Everyone’s time comes. In everything.
In work, in life, in general. The clock is ticking on every person, all the time, in one way or another.
Saturday night against Yoel Romero in Florida, much of the evidence suggested that Lyoto Machida’…
Everyone’s time comes. In everything.
In work, in life, in general. The clock is ticking on every person, all the time, in one way or another.
Saturday night against Yoel Romero in Florida, much of the evidence suggested that LyotoMachida’s time had come. In a bout where he looked slow and lackluster in the midst of a more athletic brute a year his senior, his demise felt more of an inevitability than it ever had before.
When it came, few draws dropped the way they did when he had suffered defeats previously in his career. This was coming since April, when Luke Rockhold dissected him with similar enthusiasm. This was foreseeable.
That’s not to eulogize a man still living, or even eulogize his career. Machida is still good—good enough to compete with high-end talent and win with some regularity. He just won’t win with the regularity he once did, when he was a Rubik’s Cube of a champion at light heavyweight or a surging contender at middleweight.
And that’s where an important distinction is born.
Machida, his talent and his accomplishments are timeless. He’s a surefire Hall of Famer, one of the few proven draws remaining in a UFC dangerously bereft of them and one of the most uniquely intriguing in-cage combatants the sport has known in the past decade.
Machida the man, however, is not ageless. He’s been violently stopped in consecutive bouts, is a stunning 6-7 since 2010 and looks like a properly shopworn 37-year-old for the first time in his professional career.
Timeless accomplishments don’t come with a guarantee of agelessness. They’re a separate entity entirely, their momentum halted almost exclusively by the reality noted above: Everyone’s time comes.
So you can be a nasty piece of business, a puzzle to be solved by UFC athletes who came out on the right side of a highlight-reel KO far more often than not over the years, but eventually the tide will turn. Those punches you once slipped and kicks you once responded with so swiftly don’t work the same. The punches hit you, the kicks don’t land.
Such is the case with Machida. It’s played out for the world to see in his past two fights.
The fact of the matter is that he’s still an elite middleweight and he’ll still beat a lot of guys on the roster. He’s taken care of himself for a long time in the gym and in the cage, and he’s been rewarded with longevity as a result.
Still, he’s pushing 40. This is a game designed to chew you up and spit you out, and no one gets out without that treatment no matter how well they care for themselves along the way.
As he proceeds to the next phase of his career, all of this is important to remember. He’s certainly got a few more fights left in him, as a decline so precipitous as the one suggested by the Rockhold and Romero results is an extreme rarity, but he won’t look like the man people remember from his prime.
That’s fine. It’s how the sport works.
It’s more important to remember the greatness of Machida for what it was and the fact that he’s produced so much excitement and accomplished so much as an athlete that he’s truly become timeless. There’s nothing he can do about the fact that he’s not ageless, and he shouldn’t be punished in the public eye for it by having his career achievements dismissed after a few bad nights where he looked older and slower.
There’s no disputing that Lyoto Machida is one of the most renowned mixed martial artists to ever step inside of the Octagon.
But The Dragon has come a long way since dominating the 205-pound scene for multiple years, combining unorthodox attacks and l…
There’s no disputing that Lyoto Machida is one of the most renowned mixed martial artists to ever step inside of the Octagon.
But The Dragon has come a long way since dominating the 205-pound scene for multiple years, combining unorthodox attacks and legendary counter striking to dismantle some of the best fighters in the business.
Having lost two of his last three, including a title fight opposite undefeated Brazilian assassin Chris Weidman and a one-sided beatdown at the hands of Luke Rockhold, Machida came into Saturday’s main event bout opposite Yoel Romero at UFC Fight Night 70 in desperate need of a victory.
As arguably the most accomplished wrestler to ever compete under the Zuffa banner, the athletically clad Romero poised a unique threat to the Brazilian.
And in dramatic fashion, the 38-year-old Cuban steamrolled Machida and ended his bid for middleweight redemption via a third-round knockout.
