UFC 123: Breaking Down The Main Event- Rampage Vs. Machida

Added on Nov 19, 2010 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

This is a fight I have been wanting to happen for a long time. This is as solid of a main event you can get for not having a title on the line. Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida will face off in the Octagon in Auburn Hills, Michigan. This seems to be one of those polarizing fights where, if your a fan of one, then you go with that guy. Thats a good strategy because both of these fighters are solid fighters, but I try to visualize how the fight will play out.

Quinton Jackson is coming off of a loss to Rashad Evans, a fight many thought he would win, and before that he was filming the A-Team movie. Many are questioning his commitment to fighting as he can sometimes get into modes where he hates training. When you couple that with the tone of some of his interviews, one has to wonder where his head is at. He has been calling out Lyoto and saying tings like “I hope he doesn’t make this a boring fight.” He is alluding to the fact that Lyoto can be hard to hit sometimes, and has no problems ducking or getting out of the pocket.

Lyoto Machida is coming off of a two fight championship run with Mauricio Shogun Rua. Many thought Lyoto lost the first fight, including UFC President Dana White, so Shogun received the immediate rematch. Shogun won second the fight, and it gave Machida his first professional loss in his career. So its sort of a double blow, because he received his first loss, and also because the stakes were so high. Both fighters have excellent striking skills, but Machida’s is much more technical. The power goes to Rampage for sure, but Lyoto has the ability to hit you from a lot of strange directions. Lyoto is also very smooth from his back, and has the ability to submit you from there, and so Rampage might want to just stand with him. Rampage is always looking for the big slam, but I feel Machida can be elusive enough to avoid that. If Machida can focus on kicking out Quinton’s legs, much like Forest Griffin did to win Page’s belt, and he does it earl in the fight; then he has an excellent shot of wining this fight in my opinion.

I see Rampage trying to swarm Machida, and Lyoto surviving well. I see Machida hacking at the legs of Rampage, and either finishing him late in the fight, or winning an easy decision. I think Lyoto has more ways to win than Rampage, and I have a hard time envisioning Jackson winning any of the rounds.