Ztous

I like MMA as both and I really don't see why you say it like it is a bad thing. The fact is if you removed the violence and danger of the sport it wouldn't be a draw.

That being said though I like to watch Machida. I don't find him very charismatic though so I wouldn't really say I am a big fan but that probably has more to do with the language barrier.

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fullonshred

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........................

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It's better to Shred, than to be Shred dead!

Lom Chaney

Machida has dropped ALL of his opponents in ALL of his fights. He is one of the most skilled fighters in the world. Just because he doesn't finish all of his fights, doesn't make him less enjoyable.

WAR DRAGON!!

RockemSockem

It takes a lot for me to dislike watching someone who has a unique style. If you can't see it very often then i want to see it whenever possible. Although he is clearly overly cautious at times. Also, i like quiet fighters because you can see their confidence grow in a more visible way. Look at his post fight interviews between his first UFC win and his last. There is a visible difference there. I like his fighting style and is personality.

With that said he's at an interesting crossroad. I think his style will be working against him soon in a couple of ways. Obviously it's going to affect his marketability, which could affect his opportunities if it hasn't already. Any step up is a top 10 fighter, it will be interesting to see what decisions Joe Silva and the UFC will make.

Also, if you look at the people ranked in the LHW division besides Machida, these guys are known for their willingness to put themselves out there. And to take damage to inflict it if necessary. One of the reasons Keith Jardine lost to Wandy so fast was because they both went right in and went at it. The top 10 guys have tested that grit against each other before, bring it without hesitation, and expect it from their competition. Machida hasn't fought these tested fighters yet. I'm interested to see how he's going to deal with getting hit, because now it's an inevitability.

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"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I feel, I will feel everything. When I love, I will love with everything."

-Evan Tanner

TdotMMAfan

If the timing was earlier in the first, I think Machida would have fiished Tito, Tito was lucky the round came to an end. I think he is one highlight win away from Blowing up in the North American main stream. His style dictated the fight, he broke Tito's will (for this Dana will be greatful and go the extra mile to market him, as a thank you IMO)....I'd love to see him as a TUF coach. With the exposure and possible hype built up to a big fight, plus the skill and insite he and his coaching team could show/share plus a little personality, he could grab quite a following. I know with Griffin and Rampage currently doing the 205 division we might not see this, but I think it has the potential.
Also they could make it a contender match rather than a championship season finale, the top contenders square off for a shot at the champ. It would also help to address the complaints from past seasons and doubts of those deserving a direct shot or not it.
Machida (and his style) is a great addition to the division, UFC and MMA scene as a whole.

Harms

Not a big fan of Big Ti....err Machida. I've never been a big fan of the continually back up and rarely throw a punch style Machida has. The Tito fight reminded me of the last 3 rounds of DLH/Trinidad, nice display of evading punches but hard to watch. Eventually, people will tire of seeing someone continually backpedal and throw an occasional punch. He avoided Tito of all people for 3 rounds. It isn't like Tito is the most devastaing striker in the UFC. I want to see him fight Thiago Silva next. I hope he doesn't get Chuck or Wandy cause the crowd will probably riot if they have to watch him shake and bake for 3 rounds without ever really standing with those 2. Perhaps Rashad wouldn't be so bad either.

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Ryduce

His kung fu is strong.

When done right, none can defend.

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May all the glory of Brock be with you.

Snow Patrol

I really like Machida's style. His mindset is defense first, attack second, which I appreciate. He's an intelligent fighter who uses his quickness and timing to hit his opponent before he can get hit and realizes standing in the pocket and trading in each fight would likely have resulted in unnecessary damage and an imperfect record.

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subgenius

I agree with most of what you said about Machida, but Tito Ortiz was not Lyoto Machida's first big named fighter. I suppose that you could argue that Ortiz was Machida's first big named fight in the UFC. But, before this Ortiz match, Machida had beaten Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Back between 2003 and 2005, Machida had beaten BJ Penn (decision) and Rich Franklin (TKO). And, Machida had notable wins over Stephan Bonnar, Sam Hogar, and Vernon White.

I think that Machida's record so far has been phenomenal.

Having said that, I really like Machida's Shotokan karate style approach to complimenting his MMA skills. Liddell employs Kempo karate and Koei-Kan karate. GSP uses Kyokushin karate. So, Machida is not the first or the only guy bringing karate back into vogue as a respectable MA style as well as a style that can compliment MMA fighting.

I mean that today many karate fighters are also learning wrestling and ground fighting. Machida's escape from that evil triangle/arm-bar choke that Tito Ortiz put on Machida was really impressive and calmly applied skills from Machida to escape. Liddell also has wrestling and BJJ training and skills, he just rarely (if ever) gets to use them. We all have seen what GSP can do to top ranked wrestlers.

Machida has been a bit overly cautious. His fight against Tito Ortiz might have made Machida overly cautious just because it was a big fight on a PPV card against an opponent that needed an impressive win to walk out of the UFC on a "FU" Ortiz-style high note. The glamor of the event might have made Machida less aggressive. Then again, Tito Ortiz is an athlete, he's big, and he hits hard. However, I would never compare the Machida style of avoidance with the Kalib Starnes style of running away as seen in the Starnes-Quarry fight. Machida was attacking and using a lot of dodging and counter-attacking.

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BJ Penn stole my SHOE!!!

mammoth91

It's a family lineage Karate...

I'm sure you were joking though..

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Lau Kune Do

OneBigThrow

hes a damn good takedown artist, and i can promise you a clean shot from tito would hurt, why risk it

hes not the most proficient striker, but anyone can be hit good and go down and if Tito nails you youre ****ed..i mean who knows maybe machida has a weak chin,maybe e does not...if he does hes using other skills he has to compensate for that.

hell maybe he just doesnt like the pain of being hit (though he handled that well against BJ lol)

No one says you have to be able to take flush shots to be considered a goodfighter, and no one says you have to be wreckless to be aggressive. i just think his style is cool because it is tailor made for his personal success, you gotta pick things that work for you not for the rest of your camp or any other peers. thats why there are so many martial arts

Ryduce

Ryduce joke?

Never!

Random question:Who got pounded more? Tito in the fight, or Jenna at the afterparty?

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May all the glory of Brock be with you.

OneBigThrow

jenna, cuz shes probably "fighting" more than one opponent


i also think it ws because Tito is just plain large, you really cant make a mistake against that guy, and tito loves to kick thats a big leg to let slip through

subgenius

Imagine if Tito had won, LOL.

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BJ Penn stole my SHOE!!!

bmw

Machida = Boring

IF Chuck fought that way and won all his fights, would he have been the big PPV draw that he was? I dont think so.
If you want to see dancing then go watch "Dancing With The Stars"
If Machida style of fighting becomes the norm in MMA, you can bet the sport wont last a year. Thats why Dana White pays bonus $$ for knockouts and not for dancing.

OneBigThrow

i can actually kinda see that he has a humorous personality, he says these little jokes during his post fights and stuff

ultraviolet

I'm looking forward to seeing someone beat the crap out of him.

I watched his UFC 70 fight today and the boos were rife, the UFC aren't going to want dull fighters at their events.

mammoth91

LOL, that hatchet wound is worn out.. She used to be pretty, 10+ years ago, but now... What happend ?

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Lau Kune Do

AikaImmortal

This is def an X rated joke.

Tito doesn't even need a hyperbaric chamber to crawl into and sleep.. he can just crawl up inside of Jenna!

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KungFuGrip

Good one Aika Except you know Tito's mug will get stuck lol.

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"If you don't want to be hit in the back of the head, turn around."