Here is what we learned Saturday night as Romero officially cemented himself as a bona fide title contender:
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
It took Romero nearly two full rounds to even attempt a takedown, let alone drag Machida to the canvas.
But once he found himself in top position, Romero rained short elbows in bunches that ultimately left the former UFC champion incoherent.
However, the even more interesting takeaway from this bout is that Romero didn’t even need to finish the fight the way he did.
On the heels of patient striking, timely in-and-out pursuits and overall creativity, Soldier of God was able to thwart the usual effective countering of Machida.
In turn, Machida’s only worthwhile offense included circling leg kicks and the occasional body blow.
Needless to say, the blistering knockout was Romero’s exclamation mark on the last 26 months, in which he went 6-0 with five spectacular finishes.
What We Learned AboutMachida
At 37 years of age and countless wars inside of the cage, a 1-3 record over his last four bouts may be enough to consider Machida officially done.
While his skill set is extremely unique and often efficient enough to ward off offensive dynamos, it seems as if the Brazilian can no longer rely on his speed and precision.
It’s a hard reality to bear, but Machida needs to make major adjustments heading into 2016 if he wants to remain on the outskirts of the Top 5 (assuming he drops down after this loss).
In any case, he was unable to utilize his counter left and at times seemed to mask his inabilities by uncharacteristic showmanship.
What We Learned AboutRomero
It may have taken Romero longer than expected to truly get going on Saturday night, eating an abundance of leg kicks in the process, but boy did he make up for lost time.
When it mattered most, whether in close quarters or as Machida reached for counters, Romero’s athleticism allowed him to make the correct adaption to avoid damage and inflict his own.
The fact that he didn’t have to rely on his wrestling (which is arguably the best we’ve ever seen) to stifle one of the best all-around pinpoint strikers of the past ten years suggests that Romero’s evolution is firing on all cylinders.
If he can maintain his tactical approach and he even opts for more takedown attempts in order to open his striking moving forward, there’s no telling how dangerous Romero can become on his feet.
What’s Next for Machida
Like other fallen stars, such as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Dan Henderson, Machida will have the opportunity to fight until he doesn’t want to compete anymore.
But considering he’s been finished decisively in back-to-back appearances, The Dragon may need a little time off to redefine his aging Octagon skill set.
When he returns, noteworthy middleweight draws like Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping could be waiting in the helm.
Not to mention that a historic showdown with Anderson Silva would serve as a perfect pardon from the sport for both Machida and The Spider.
What’s Next for Romero
There’s only one matchup to make for Romero, and that is a long-awaited bout with No. 2 ranked middleweight Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
It’s a fight that has already been scheduled twice, but it ultimately has fallen through on the heels of bad health.
It is the most obvious No. 1 contender’s bout out there in the division and a classic collision of wrestler vs. grappler.
On paper, Souza’s experience makes him the early favorite, but Romero’s showing opposite Machida proves that he can adapt to almost any fight style.
The highs were high and the lows were low at UFC Fight Night 70. There were brutal knockouts and there were dreadful bores scattered throughout the night, but the card delivered on the whole.
The biggest winner of the night was, clearly, main even…
The highs were high and the lows were low at UFC Fight Night 70. There were brutal knockouts and there were dreadful bores scattered throughout the night, but the card delivered on the whole.
The biggest winner of the night was, clearly, main eventer Yoel Romero, who defeated Lyoto Machida via third-round knockout. The Olympic silver medalist is one of the most terrifying fighters in MMA today and, in spite of being 38 years old, seems to be a physical threat on par with anyone else in the sport. Romero’s win vaults him into title contention and possibly sets him up to step over fellow contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza as the next in line for the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold.
The biggest loser is tougher to call in theory, but pretty easy to pick in practice.
Steve Bosse came out of retirement to face fringe top-10 light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado on the main card of UFC 186. Unfortunately, he would wind up being moved off pay-per-view and onto free television to face the relatively unknown Thiago Santos.
That’s a major downgrade no matter how one slices it. And how did that go for him? His head got kicked into the fifth row!
Who else came out a winner at Fight Night 70? Who else came out worse for wear? Read on and find out.
