UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida
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UFC 98: EVANS SAVING HIS ENERGY FOR MACHIDA
If there was a lesson Rashad Evans learned from his title-winning victory over Forrest Griffin at UFC 92, it was to conserve his energy.
In post-fight interviews, the light heavyweight champ said he wanted to plunk a bed down in the Octagon; he’d never felt so tired before a fight.
Backstage, he had made the classic mistake of getting too warm, too soon.
“I just felt really good, man,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “I had a good night of sleep, I woke up, had a really good breakfast, and the nerves weren’t really bad. I just felt like I had an abundant amount of energy.
“I came into the dressing room, and the minute I got into the dressing room, I started jumping around right away. I was jumping around when Cheick Kongo was fighting – really, really early. I should have waited a little bit.”
It could have been worse. He could have been Sam Stout, who's UFC 97 bout was moved from first-up to co-main event due to a scheduling snafu on the undercard. Stout was on and off the mitts for six hours.
This time out, Evans wants to make sure he hasn't drained himself before he gets to the cage.
He sees his first defense against Lyoto Machida as an immediate statement in the division.
“Machida’s probably one of the best guys,” said Evans. “I know if I beat Machida, there’s not gonna be too many guys tougher than that in the weight class. I like to go right to the top. I don’t want to delude myself and think that I’m a lot better than I really am. I don’t run away from a challenge like that.”
There’s a mixture of wait and see and indifference about the UFC 98 main event. Historically, the two have been known to counter-fight: Evans with the traditional mix of MMA styles, Machida with a unique point Karate and Muay Thai attack. The question is how they will mesh, and whether it will entertain.
Evans took two rounds to arise from his energy dump against Griffin, and when he did, he quickly mustered the power to end the fight. He may not have that opportunity against Machida.
But whether fans are excited or not, he isn’t interested. While he doesn’t plan on boring the crowd, or himself for that matter, he’s more concerned about what Machida may to do him. The undefeated Brazilian is a riddle that no one has managed to solve, and he might very well not be the one to do it.
“This is a journey, and it’s a challenge for me in every single fight,” he said. “If I knew I was going to win every fight, then I wouldn’t want to fight. I like the fact that there’s a chance that I might get my ass whooped. That excites the hell out of me. That makes me lose a little bit of sleep. That makes me train a little harder. That’s what you need in every fight.”
He’s mum about any Machida weaknesses he plans on exploiting. He and Greg Jackson have formulated a plan, which Evans is willing to throw out the window if things go awry.
“I plan on going into this fight knowing the plan and let it happen,” he said. “Just go with the flow. Machida’s very clever and tricky with his movement, so it’s going to be a chess match.”
Whether chess match translates to stalemate, the world will see. Contrary to the dogfight he anticipated with Griffin, Evans visualizes a sudden, violent ending to the encounter with Machida. And given his recent performances, he has the tape to back him up.
“I see maybe a one-hitter quitter happening,” he continued. “Getting caught with that one shot – boom! Clean.”
The belt at the night’s end is an afterthought. The idea that a victory would make him a “legitimate” titleholder is of no use. Like fans’ shifting allegiances, they distract from what he fights for.
“I haven’t even really thought about it,” he said. “Being a 'legitimate champion,' that’s something for other people. That doesn’t really mean anything to me. Whether I go in and win or lose, it’s not about that to me. It’s just about competing and giving everything you have.”
And as he learned, not gassing before that happens.
If there was a lesson Rashad Evans learned from his title-winning victory over Forrest Griffin at UFC 92, it was to conserve his energy.
In post-fight interviews, the light heavyweight champ said he wanted to plunk a bed down in the Octagon; he’d never felt so tired before a fight.
Backstage, he had made the classic mistake of getting too warm, too soon.
“I just felt really good, man,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “I had a good night of sleep, I woke up, had a really good breakfast, and the nerves weren’t really bad. I just felt like I had an abundant amount of energy.
