Lyoto Machida surely didn’t overwhelm Gegard Mousasi, but the former light hewavyweight champ apparently did enough to earn a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 36 on Saturday.
Machida won his second straight bout at middleweight and arguably took four of five rounds from Mousasi in the Dutchman’s return to middleweight to earn a 49-46, 50-45, 50-45 win.
Machida and Mousasi engaged in a physical chess match that primarily took place on their feet. The bout certainly wasn’t a slugfest the ilk of the Gilbert Melendez-Diego Sanchez fight, but Machida and Mousasi scrapped valiantly enough to receive “Fight of the Night” honors.
Although “The Dragon” landed a number of high kicks, he got outstruck 66-35, including 36-28 in the significant strikes department.
“The Dreamcatcher” got stuffed on each of his three takedown attempts but mustered a reversal in the fourth round. Machida, conversely, scored on one-of-two takedown attempts and notched a pair of guard passes.
Regardless of how the numbers read or how fans perceived the decision, the bout’s judges gave Machida the edge. In turn, The Dragon will move up another notch, and Mousasi will have to reevaluate things.
For those seeking alternative opinions regarding Saturday’s main event in Jaraqua do Sul, Brazil, here’s a look at how Twitter reacted.
These guys are snipers. Calm, cool & collected @ufc @lyotomachidafw @mousasi_mma
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) February 16, 2014
Machida is so fast at 85
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 16, 2014
Wait…. Did I just see a slight display of emotion by Mousasi?!?! Nope… never mind. #UFCFightNight
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 16, 2014
Mousasi not active enough to be winning this fight #ufc
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) February 16, 2014
I got machida not very impressive but he’s won every round.
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) February 16, 2014
Got machida decision.
— alan belcher (@alanbelcherufc) February 16, 2014
All stats gathered via Fightmetric.com.
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