Lyoto Machida Demonstrates Front Kick Two Years Before Using It at UFC 129

Another Black House fighter, another front-kick knockout victory and another claim by Steven Seagal that he trained that fighter on that particular kick.At UFC 129, Lyoto Machida used a front kick to knockout out Randy Couture that was very reminiscent…

Another Black House fighter, another front-kick knockout victory and another claim by Steven Seagal that he trained that fighter on that particular kick.

At UFC 129, Lyoto Machida used a front kick to knockout out Randy Couture that was very reminiscent of the kick that Anderson Silva used to put away Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.

If you recall, in postfight interviews, Steven Seagal was more than happy to take credit for showing Silva that kick.

After Machida’s victory on Saturday, Seagal spoke to Inside MMA, again taking credit for the knockout kick.

“It’s a little variation (on the Silva kick), I’ve been working with Lyoto very, very hard on a lot of different stuff. He did exactly what we’ve been working on and he did it well,” Seagal said.

The good folks over at MiddleEasy.com have uncovered a video that was uploaded to YouTube back in November of 2009 that shows Machida in a training video demonstrating the kick that he used to KO Couture.

Interesting stuff.

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Bellator Announces Network Deal With MTV2….Wait, What?? *Updated*

"…and Ben, I have you down to guest host on ‘Saturday Drop a Deuce’.  That’s cool, right?"A press release today announces that Bellator Fighting Championships has reached an agreement with MTV Networks to air live events on MTV2.&nbsp…

"…and Ben, I have you down to guest host on ‘Saturday Drop a Deuce’.  That’s cool, right?"

A press release today announces that Bellator Fighting Championships has reached an agreement with MTV Networks to air live events on MTV2.  The three-year deal, which begins in March of 2011, provides for broadcast of two live tournaments a year, "plus a collection of special feature events."  Eric Conte, Senior VP in charge of Programming and Production for MTV2, is quoted as saying that "MMA is at the top of our audience’s wish list" and that a partnership with the surging promotion "made complete sense".  (We haven’t received word yet on whether Conte was the guy that green-lit Wrestling Society X.)

The news comes as a surprise, as Bellator had been expected to announce an extension of its partnership with Fox Entertainment Group, parent of Fox Sports Net and FX.

Obviously, this is big news for Bellator, which has been hampered by lack of a stable time slot on FSN and plagued by last minute preemptions.  MTV2 is a step up on the distribution ladder, and more people will have access to the weekly shows than ever before.  As the press release noted, there is a nice dovetail in the demographics for the network and the Bellator fanbase.

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