“I came into the dressing room, and the minute I got into the dressing room, I started jumping around right away. I was jumping around when Cheick Kongo was fighting – really, really early. I should have waited a little bit.”
It could have been worse. He could have been Sam Stout, who's UFC 97 bout was moved from first-up to co-main event due to a scheduling snafu on the undercard. Stout was on and off the mitts for six hours.
This time out, Evans wants to make sure he hasn't drained himself before he gets to the cage.
He sees his first defense against Lyoto Machida as an immediate statement in the division.
“Machida’s probably one of the best guys,” said Evans. “I know if I beat Machida, there’s not gonna be too many guys tougher than that in the weight class. I like to go right to the top. I don’t want to delude myself and think that I’m a lot better than I really am. I don’t run away from a challenge like that.”
There’s a mixture of wait and see and indifference about the UFC 98 main event. Historically, the two have been known to counter-fight: Evans with the traditional mix of MMA styles, Machida with a unique point Karate and Muay Thai attack. The question is how they will mesh, and whether it will entertain.
Evans took two rounds to arise from his energy dump against Griffin, and when he did, he quickly mustered the power to end the fight. He may not have that opportunity against Machida.
But whether fans are excited or not, he isn’t interested. While he doesn’t plan on boring the crowd, or himself for that matter, he’s more concerned about what Machida may to do him. The undefeated Brazilian is a riddle that no one has managed to solve, and he might very well not be the one to do it.
“This is a journey, and it’s a challenge for me in every single fight,” he said. “If I knew I was going to win every fight, then I wouldn’t want to fight. I like the fact that there’s a chance that I might get my ass whooped. That excites the hell out of me. That makes me lose a little bit of sleep. That makes me train a little harder. That’s what you need in every fight.”
He’s mum about any Machida weaknesses he plans on exploiting. He and Greg Jackson have formulated a plan, which Evans is willing to throw out the window if things go awry.
“I plan on going into this fight knowing the plan and let it happen,” he said. “Just go with the flow. Machida’s very clever and tricky with his movement, so it’s going to be a chess match.”
Whether chess match translates to stalemate, the world will see. Contrary to the dogfight he anticipated with Griffin, Evans visualizes a sudden, violent ending to the encounter with Machida. And given his recent performances, he has the tape to back him up.
“I see maybe a one-hitter quitter happening,” he continued. “Getting caught with that one shot – boom! Clean.”
The belt at the night’s end is an afterthought. The idea that a victory would make him a “legitimate” titleholder is of no use. Like fans’ shifting allegiances, they distract from what he fights for.
“I haven’t even really thought about it,” he said. “Being a 'legitimate champion,' that’s something for other people. That doesn’t really mean anything to me. Whether I go in and win or lose, it’s not about that to me. It’s just about competing and giving everything you have.”
And as he learned, not gassing before that happens.
Machida: ‘I’ll Bring Him into My Game’
Since Lyoto Machida arrived in the UFC with his unique Shotokan striking style, many have called him a boring fighter. However, six back-to-back victories against opposition like Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Tito Ortiz, and Thiago Silva have left little doubt of the unorthodox fighter’s efficiency in the Octagon.
It reminds Machida of another Brazilian competitor who walked before him.
"When Royce [Gracie] started to beat his opponents on the ground, the American fans were not used to the ground fighting and also criticized his style, but soon his efficient results changed peoples’ mind,” says Machida. “I’m not pretentious to compare myself to the legendary Royce, but I truly think something similar is happening with my standup style. Now I feel people are starting to understand and respect.”
Machida will have an opportunity to gain even more respect when he faces UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 98 on May 23 in Las Vegas. Both fighters have remained undefeated in their 14 career bouts, marking the Brazilian’s biggest challenge to date. However, he does not worry about the pressure.
"I’m very happy because I’ve always dreamed about this moment,” says Machida. “Actually, I’ve already faced the worst pressure. In the fight against Ortiz, for example, I was in the middle of [Ortiz’s] personal war against Dana White and the boss threw all the responsibility on my shoulders.”
