Lyoto Machida may have crane kicked his way back into title contention. While nothing is official, the UFC could offer the Brazilian a shot at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones depending on the status of anointed top contender Quinton “Rampage” Jack…
Lyoto Machida may have crane kicked his way back into title contention.
While nothing is official, the UFC could offer the Brazilian a shot at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones depending on the status of anointed top contender Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
After his UFC 130 bout with Matt Hamill, Jackson admitted that he had sustained a hand fracture prior to the fight. Despite a doctor’s confirmation of the injury, Jackson still decided to take the fight.
The bout was noticeably one-sided, as Jackson bested the exchanges and stuffed all of Hamill’s takedown attempts en route to a unanimous decision.
In a division plagued with injuries, Jackson’s victory over Hamill pretty much assured a 2011 meeting with Jones, but those plans could be scrapped if he isn’t medically cleared.
According to TATAME, Machida is prepared to step in for Jackson if given the opportunity.
“I’m ready. I’m already moving to another training part, and I’d be ready to fight in 12 weeks,” Machida said in a phone interview.
After losing back-to-back bouts to Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson, Machida bounced back at UFC 129 with a highlight reel knockout win over UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
The victory could grant Machida an opportunity to reclaim his light heavyweight title, but he doesn’t want to get his hopes up.
“There’s nothing yet, but it’s a great chance for me,” said Machida. “I don’t want to create hopes, and I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but if they do it, I’ll get this big opportunity to restart my walk in the UFC.”
Since becoming UFC champion, Jones has skyrocketed up the pound-for-pound rankings. His world class status can be attributed to an everlasting reach, high level grappling and a propensity for unorthodox stand up.
Fans have continuously scratched their heads over possible opponents that would prove to be a legit threat to Jones’ reign.
Could Machida be that guy?
“We know Jones is a great champion. He showed why (against Shogun), but everybody has strong and weak points,” stated Machida. “I haven’t studied Jones’ game yet because he was never ‘my problem,’ but I already saw him fighting.”
It appears that Lyoto Machida is more than willing to accept a bout with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Machida, who recently scored a victory over Randy Couture at UFC 129, has been quite vocal and aggressive in his approach to recaptu…
It appears that Lyoto Machida is more than willing to accept a bout with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Machida, who recently scored a victory over Randy Couture at UFC 129, has been quite vocal and aggressive in his approach to recapture the light heavyweight crown since losing to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 113 last year.
“There’s nothing yet, but it’s a great chance for me,” Machida told TATAME.com, when asked if he had received a call from the UFC regarding a potential bout with Jones.
This news comes just days after UFC president Dana White announced Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as the new No. 1 contender to Jones’ title. But Jackson, who recently defeated Matt Hamill at UFC 131, revealed that he fractured his hand prior to the bout. White made it clear that if Jackson was unable to compete against Jones this fall, Machida would receive the opportunity to face the 23-year-old champion instead.
Machida said he didn’t want to make a big deal over the potential bout between him and Jones, but he said he would be ready if called upon.
“I’m ready. I’m already moving to another training part, and I’d be ready to fight in 12 weeks,” he said.
While the opportunity might be too early for the Brazilian, many pundits are intrigued at witnessing a potential bout between the two light heavyweights, as some feel Machida has the style to dethrone the undefeated champion.
However, Machida, who was undefeated at one point in his career, knows that no one is unbeatable in mixed martial arts.
“We know Jones is a great champion, he showed why (against Shogun), but everybody has strong and weak points,” he said.
“I haven’t studied Jones’ game yet because he was never ‘my problem’, but I already saw him fighting.”
UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas shuffled the contender decks this Memorial Day Weekend. Here are five moves that are shaping up and shaking up the UFC’s weight classes. 1) “Rampage” Next for Jon J…
UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas shuffled the contender decks this Memorial Day Weekend. Here are five moves that are shaping up and shaking up the UFC’s weight classes.
1) “Rampage” Next for Jon Jones for Real
The UFC knows the value of continuing Jon Jones’ momentum relies heavily on who the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship defends his belt against first. If a fractured hand Jackson nursed while securing a clean, stock win against Matt Hamill Saturday night heals in time for him to fight Jon Jones next, he should be chosen over Lyoto Machida as the no. 1 contender more for his blockbuster appeal than his razor-thin decision against Machida last November at UFC 123.
