finding Shogun's range
Of course every light heavyweight will not be able to implement the game plan that Shogun utilized against Machida. It requires a good chin, explosiveness, and great cardio. I'm sure Machida will make the necessary adjustments to counter leg kicks, but do you think this gameplan could be effective against him again?
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Yeah I actually think that is the flaw of the wide stance Machida utilizes – it allows him to keep his head out of danger, but the body and legs become easier to hit.
Bloody hell.
by 3PA on Oct 25, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
yes he did
but your’e right not just any fighter can do the same thing that rua did. maybe forrest, but he can’t take a punch, vera’s got good kicks and length but he hasn’t shown anything at lhw that he could be champ. rashad comes to mind because of his speed, but then there was that one fight. lol. i think anderson silva would kill machida if they were not butt buddies, and it’s not like machida can all off a sudden just change his tyle and be succsesfull. he can make adjustments, but those won’t be enough unless he takes more risks and tries to be more offensive. shougun definetley shattered the “unbeatble” myth that machida had. i still like machida, but don’t feel the same as before last night.
by bdw on Oct 25, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
but don’t feel the same as before last night
Myth shattered.
Bloody hell.
by 3PA on Oct 25, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only two opponents that he’s already fought that I think could do it would be either Shogun, or possibly (of all people) Thiago Silva. Shogun for figuring it out in the first place and having the preexisting skill set with which to execute the plan, and I’ve had a more charitable view of Thiago Silva since the Jardine fight.
Evans on the other hand might have to change up how he does the stand-up, and somehow I don’t see that happening enough to be worth his time as opposed to concentrating on taking Machida to the floor.
by Chortles on Oct 25, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea
If Evans would have followed the gameplan I thought he would use…he would have a MUCH better chance at winning.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 25, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would have been another way for him to try to take away Machida’s greatest advantages, whereas Shogun used a different way that worked very well for him on Saturday night. I just don’t feel that Evans will simply be able to borrow Shogun’s gameplan, or he might just end up like Kenny Florian…
by Chortles on Oct 25, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good pts
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by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 25, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Shogun made things even more interesting in the 205 pound division. I can’t wait to see that dude throw down again.
by SlickRick00 on Oct 25, 2009 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
so dana thought rua won too. there is supposed to be a rematch.
now the pressure will be on machida to perform extremely well to keep his belt. i’ve looked at quite a few different blogs and message boards and there are some nasty comments on them. i just found out cecil people’s (one of the judges)is in the KARATE hall of fame. i think i’m going to do some more research on the other two guys. dana says. “we need to get better judges” if someone knows how many ppv’s were sold i’m curious to know. i’ll bet the rematch won’t get the numbers this one got. also the tuf 10 reality show is being slammed everwhere b/c they are judging the fights and fighter’s to see if anyone could beat brock lesnar. might not be fair but that is what is coming out of the casual fans mouth. are those not the people the ufc wants to get. i’m sticking with college football for now on where things that are supposed to happen do. tcu putting the beatdown on byu. utah and airforce playing there usual close game but with af getting 10.5 points. boise state destroying a hapless hawaii t team. etc etc. I think the ufc might have just hit their peak b/c if they lose the gambling public they lose. why do you think college football got so big in the first place? why do they have so many bowls and their adding two more next year. it’s b/c the gambling public legal and illegal made it is what it is. it’s for the players to get a nice ring but it’s also for most of the people in neveda and all those off shore gambling site’s. wagering in nevada is a 2.5 billion dollar industry. the illegal betting portion is said to be anywhere from 50-100 billion dollars worldwide and getting bigger everday. thanx for letting me rant mr. hunt. ramble and gamble on. peace!
by wolfmanshowlforever on Oct 25, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At the pace college football is going now, pretty soon all 160+ teams will have a bowl game to play in. :)
by SlickRick00 on Oct 25, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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