Machida also felt the heat going into his 2003 bout against another former UFC champion.
“I felt a lot of pressure when I fought Rich Franklin in Inoki Bomb-Ba-Ye in Japan,” says Machida. “At the time, I had just two MMA fights and he was undefeated with nine knockouts, and many people came to tell me that if I stayed on my feet, I would be knocked out fast. But my father said, ‘It’s not like that; go there and believe in our art.’ I did what he said and knocked him out in the second round.”
Machida, a native of the Amazon, might be the only fighter of Brazil’s elite to not rely on a top MMA training center for his striking.
"I see the preparation for a MMA fight as a set of many important points like sparring, structure, food and family support. Even having Anderson [Silva], [Vitor] Belfort, [Antonio] Minotauro [Nogueira] and other excellent partners in Rio de Janeiro, here in Belém (Para state) I have a more complete package,” says Machida. “I’m close to my family, counting on my father and brother´s support, eating my food, in my city, with excellent trainers, good sparring and making my own schedule.”
The son of a Japanese father and a Brazilian mother, the fighter points to his patriarch Sensei Machida, a Shotokan master, as one of his greatest influences.
"My father is a amazing strategist; when he looks at someone fighting he knows exactly what I have to do,” says Machida. “But my father is hot tempered -- he wants me to decide the fight fast, while my brother, Shinzo (a 2006 world-champion silver medalist in Shotokan karate) is more balanced and fights just like myself. Joining the tactics of my father and the equilibrium of Shinzo, I have the perfect package in my corner.”
Still, with a stacked corner, Machida expects a stiff test from Evans.
"He is a excellent wrestler,” says Machida. “Tito Ortiz tried to take him down, but he couldn’t. I’m not going to lose energy trying. He is also a good striker -- very cold and strategic. That became clear during his last fight when Forrest [Griffin] was beating him up and he suddenly turned the fight in his favor. Certainly, he is studying a way to not get into my game, but my father, brother and I, we are also studying a way to bring him into my game. All I can say is that the fans can expect a great fight.”
Since Lyoto Machida arrived in the UFC with his unique Shotokan striking style, many have called him a boring fighter. However, six back-to-back victories against opposition like Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Tito Ortiz, and Thiago Silva have left little doubt of the unorthodox fighter’s efficiency in the Octagon.
It reminds Machida of another Brazilian competitor who walked before him.
"When Royce [Gracie] started to beat his opponents on the ground, the American fans were not used to the ground fighting and also criticized his style, but soon his efficient results changed peoples’ mind,” says Machida. “I’m not pretentious to compare myself to the legendary Royce, but I truly think something similar is happening with my standup style. Now I feel people are starting to understand and respect.”
Machida will have an opportunity to gain even more respect when he faces UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 98 on May 23 in Las Vegas. Both fighters have remained undefeated in their 14 career bouts, marking the Brazilian’s biggest challenge to date. However, he does not worry about the pressure.
"I’m very happy because I’ve always dreamed about this moment,” says Machida. “Actually, I’ve already faced the worst pressure. In the fight against Ortiz, for example, I was in the middle of [Ortiz’s] personal war against Dana White and the boss threw all the responsibility on my shoulders.”
Machida also felt the heat going into his 2003 bout against another former UFC champion.
“I felt a lot of pressure when I fought Rich Franklin in Inoki Bomb-Ba-Ye in Japan,” says Machida. “At the time, I had just two MMA fights and he was undefeated with nine knockouts, and many people came to tell me that if I stayed on my feet, I would be knocked out fast. But my father said, ‘It’s not like that; go there and believe in our art.’ I did what he said and knocked him out in the second round.”
Machida, a native of the Amazon, might be the only fighter of Brazil’s elite to not rely on a top MMA training center for his striking.