The race for title contention in the UFC’s middleweight division has never been hotter, and two of the major players in the championship mix stepped into the Octagon for a high-stakes affair at Fight Night 70.
Former light heavyweight champion and rece…
The race for title contention in the UFC’s middleweight division has never been hotter, and two of the major players in the championship mix stepped into the Octagon for a high-stakes affair at Fight Night 70.
Former light heavyweight champion and recent 185-pound title challenger Lyoto Machida squared off with surging powerhouse Yoel Romero in the showcase bout of Saturday night’s card in Hollywood, Florida. The Dragon has been a threat to the middleweight crown since dropping down from the 205-pound fold in 2013, but a recent rough patch has put that elite status in jeopardy. Losses in two of his last three showings going into his tilt with the Soldier of God put Machida in an absolute must-win situation if he wanted to keep his future title hopes alive.
Though Romero came into his bout with the elusive Brazilian striker having won five straight fights inside the Octagon, there was little room for error where he was concerned as well. There are multiple contenders jockeying for a shot at Chris Weidman’s middleweight crown at the present time, and a loss on Saturday night would undoubtedly cost the 38-year-old powerhouse valuable ground in the hunt for a championship opportunity. That said, a victory over the former two-divisional title challenger would keep him moving up the divisional ladder and put him one step closer to his ultimate goal.
Both Machida and Romero had a lot on the line at Fight Night 70, and it was the former Olympian who got the job done on Saturday. While Romero and Machida spent the first two rounds in a technical chess match on their feet, the Cuba native’s confidence began to rise as he held his own with one of the most dangerous strikers in the game. Everything changed in the third round as Romero used his world-class wrestling to put Machida on the ground, where he unleashed a violent storm of elbows that left the former champion out cold on the canvas.
While defeating Machida is undoubtedly the most impressive win of Romero’s career, the surging contender showed so many positive elements that his stock should go through the roof in the aftermath of Saturday night.
Let’s take a look at the good, bad and the strange from Fight Night 70.
The Good
Yoel Romero is a beast.
The Olympic silver medal-winning wrestler turned mixed martial artist has been making noise in the middleweight ranks over the past two years, but he absolutely stamped his presence as a legitimate threat to the 185-pound crown at Fight Night 70.
The Soldier of God arguably put on the best performance of his career as he went toe-to-toe with the Dragon for two rounds before snuffing him out with a brutal flurry of elbows in the third.
The upper tier of the middleweight fold is a shark tank at the current time, and Romero confirmed his place on the title radar with his victory on Saturday night. Yet the most interesting thing about Romero’s position is what will come next for the American Top Team representative. The 38-year-old was slated to face fellow contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza on two previous occasions, but injuries to both men forced those fights to be cancelled.
With champion Chris Weidman slated to face Luke Rockhold sometime later in 2015, that leaves Souza standing as the odd man out in the title mix. But after Romero finished Machida, picking up his sixth straight victory inside the Octagon, the Alligator is no longer alone in that picture. Romero versus Souza in a title eliminator needs to happen, and you have to believe that’s what will be next for both men.
***
After a three-fight skid put him on the brink of unemployment, Lorenz Larkin made the decision to drop down to the welterweight division. It was the best decision of his career. Since moving down to 170 pounds, the California-born striker has looked like a wrecking machine, as the confidence that would sporadically appear in his game has surfaced as a full-time attribute.
Larkin dipped into that reserve as he came out on the winning end of a fierce slug fest with Argentinian Santiago Ponzinibbio in the co-main event at Fight Night 70.
While Larkin was able to establish his range in the early going, Ponzinibbio refused to take a backward step. He continued to press the action despite being peppered with counter punches and having his lead leg hammered with kicks. Even though Ponzinibbio showed resilience, Larkin poured on more than he could handle in the second round, as the Riverside native unleashed a beautiful combination that led to the second-round TKO finish.
***
Some fighters are big for the weight class in which they compete, but Antonio Carlos Jr. looked like one of the largest middleweights in MMA in his fight against Eddie Gordon on Saturday.