Plans for the UFC’s first showcase of Jon Jones the champion have changed nearly as much as the title has changed hands since Chuck Liddell’s two-year reign over the division ended in 2007 (six). Rashad Evans’ August meeting scheduled with Phil Davis at UFC 133 hasn’t slowed talk of Evans-Jones although it’s ensured Evans is immediately unavailable. In addition to compelling beef with Jones, Evans holds a win over Jackson, who holds a win over Machida, who holds a win over Evans.
The consistent title changes and tough timing have disguised how healthy it is to have three former champions and a rising star wild card on deck to challenge the throne. The silver lining here is that of the last six 205-pound champions in the UFC, Jones and Jackson stand out currently as the most popular.
The UFC has the opportunity for a rare bout between a history-making 23-year-old champion in Jones and a foil of a veteran champion in Jackson. The window of opportunity for that bout is now because Jackson, 32, eyeing retirement at 35 suggests it will take big money fights to truly garner his big money performances.
2) Demetrious Johnson’s Mighty Case for a Title Shot
“Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson competed with former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres for every second of his captivating 15-minute SPIKE TV preliminary scrap with Miguel Torres. A Matt Hume protégé, Johnson has four consecutive victories including back-to-back against former champions in Torres and K-1 HERO’s 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Champion Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. The 24-year-old has exceeded expectations in an underdog role for his last three bouts. With 135-pounds hosting it’s first UFC main event at UFC 132 in July between champion Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, Johnson is the perfect uncelebrated but serious challenger for a champion riding the biggest win of his career and looking to further establish themselves via real opposition.
For Torres, coming off a well-played contest, Yamamoto is a fight that contains intrigue stemming back to their time being internationally acclaimed outside of the UFC.
3) Brian Stann’s Flagship Fight
Brian Stann disposed of Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago in their Fight of the Night honored contest 31 seconds shy of the second round’s end. “All-American” displayed marked improvement in the facet of his game already considered his strength—his striking. His looks standing left Santiago confused and eventually broken, signaling Stann is a fighter capable of outclassing top-10 opponents.
The Marine’s marketability surely will fast track him to a title shot; however, Anderson Silva’s unparalleled reign leaves the former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion with few opponents that can advance Stann’s contender position while he continues evolving as a fighter ready for someone of Silva’s caliber. Stann will be happy to report for regularly duty but he should compete in a title eliminator bout opposite Wanderlei Silva, Mark Munoz or Michael Bisping, whichever fighter emerges from their contender bouts with Chris Leben, Demian Maia and Jason Miller respectively with the most momentum.
For Santiago, he endured the worst outcome possible in his UFC return, but the resilient Brazilian would benefit from mixing it up with another hard luck, solid middleweight in Dan Miller.
4) Getting Rick Story Straight
A sturdy chin and poise to fire punches back in the face of adversity Rick Story demonstrated versus Thiago Alves coupled with a six-fight win streak undoubtedly places the Brave Legion rep in contender talks. The 26-year-old passed a significant wrestling test against Johny Hendricks and now a striking test versus Alves. If he can neutralize the submission grappling of Jake Shields, another former title challenger to Georges St. Pierre’s UFC Welterweight Championship, Story could solidify he’s ready for the no. 1 contender spot.
Story has been bold in calling his shots at welterweight. That attitude is welcome when it’s from confidence in skills instead of confidence in an ability to sell a fight, which is why Rick Story is a “Horror” for other contenders and a dream for fans.
For Alves, the loser of Chris Lytle-Dan Hardy would stand well against his muay Thai.
5) UFC Heavyweights Could Use Strikeforce Bump
Frank Mir pushed around and beat up Roy Nelson to a decision in co-main event action, while Travis Browne scored the Knockout of the Night with a thrilling and unique superman punch KO versus Stefan Struve in round one. The winning heavyweights are at two entirely different junctures in their UFC career yet they have one thing in common: their best fights are in Strikeforce.
Mir likely concludes his trilogy with Brock Lesnar next when Lesnar recovers from diverticulitis. Facing the biggest star in MMA is a lucrative plus; however, defeat could irrevocably damage Mir’s longevity as a contender because key losses are valued more when the division doesn’t have the requisite depth to reestablish former champions with legitimate threats in the upper-echelon of the division like Antonio Silva, Sergei Kharitonov and Josh Barnett.
For Nelson, there’s not many prospects left at heavyweight although a chance to avenge a controversial loss to Andrei Arlovski allows him to have a contest relevant to his career while reinventing it by losing weight.
Browne appears incredibly promising to the heavyweight class thanks to his 6’7 frame and Alliance Training Center’s movement-oriented boxing. Good prospects like Shane Del Rosario and Daniel Cormier are legit counterparts that generate excitement for an up-and-comer like the Hawaiian. Instead, Browne can take a stern challenge from a grizzled guy like Mike Russow to raise his stock.
