Tag: Lyoto Machida

Jon Jones may be the “Fighter of the Year” and the youngest champion in UFC history, but even with all of those accolades, former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is still not impressed.

Since suffering back-to-back losses to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Machida’s stock has tumbled quite a bit.

People tend to forget that a little over a year ago, Machida was considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He boasted the same mysterious aura Jones possesses now.

“Jon’s rise doesn’t impress me. I had my moment in the UFC too,” Machida said in the video preview for UFC 140.

Sporting an unblemished record, fighters and coaches worked day and night in attempting to formulate a game plan to counter Machida’s unique and elusive karate-based style.

Due to Machida’s success, karate, an often frowned upon art in MMA, was given new light as a multitude of dojos began popping up all over the globe.

“Lyoto Machida presents a lot of unique problems to anyone he faces,” said UFC commentator Joe Rogan. “His footwork and his ability to move in and out almost like a fencer is really like no one else possesses in the entire division.”

At UFC 140, Machida will receive an opportunity to once again reign over the light heavyweight division as UFC champion, but he’ll have to get through the seemingly unstoppable Jones, who is coming off back-to-back wins over MMA legends Jackson and Rua.

“When I lost the belt, it was difficult for me, but I learned a lot,” said Machida. “Now, I feel more prepared to fight for the belt. I’ve learned to work better under pressure.”

There will be plenty of pressure on December 10 when Machida steps into the cage with Jones. Stylistically, Machida presents a lot of interesting problems for the young champion, but it will be an uphill battle for the elusive Brazilian.

Jones exudes a quality of greatness that is rarely seen in any sport. Can Machida overcome one of the fastest rising stars in MMA history?

“I want to feel it again, that belt around my waist,” Machida said.

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UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, who is slated to throwdown with Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at UFC 140, has only one thing of his mind—to remain champion.

Jones’ rise in the UFC and the 205-division has been meteoric to say the least and nothing short of phenomenal.

In his ascendancy to UFC gold, he dispatched the so-called future of the light heavyweight division, Ryan “Darth” Bader, from whence he attained the No. 1 contendership to then champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

“Bones” would go on to decimate Shogun in a one-sided beatdown en route to capturing the title.

And in his first defense of the 205-crown, Jones handed Quinton “Rampage” Jackson his first loss in the Octagon via stoppage—rear naked choke.

Thus far, the young phenom has fought and defeated three opponents in 2011—next up is the somewhat elusive Machida.

I say “somewhat” because Shogun found a way past his elusory style to put him to sleep at UFC 113.

Speaking to UFC.com, this is what Jones had to say about the prospect of going toe-to-toe with The Dragon,

“I’ve always felt confident with martial arts; and I always knew that I would fight Lyoto one day.Lyoto’s a great opponent, man, he’s game. I think he takes this sport seriously. I think he’s unpredictable, he’s fast. Lyoto loves distance and I love distance; but I have the longer limbs and I believe I’m just as fast. So if Lyoto wants to play the distance game with me, I think that’s going to be awesome.

I’m also very unpredictable. I have tons of confidence and faith in my wrestling abilities against Lyoto. I feel as if I can shoot at his legs and take him down, and I also feel as if I have tons of versatility in my takedowns from the point and shoot.”

Jones also spoke about his own capabilities and his limitations as well as that of Machida’s,

“I know myself, I know my weaknesses, and I’m not naive to them,” Jones said. “I’m starting to understand my opponent, I’m starting to understand what makes Lyoto, Lyoto, where he’s strong, where he’s weak.”

Jones made his final play when he said,

“I will defeat Lyoto Machida. I believe that it’s my destiny to be the UFC Champion for many years.”

This isn’t a cocky Jones, but a confident Jones, and he will prevail come fight night.

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With UFC 140 less than two weeks away, anticipation is growing for the main-event matchup between current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones and former champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.

Machida will enter the bout having won only one of his last three bouts, but that victory came against Randy Couture at UFC 129 in exciting fashion via crane kick. The victory broke a two-fight losing streak, which included losses against Quinton Jackson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Jones comes into the fight having won three fights this year. His victories include those over Rua, Jackson and Ryan Bader. His first successful title defense came in September versus Jackson, who he submitted in the fourth round.

Much has been made about Machida’s unique style of fighting, which is based on Shotokan karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. With the help of Steven Seagal, Machida has mastered the techniques used in his fights and what could lead him to defeating Jones.

UFC 140 will be available on pay-per-view and will feature a five-fight main card, including bouts between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mark Hominick and Chan Sung Jung. Brian Ebersole will also be featured in a welterweight matchup against Claude Patrick.

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