Unhappy with the results of his UFC 163 bout, Lyoto Machida has reportedly demanded an immediate rematch against Phil Davis, according to FUEL TV’s Ariel Helwani.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn’t believe Machida dese…
Unhappy with the results of his UFC 163 bout, LyotoMachida has reportedly demanded an immediate rematch against Phil Davis, according to FUEL TV’s Ariel Helwani.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn’t believe Machida deserves another shot after a questionable judges’ decision scored the fight in his opponent’s favor.
Promotion president Dana White scored the fight completely in the former light heavyweight champion’s favor.
The judges’ decision is final, though, no matter how controversial it was. That’s why, as a fighter in a sport like this, you can’t leave it up another human being’s interpretation of your work; however, those three individuals may be in some very minimal company with their decision.
From here, the aging 35-year-old Machida isn’t getting any younger. His opportunities for a title shot are slowly going to dissipate over the next couple of years.
That, then, begs the question: What’s the point of stepping back into the Octagon with Davis?
His ability was fully on display during the three hard-fought rounds of that puzzling loss. What else is there to prove by fighting him again to a near-stalemate?
Machida isn’t going anywhere despite the loss. He’ll likely be plugged into another headliner bout in order to build him back up for an eventual title shot.
Or will he?
After missing out on two title shots already this year, and a rematch against Jon Jones, Machida may not be in the discussion any longer to recapture the title.
Grasping at a rematch against Davis may be the end result of frustration beginning to set in for The Dragon. It reeks of desperation for a fighter that may not have too many better options ahead of him.
As the top fighter in the light heavyweight rankings not named Jon Jones, at least before this recent loss, Machida shouldn’t be so quick to make demands after a decision loss.
If he had gotten knocked out, maybe there would be a need for him to come out and demand another shot.
At the end of the day, Machida’s own style betrayed him on the scorecard. If he’s not going to be aggressive enough offensively to finish fights, he needs to live with the consequences of decisions falling against him.
In one of the more gruesome endings of the night, Jose Aldo retained his featherweight championship with a TKO victory over Chan Sung Jung at UFC 163. In a testament to Aldo’s relentlessness, he targeted Jung’s separated shoulder with kicks that eventu…
In one of the more gruesome endings of the night, Jose Aldo retained his featherweight championship with a TKO victory over Chan Sung Jung at UFC 163. In a testament to Aldo’s relentlessness, he targeted Jung’s separated shoulder with kicks that eventually led to a TKO ending.
The question is, what’s next for Aldo after dismantling “The Korean Zombie”?
It wasn’t easy for Aldo, as he’s now fought nine rounds over the course of his past two fights. This time around, Jung displayed heart and proved that he could put on an entertaining fight, but Aldo was simply too much to handle.
Unfortunately, Jung wasn’t the only one who walked away with an injury.
Perhaps, this is a blessing in disguise, as the featherweight champion will finally have time to rest.
Once Aldo makes a full recovery, however, the UFC will be looking to book him in yet another high-profile main event. As the king of the featherweights, it’s more than probable that Aldo’s options are wide-open, as top fighters in multiple weight classes look to bring the champion down.
The question is, who should Aldo face next?
Benson Henderson/Anthony Pettis
Benson Henderson is set to face Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 on Aug. 31, 2013. Henderson, the reigning lightweight champion, is preparing to face the man whom he lost to at WEC 53 on Dec. 16, 2010.
Regardless of who wins, moving up to fight at Lightweight may be the best option for Aldo.
Aldo simply can’t be touched, stepping in at 23-1 without a loss on Nov. 26, 2005. Since joining the UFC, he’s won five consecutive fights, defeating some of the top names in the mixed martial arts industry.
Having defeated virtually every rational featherweight opponent, moving up may just be the best decision for Aldo to make.
Henderson is 19-2, the reigning lightweight champion and the 2012 UFC Fighter of the Year. He’s won seven consecutive fights, including two over Frankie Edgar and decisions over Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez.
Pettis is 16-2, a two-time UFC Knockout of the Night winner and 3-1 since entering the UFC. He’s won three consecutive fights, including back-to-back first-round knockouts against Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone.
The only question at this point is whether or not Aldo would be willing to move up in weight class to fight either star.
Chad Mendes
In 15 fights as a professional mixed martial artist, Chad Mendes is 14-1. The only time he lost was on Jan. 14, 2012, when Aldo blasted him with a knee to the face to win by knockout with exactly one second remaining in the first round.
Prior to that knee, it was a relatively even fight that displayed the potential for greatness. Since that clash, Mendes has been untouchable.
It’s time for a rematch.
In his three fights since losing to Aldo, Mendes has pulled off three consecutive knockout victories. Not only has he defeated those opponents, but Mendes has absolutely decimated everyone who has come in his path.
None of those three fights made it out of the first round.
Mendes’ recent dominance, as well as the even-but-brief battle between him and Aldo in 2012, suggests that he’s next in line. While there may be alternate candidates, Mendes appears to be the most probable pick.
It doesn’t get much better than three consecutive first-round knockouts.
Cub Swanson
On June 7, 2009, it took Aldo eight seconds to defeat Cub Swanson via TKO with a gorgeous double flying high knee. That seemed to have broken Swanson’s confidence, as he proceeded to go 2-2 during his next four fights.
Since then, Swanson has won five in a row, including four via TKO or knockout.