Shoeface’s monster frame smothered The Ultimate Fighter Season 19 winner in their tilt, and the size advantage was definitely something Gordon struggled to overcome. Carlos Jr. walked down the Serra-Longo product ever step of the way, and if he wasn’t tagging him in the stand up game, he was landing shots when Gordon’s back was on the canvas.
The 25-year-old Brazilian would go on to pick up the submission victory via rear-naked choke in the final minute of the fight, putting himself back into the win column in impressive fashion.
***
Knockouts, by their very nature, are violent, but what Thiago Santos did to Steve Bosse at Fight Night 70 was an entirely different class of brutality.
Shortly after the referee stepped aside inside the Octagon, the former hockey player began his approach to start the ruckus and Marreta unleashed a devastating left-footed head kick that forced the Canadian into an abrupt sleep on the canvas. It took just 29 seconds for Santos to blister Bosse on Saturday night and pick up his third victory in his last four outings.
Santos’ knockout was as explosive as it was ferocious, and he could very well be on his way to picking up $50,000 worth of bonus money because of it.
***
The featherweight division is a talent-rich collective in the UFC, and Hacran Dias wants to establish himself as a major player in the 145-pound fold. While he dropped two of his first three fights inside the Octagon, the Nova Uniao product has finally started to build some momentum, picking up his second straight victory in the featherweight ranks by defeating Levan Makashvili on Saturday night in Florida.
Though the 31-year-old Brazilian wasn’t able to close out a pair of submission attempts he appeared to have locked up, Dias still did enough to take the fight on the judges’ scorecards to pick up the split-decision victory. Although his performance was forgettable, whatever Dias’ post-fight victory scream was garnered some attention.
***
Alex Oliveira continues to prove he doesn’t need much notice to bring his best on fight night. The rangy Brazilian has competed three times inside the Octagon—all of which have come with little time to prepare. That said, Cowboy has operated with a high rate of success and picked up his most recent win on Saturday against newcomer Joe Merritt.
Oliveira used his grappling chops to control the former football player turned mixed martial artist en route to picking up the unanimous decision victory in what was already his third showing of 2015.
***
When both fighters are making their official debuts for the promotion, it’s a good bet that some furious action will follow. That was definitely the case when Tony Sims and Steve Montgomery stepped into the Octagon on the preliminary portion of Fight Night 70, as neither man wasted a moment letting the bad intentions fly. While the Colorado native’s crisp boxing made the American Top Team product’s flowing mullet snap back with hard shots, the Creepy Weasel landed a perfectly timed knee that buckled Sims’ legs.
Yet MMA is a game of sudden turns, and just as Montgomery hurried after his wounded opponent, Sims blistered him with a left hand that spelled the beginning of the end for Montgomery. The Team Elevation fighter landed two more shots for good measure and in doing so put an impressive stamp on his long-awaited showing under the UFC banner.
The Bad
Combat sports is an unforgiving business, and Lyoto Machida will have some serious decisions to make following his loss at Fight Night 70.
There are few fighters on the current UFC roster who have more accomplishments or a better resume than the Dragon, but the past year has been a telling one in regard to where Machida stands in the bigger picture at the elite level of the middleweight division.
The 36-year-old Brazilian striker was handed his first loss at 185 pounds when he was edged out by champion Chris Weidman at UFC 175 last July. The Shotokan karate master rebounded with a victory over C.B. Dollaway, but suffering a second-round submission finish to Luke Rockhold back in April served to put his hopes for a rematch with the All-American on ice.
The Team Black House fighter went into his bout with Yoel Romero at Fight Night 70 with a firm understanding of the situation he was in. The former two-divisional title challenger knew a win over the Soldier of God would keep his dream of another championship alive, but a loss at the hands of the Cuban powerhouse would push him out of the middleweight title picture for the foreseeable future.
Those circumstances, mixed with a quick turnaround, made for a high-risk, high-reward affair. It was a gamble Machida lost in punishing fashion.