Danny Acosta is the lead writer at FIGHT! Magazine. Follow him on twitter.com/acostaislegend
Should Quinton “Rampage” Jackson get past Matt Hamill this weekend at UFC 130, he may be the next on tap for a title-shot at Jon Jones who is currently healing a thumb injury. Both fighters.
Should Quinton “Rampage” Jackson get past Matt Hamill this weekend at UFC 130, he may be the next on tap for a title-shot at Jon Jones who is currently healing a thumb injury. Both fighters share a mutual disdain for Rashad Evans, so it will be fun for us to see how the smack talk turns if the two are scheduled to meet in October. Jones revealed the UFC‘s plans for Jackson as the next contender (or even possibly Lyoto Machida) during a radio interview with 1260 The Score
“I had to postpone my first title defense against Rashad Evans due to some torn tissues in my thumb. My last doctor’s appointment they told me I should be able to get back to full out training within the next month. I’m excited about that. I’m expected to compete against Lyoto Machida or Rampage Jackson in maybe October, mid-October.”
Due to his recent success Vitor Belfort has his coach, Jayme Sandall, to credit.In preparation for Vitor Belfort’s bout with Yoshihiro Akiyama UFC 133, Sandall has been helping the former UFC light heavyweight champion perfect a game plan for his oppon…
Due to his recent success Vitor Belfort has his coach, Jayme Sandall, to credit.
In preparation for Vitor Belfort’s bout with Yoshihiro Akiyama UFC 133, Sandall has been helping the former UFC light heavyweight champion perfect a game plan for his opponent.
A Brazilian karate champion, Sandall has helped Belfort implement karate into his arsenal since returning to the organization three years ago. Sandall said he is confident that his teachings of karate will help Belfort pick up a victory.
“He’s a tough opponent, but they all are,” Sandall told TATAME on Belfort’s opponent, Akiyama.
“But I honestly can’t Picture Vitor losing this fight. In all ways I can picture it, I don’t see any way that Vitor would lose this one. It’s really unlikely.”
Belfort suffered his first knockout loss to UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, at UFC 127. Silva ended the bout with a highlight reel front kick that instantly dropped the Brazilian. Sandall said he helped Belfort train and prepare for a variety of kicks Silva utilizes, but he said the front kick was unexpected.
Sandall also commented on Silva’s teammate, Lyoto Machida, who landed a similar kick that knocked out his opponent, Randy Couture, at UFC 129. Sandall praised the technique Machida used and said it’s a common technique used in karate.
“I used to give the guys that kick a lot, a frontal flying kick,” he said. “You give one extra step to bring your leg and kick harder. I use to knock people down with kicks on their stomach. I actually got a few knockdowns with a kick on my stomach, but not on the face.
However while it has proven to be effective for both Silva and Machida, Sandall said to not believe the mystique surrounding their friend, actor and martial artist, Steven Seagal.
“I was surprised, and even Lyoto said all that Steven Seagal stuff, but people have to know that it’s all propaganda, because it was not Steven Seagal the one who taught him that kick, he knows it from Karate,” he said.
“I talked to Lyoto’s father the day after the fight and he told me: ‘I told Lyoto to train a lot’.”
In spite of Seagal’s alleged teachings, Sandall said the use of karate has helped mixed martial arts grow as a sport and vice versa.
“It was up and rise from it’s beginning. It was good for me, all of it is good to me, and to Karate too. I’m having the chance to introduce people to Karate, I had the chance to explain a little bit about its rules,” he said.
It’s rare to find a fighter with the talent, personality and charisma of former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Over the years, Jackson has entertained fans with memorable interviews and highlight-worthy finishes. Unfortunatel…
It’s rare to find a fighter with the talent, personality and charisma of former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Over the years, Jackson has entertained fans with memorable interviews and highlight-worthy finishes.
Unfortunately, critics love to linger on the dark parts of his career, but the darkness can’t overtake the light in such a radiant career like Jackson’s.
If he truly decides to hang up his gloves at age 35, Jackson will go down as one of MMA‘s all-time greats.
Thankfully, Jackson is only 32 years of age, and fans will get another two years of possibly seeing him howl over downed opponents.
Jackson is set to main event UFC 130 against Matt Hamill. In preparation for the upcoming showdown, we celebrate and remember the top 10 fight moments in the storied career of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Lyoto Machida may have crane kicked his way back into title contention.