To say that Swanson would love a fight against Aldo in eight seconds, once again, would be nothing short of naive. Not only has he he made tremendous strides over the past four years, but that flying knee would have knocked out anyone it connected with.
Four years wiser, something tells us Swanson wouldn’t let that happen again.
With momentum on his side, it’d certainly be an intriguing matchup if Swanson and Aldo were to cross paths again. Not only is the former winning fights, but he’s also dominating his opponents and putting on flashy finishes.
If anyone could exact revenge on Aldo, wouldn’t you place your money on the fighter with a tendency to knock his opponents out?
At UFC 162 on July 6, 2013, Swanson defeated respected fighter Dennis Siver by knockout in the third round. That marked the second time Siver had ever been knocked out and the first in 13 fights—a span of one day over five calendar years.
It’s safe to say that Swanson is primed and ready.
Despite receiving plenty of praise from the masses, UFC heavyweight Brandon Vera thought Brian Stann did an awful job on color commentary at UFC 163 last night, at least during the co-main event of the evening.
Shortly after Phil Davis, an Allian…
Despite receiving plenty of praise from the masses, UFC heavyweight Brandon Vera thought Brian Stann did an awful job on color commentary at UFC 163 last night, at least during the co-main event of the evening.
Shortly after Phil Davis, an Alliance MMA teammate of Vera, was announced as the victor in his light heavyweight clash with LyotoMachida, “The Truth” took to social media to call out Stann.
“@philmrwonderful super awesome job boss…!!!!! U are the man!!! F*** you @brianstann learn how to be an unbiased commentator bitch. Don’t #hatecuz he beat Ur ass too!!!”
Davis defeated Stann back at UFC 109 in February 2010, winning a lopsided decision where “Mr. Wonderful’s” grappling pedigree was on full display.
For whatever its worth, Vera tweeted Stann this morning apologizing for his choice of words:
@BrianStann tho my opinion remains the same my choice of words shoulda been better. For my words I apologize.
Stann, like most media outlets, fans and fighters, seemed to believe that Machida controlled the majority of the action during the 15-minute fight and thought the former 205-pound champ would get the nod.
However, the three judges scoring the bout disagreed.
Davis, who entered the co-headlining match up ranked the seventh best light heavyweight in the world, according to the UFC’s official rankings, has now won three straight fights with a solid 12-1(1) overall record.
Meanwhile, Stann formally announced his retirement from the sport last month after losing three of his past four bouts, citing a desire to spend more time with his family and continue his broadcasting career (via MMA Fighting).
After a 4-4(1) run at light heavyweight, Vera returns to the heavyweight division to take on Ben Rothwell at UFC 164, set for August 31 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Does Vera’s harsh criticism of Stann have any merit or was the outburst completely off-base and uncalled for?
JohnHeinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
Lyoto Machida may (or may not) have been slighted on the scorecards Saturday night, but he won’t find himself too removed from the top of the light heavyweight division.
Machida was looking to keep busy while UFC champion Jon Jones took on Alexander Gu…
Lyoto Machida may (or may not) have been slighted on the scorecards Saturday night, but he won’t find himself too removed from the top of the light heavyweight division.
Machida was looking to keep busy while UFC champion Jon Jones took on Alexander Gustafsson even though he’d been promised a title shot on numerous occasions. That plan backfired on Machida as now he’ll have to scrap his way back to title contention.
Where Machida will find some trouble is getting a top-ranked contender who makes sense for his next fight. He’s already fought many of the top contenders and will likely have to engage in a rematch or face a young, up-and-coming type of fighter in his next outing.
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, UFC 163 was still left muddled by the injuries that had originally rearranged it. The otherwise-explosive champion avoided his signature leg kicks—the result of an injury to his foot shortly after the …
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, UFC 163 was still left muddled by the injuries that had originally rearranged it. The otherwise-explosive champion avoided his signature leg kicks—the result of an injury to his foot shortly after the fight began—and instead elected to attempt takedowns. Not exactly what you might expect from one of the UFC’s signature strikers.
Yet in spite of a controversial co-main event and injury-based TKO in the title fight, the bouts in Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena answered some noteworthy questions and offered a few vital lessons.
Some fighters walked away with highlight-reel submissions (see: Moraes, Sergio), while others simply walked away (see: Magalhaes, Vinny). To be completely honest, an argument can be made that Brian Stann’s commentary stole the entire show.
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, UFC 163 was still left muddled by the injuries that had originally rearranged it. The otherwise-explosive champion avoided his signature leg kicks—the result of an injury to his foot shortly after the …
When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, UFC 163 was still left muddled by the injuries that had originally rearranged it. The otherwise-explosive champion avoided his signature leg kicks—the result of an injury to his foot shortly after the fight began—and instead elected to attempt takedowns. Not exactly what you might expect from one of the UFC’s signature strikers.
Yet in spite of a controversial co-main event and injury-based TKO in the title fight, the bouts in Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena answered some noteworthy questions and offered a few vital lessons.
Some fighters walked away with highlight-reel submissions (see: Moraes, Sergio), while others simply walked away (see: Magalhaes, Vinny). To be completely honest, an argument can be made that Brian Stann’s commentary stole the entire show.
Unhappy with the results of his UFC 163 bout, Lyoto Machida has reportedly demanded an immediate rematch against Phil Davis, according to FUEL TV’s Ariel Helwani.