The former light heavyweight champion failed to make Romero respect his power during the first two rounds, which allowed the 38-year-old Florida transplant to continue pushing forward. It was only a matter of time before the former Olympian implemented his wrestling game, and he chose the third round to use that attack. Romero’s first takedown attempt put Machida on his back before a rapid burst of elbow strikes separated the Brazilian from his consciousness.
The loss was the third setback Machida has suffered in his past four fights and the second consecutive defeat in which his opponent finished him. That’s a rough stretch for a fighter who was once known as the most elusive competitor inside the Octagon and signals a change in status for the perennial contender.
What Machida has done during his time under the UFC banner has made him a surefire Hall of Fame inductee in the future, but his time within striking distance of another title came to a violent close on Saturday night.
***
Missing weight in your first UFC fight is a bad way to get things started, but Lewis Gonzalez pulled a double whammy by also being one half of a sloppy fight on his debut. Granted, his opponent, Leandro Santos, took the matchup on short notice, but the 15-minute bout felt more like 15 hours.
It was three rounds of lackluster action, with Buscape doing enough the unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. And while neither man came out of the fight with anything to brag about, the loss and missing weight definitely put Gonzalez off to a rough start at the highest level of the sport.
The Strange
Let’s talk about the card for Fight Night 70 for a moment.
While the UFC continues to blaze through the calendar year throwing out events at an incredible rate, there is always the argument that oversaturation has taken hold. Nevertheless, most events have at least several solid bouts in which the names are recognizable to casual MMA fans and are built around a headliner fight fans can typically get excited for.
The main event on Saturday night between Lyoto Machida and Yoel Romero certainly qualified in the anticipation category, but the supporting elements that are usually laced throughout the lineup were noticeably absent. On paper, Fight Night 70 appeared to have all the relevancy of a show put on by a smaller promotion that somehow managed to land a bankable name and a surging contender to draw fans in.
Saturday’s card would have been a big deal for a smaller promotion, but this is the UFC we are talking about. It severely lacked in appeal in the lead up. Granted, there were other forces at play, and those elements certainly played a factor into how things would ultimately shake out where Fight Night 70 was concerned.
The card was originally slated to be the finale for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 but was moved to Florida just weeks out from the June 27 date. This shake-up caused a huge fallout, as several Brazilian fighters were unable to secure visas in time for the event and were removed from the card.
The most notable of the group was welterweight finishing machine Erick Silva, who was going to face Rick Story in what was originally set to be the main event of TUF: Brazil 4 but was slotted as the co-main event at Fight Night 70 before it fell apart in the chaos.
With a handful of bouts removed on extremely short notice, Fight Night 70 never stood much of a chance. When you pair those conditions with the fervor created by Jose Aldo’s rib injury and potential removal from his upcoming featherweight title tilt with Conor McGregor at UFC 189, there was simply no room in the minds of MMA fans for what was going to take place on Saturday night.
And that’s strange because there is nothing fight fans love more than free squabbles. That said, the fighting faithful are also a sharp bunch, and Machida versus Romero wasn’t going to be enough to spark the excitement that can usually be found attached to a UFC event.
There is no reason for fans to fret, however, because the five UFC cards coming in fast and furious fashion will go a long way toward erasing the memory of what happened at Fight Night 70.
On a final note let’s talk about what is quickly becoming the biggest story to come out of Saturday night’s event: Yoel Romero’s post-fight rant following his victory over Lyoto Machida.
Given he’s a devout Christian, it’s nothing strange to hear talk of Jesus and the like coming out of his mouth, but when his speech appeared to mention homosexuality, things took a different turn.
The middleweight contender typically uses a translator because he doesn’t speak strong English, but Romero told Jon Anik he was going to speak English in his interview and launched into whatever that was.
I say that because I honestly do not know what he said. The entire thing was pointed out to me by a fight fan on Twitter because the original run of this article made no mention of it, and after viewing the interview multiple times, I still have no idea of exactly what was said. Romero addressed the matter at the post-fight press conference, apologizing for any misunderstanding that took place.
