Why Lyoto Machida Needs Another Win To Secure A Title Shot
by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 1, 2009 6:53 PM EST
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For most fans and writers Lyoto Machida had already done enough to earn shot at the UFC LHW title prior to UFC 94. After all he was 5-0 inside the octagon, and had dominated every opponent the UFC had put in front of him. Let me just say that I'm a fan of Lyoto Machida. If you are a regular reader of this blog you would know that. However, I just don't feel that he's earned a shot at the UFC LHW title just yet. There's only one factor from him achieving #1 contender status in my opinion. Follow me after the jump.
The fact of the matter is Lyoto Machida is an impressive 6-0 inside the octagon. However, none of those opponents have been highly ranked opponents in the UFC LHW division. Machida's highest profile win was against Tito Ortiz last year at UFC 84. You have some that believe that his win over Thiago Silva last night gurantee's him a shot now, since Silva was an undefeated prospect. However, the fact of the matter is Silva had not beaten anyone of note within the UFC LHW division either. So basically that win didn't do much for Machida besides showing the ability to finish his opponents.
I have Lyoto Machida as the #4 LHW in the world. Some of that ranking is from Machida beating everyone the UFC has thrown his way. The other part hinges on the other top ten UFC LHW fighters beating up on one another. For instance, we had Keith Jardine beating Chuck Liddell. Then Chuck Liddell beating Wanderlei Silva. Then Wanderlei Silva beating Keith Jardine. The UFC LHW division is the most stacked division in all of MMA. There's no way to justify a fighter leapfrogging the game's elite without beating at least one of them. This is why Lyoto Machida needs another win to secure a title shot. It has nothing to do with his style or ability to finish fights. Machida is a great fighter and I think he has the best strategy of all the fighters fighting. He inflicts the most damage while taking the least amount of punishment.
In order for Lyoto Machida to earn a title shot, he needs to fight and beat a top 5 fighter. The perfect match up would be Forrest Griffin. Griffin is a former champion, and is currently ranked by me as the #3 ranked LHW in the world(my rankings will be updated tomorrow). Griffin is currently rehabbing a hand injury suffered in his loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 92, and is expected to back in action around August. Machida could fight Griffin at that point, setting up a showdown between the winner of Rashad Evans/Rampage on the end of year show in December. Of course, this scenario depends on Machida beating Griffin, and Rampage beating Keith Jardine at UFC 96.
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Umm..
I don’t know if I could put Jardine in the #1 contender spot.
#1. Him and Rashad aren’t going to fight
#2. Jardine squeaking past Brandon Vera..and beating Rampage after getting destroyed by Wandy might not be enough.
#3. Rampage is going to take Jardine’s head off…lol
Hypothetically, say Jardine does beat Rampage, then where does he go? By the UFC’s matchmaking logic, why would he not be deserving of a title shot like Forrest got when he beat Shogun, and prior to that only beating Hector (who the hell is this guy) Ramirez who’s not even in the UFC anymore, and losing to Jardine prior to that? Why should a win over Jardine give Rampage a title shot if Jardine isn’t even deserving of one? In that case, this fight really doesn’t make sense at all. I understand Jardine isnt that marketable of a fighter, so why even have him headline and be a possible spoiler, again, against a possible number one contender if they have no intensions of making Jardine a number one contender or champion? If Jardine beats a top contender like Rampage he gets nothing? It’s really not Jardines fault that, with the exception of Wandy, he beats guys he is supposed to lose to (Chuck, Forrest, Vera). And with respect to him not wanting to fight Rashad or vice versa, if they are both towards the top, in terms of victories in the division they both CHOSE to be in, they should have to fight eventually, just like Kos , Fitch and Swick should have to fight if they CHOSE to be in the same division. Someone should tell these guys this isn’t the IFL .
Oh
I agree…the UFC’s matchmaking is suspect at times. I suppose they gave Griffin the shot because he was the only fighter they could throw on TUF with Rampage after he stopped Shogun. In meantime Jardine F’ed himself losing to Alexander. The Rampage/Jardine fight makes no sense to me either. Rampage deserves a shot at the title simply because he never lost it IMO. Plus, he brutally KO’ed a top ten guy in Wanderlei Siva…a guy he had lost to twice.
As far as guys fighter each other from the same camp. I agree, it’s absolute B.S. They beat each other up all day everyday for free, but not get paid to do it?
There is one problem, Forest probably will not take this fight. I remember him previously saying he had no interest in fighting Machida
by The Bronzeville Bully on Feb 2, 2009 12:24 AM EST reply actions
Bronzeville, you are abosolutely right. Forrest did make that statement, the only thing is with his dry sense of humor I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Another thing is, Zuffa needs to nip this ish in the bud in regards to fighters not wanting to fight other fighters. I can understand if guys are in the same training camp. But, if a fighter doesn’t want to fight another fighter because of his ‘style’? That’s some bullshit. Dana White and Co. needs to put their foot down.
Machida vs. Griffin would be a great fight.
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
I can agree with your post to an extent… but I think we are overlooking the fashion in which he’s beaten these guys. It hasn’t been like he’s edged out these close calls. He’s been really imposing his will and dominating in ALL of his performances. So even though Silva hadn’t beaten the big names, and tito was a bit “washed up”… Machida DOMINATED and never got in any real danger.
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