Romero told the media in attendance he was speaking about the “American Dream,” but that seems to be a stretch from starting out his post-fight interview with a pointed barb at America and asking “What Happened?” Romero would go on to mention Jesus several more times, and despite the fighter insisting he made no slanderous remarks, the message came just one day after the Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal in the United States.
Props to @davidbix on the Vine, which is posted below for so you can all hear and decide for yourselves.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
UFC Fight Night 70 comes to you from Hollywood, Florida on Saturday evening. The fight card features nine fights across four divisions.
In the main event, middleweight contenders Lyoto Machida and Yoel Romero duke it out to see who can join title conte…
UFC Fight Night 70 comes to you from Hollywood, Florida on Saturday evening. The fight card features nine fights across four divisions.
In the main event, middleweight contenders LyotoMachida and Yoel Romero duke it out to see who can join title contention. Welterweights Santiago Ponzinibbio and Lorenz Larkin meet in the co-main event of the evening.
Bleacher Report will be here all evening to provide you play-by-play analysis of the action.
The preliminary action kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 2. The main card is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET, following the Women’s World Cup, on Fox Sports 1.
What happens when a Dragon and a Soldier of God meet in an Octagon?
We’ll find out on Saturday night from Hollywood, Florida when Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida locks horns with Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero in a pivotal middleweight scrap in the main event…
What happens when a Dragon and a Soldier of God meet in an Octagon?
We’ll find out on Saturday night from Hollywood, Florida when Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida locks horns with Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero in a pivotal middleweight scrap in the main event at UFC Fight Night 70. Also on the card is a welterweight clash that could be stacked with action. Santiago “Gente Boa” Ponzinibbio takes on the revitalized Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin in the co-main event.
Here’s how you can watch the card and a table of predictions for each bout:
When: Saturday, June 27 at 8 p.m. ET
Where: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Hollywood, Florida
TV: Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 1
Tickets: The event is sold out, but tickets can become available at ScoreBig.com
The Main Event
Machida is a beloved performer and legend of the sport, but Romero figures to be the heavy fan favorite. The fight will take place in Hollywood, but nearby Miami is the Cuban-born Romero’s residence and adopted home. He will be looking to make the city, which is infused with Cuban culture, proud.
Romero talks about his connections to Florida in the video from the UFC below:
After battling injuries that forced him out of a potentially tantalizing scrap against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC on Fox 15, Romero is ready to make his return to the Octagon.
The former silver medalist in the 2000 Olympics has a mixed martial arts record of 9-1. The 38-year-old Romero is a perfect 5-0 in the UFC with his last win coming over Tim Kennedy back in September 2014. Romero finished Kennedy via TKO, but the win was not without controversy. After dominating most of the fight, Romero was rocked by a hard right hand from Kennedy just before the end of the second round.
Romero barely survived the frame and his corner appeared to use some questionable stalling tactics between rounds to allow their fighter more time to recuperate. He ultimately had enough wherewithal in the final round to again put the rugged Kennedy in trouble and stop him via punches.
That incident stained what was otherwise an impressive performance. Romero wants to reestablish his momentum with a win over one of the most recognizable names and gifted fighters in the history of the UFC.
Machida may be at a crossroads in his career. He’s coming off a one-sided loss to Luke Rockhold in his last fight in April. A win wouldn’t get him a shot at Chris Weidman‘s middleweight belt immediately because he’s already had a shot less than a year ago, but it would keep him in line for a rematch somewhere down the line.
Should Weidman lose his next fight, Machida‘s path to another shot at the belt would be a little shorter.
If he loses, he’ll fall so far to the back of the line, one would have to wonder if he has enough longevity to ever reach the mountaintop again. Because he’s had 28 professional fights—and more importantly six losses—Machida‘s 37 is older than Romero’s 38. If a title is still his main motivation to compete, he’d have to seriously consider if it’s worth continuing to fight.
There are so many top-notch middleweights, there’s no telling when Machida would get another shot at the title if he loses. Thankfully for him, he won’t have to worry about that scenario. While Machida can’t match Romero in raw power or in wrestling prowess, his takedown defense is stellar. For his career, he’s stuffed 76 percent of the takedowns attempted against him.
When you consider the level of wrestlers he’s faced in his career: C.B. Dollaway, Chris Weidman, Phil Davis, Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans, just to name a few, that number is really impressive. Even if Romero gets Machida down, The Dragon can be difficult to submit when he’s on the ground. That’s what makes the way Rockhold manhandled him all the more impressive. While an unfortunate slip is what initially put Machida in peril against Rockhold, the latter had to be skilled enough to keep his opponent in the precarious position.
When it comes to technical prowess on the ground and depth of skills, Romero is no Rockhold. Machida will keep this fight standing the majority of the time and that’s where he’ll earn the victory. Romero is extremely strong and he possesses one-strike KO ability. You can see that in his devastating KO win over Clifford Starks in the Cuban’s UFC debut:
Machida, however, has one of the most diverse striking games in UFC history and Romero has been known to have a few defensive lapses. That’s what got him caught against Kennedy and in his loss to Rafael Cavalcante when Romero was in Strikeforce. Machida wins this one by TKO on ground strikes that are set up by a head kick.
And the legend continues to add to his highlight reel.
The Co-Main Event
Larkin looked to be on the verge of being cut after three-straight losses at middleweight, but he breathed new life in his career when he dropped to 170 pounds and stopped John Howard in his last fight in January.
Like Romero, Larkin wants to keep the momentum going with another win. Ponzinibbio is 2-1 in his UFC career and he’s a guy who likes to bang. While he’s a rugged and powerful striker, he won’t have the quickness or boxing ability to get the best of Larkin.
At 185 pounds, Larkin‘s hand speed and punching accuracy were his best attributes. In his career, he lands 45 percent of his strikes compared to just 31 for Ponzinibbio. In his welterweight debut, that number rose to 58 percent in a KO win that earned him a Performance of the Night Bonus.
Larkin may be in line for another 50 grand against Ponzinibbio. The Brazilian isn’t hard to hit as evidenced by the fact that he absorbs 4.05 strikes per minute. Look for Larkin to take advantage of his speed and score a second-round TKO to run his winning streak to two.
Truck Trying to Rebound
Eddie “Truck” Gordon has lost his last two fights and he has the most to lose of any fighter on Saturday’s card. Machida could go to the back of the line with a loss and face some tough questions about his career, but Gordon has never been to the front of the line.
He’s not a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame like Machida. In fact, if things continue to go as they have in his last two fights, The Ultimate Fighter Season 19 winner is going to be considered a bust.
What’s the real issue? It appears to be weight discipline. Per Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com, Gordon said before he made a recent change to his lifestyle, he’d have to lose huge amounts of weight before every fight.
Gerbasi writes:
“Gordon would sign a fight contract and look at dropping 40 to 50 pounds just to be able to fight. That’s not including fight strategy, techniques, or anything else related to his opponent. That’s just weight loss.”
That’s clearly not a recipe for success against high-level competition. According to Gordon, per Gerbasi‘s article, the talented middleweight has a new found dedication to the sport. He said: “I made a complete 180 change in my entire mixed martial arts thinking and way of life, and this fight, to me, is everything.”
He’s looking to showcase the fruits of his labor against another former TUF winner in Antonio Carlos Junior.
This is a contrast in styles and the simple question that determines the winner of this fight will be: Can Gordon stay off his back? If the answer is yes, he stops ACJ near the end of the first round or midway through the second frame.
There’s no questioning Gordon’s superiority in striking, power and athleticism. But stopping ACJ‘s takedowns will be crucial. In his career, Gordon has a 71 percent takedown defense rating. ACJ‘s takedown accuracy is an impressive 75 percent. Something will have to give in this area.
Gordon was convincing. He looks to be dead serious about conditioning and you’d have to believe that also means preparing for his opponent. His already-solid takedown defense should be even sharper and his leaner physique and less strenuous weight cut should improve his cardio.
He’ll stop ACJ with an eye-opening bounce-back performance.
Everyone’s time comes. In everything.