"I see the preparation for a MMA fight as a set of many important points like sparring, structure, food and family support. Even having Anderson [Silva], [Vitor] Belfort, [Antonio] Minotauro [Nogueira] and other excellent partners in Rio de Janeiro, here in Belém (Para state) I have a more complete package,” says Machida. “I’m close to my family, counting on my father and brother´s support, eating my food, in my city, with excellent trainers, good sparring and making my own schedule.”
The son of a Japanese father and a Brazilian mother, the fighter points to his patriarch Sensei Machida, a Shotokan master, as one of his greatest influences.
"My father is a amazing strategist; when he looks at someone fighting he knows exactly what I have to do,” says Machida. “But my father is hot tempered -- he wants me to decide the fight fast, while my brother, Shinzo (a 2006 world-champion silver medalist in Shotokan karate) is more balanced and fights just like myself. Joining the tactics of my father and the equilibrium of Shinzo, I have the perfect package in my corner.”
Still, with a stacked corner, Machida expects a stiff test from Evans.
"He is a excellent wrestler,” says Machida. “Tito Ortiz tried to take him down, but he couldn’t. I’m not going to lose energy trying. He is also a good striker -- very cold and strategic. That became clear during his last fight when Forrest [Griffin] was beating him up and he suddenly turned the fight in his favor. Certainly, he is studying a way to not get into my game, but my father, brother and I, we are also studying a way to bring him into my game. All I can say is that the fans can expect a great fight.”
No one's untouchable, but Machida's still the #2 most untouched fighter. I'd also give Sok an edge in striking over Rashad.
And ya I watched the Sok fight the other day, Machida had some crazy sweeps I had to watch a couple times.
I really think Rashad's only shot is to make Machida come to him, and if somehow Jackson's found a tip on his strikes, Rashad's going to have to time it perfect. Similar to the fight with Chuck, except I doubt Machida's hands will be at his waist at any time. He's not going to outpoint him, Tito couldn't take him down so I don't think Rashad can, if he clinches he's going to get tripped, he has no submissions, Jackson camp won't be a factor with Machida training with Black House and his family... KO's his only shot.
And ya I watched the Sok fight the other day, Machida had some crazy sweeps I had to watch a couple times.
I really think Rashad's only shot is to make Machida come to him, and if somehow Jackson's found a tip on his strikes, Rashad's going to have to time it perfect. Similar to the fight with Chuck, except I doubt Machida's hands will be at his waist at any time. He's not going to outpoint him, Tito couldn't take him down so I don't think Rashad can, if he clinches he's going to get tripped, he has no submissions, Jackson camp won't be a factor with Machida training with Black House and his family... KO's his only shot.
Sok is definitely more explosive using both his hands and feet in combination.
Fuck Greg Jackson, I've found a tip, lol
Machida wants to catch you coming in with that straight left. You generate all the power and he just makes sure his fist is right there. That's how he caught Franklin and that's how he caught Sok (eventually). In that 1st round, Sok was able to make him miss it a couple of times by pulling up short of his attack. If Evans can make Machida miss, and close the distance at the same time he can get somewhere.
Machida is sneaky though. He'll play possum like he's not completely in his stance and when you think he's not paying attention and lunge in you get caught with that straight left.
Fuck Greg Jackson, I've found a tip, lol
Machida wants to catch you coming in with that straight left. You generate all the power and he just makes sure his fist is right there. That's how he caught Franklin and that's how he caught Sok (eventually). In that 1st round, Sok was able to make him miss it a couple of times by pulling up short of his attack. If Evans can make Machida miss, and close the distance at the same time he can get somewhere.
Machida is sneaky though. He'll play possum like he's not completely in his stance and when you think he's not paying attention and lunge in you get caught with that straight left.
Enter the Dragon: An MMAmania.com UFC 98 interview exclusive with Lyoto Machida
Elusive. Methodical. Unbeaten.
There are plenty of adjectives available to describe Lyoto Machida’s style inside the Octagon. One not frequently heard, however, was “aggressive.”
That all changed at UFC 94.
“The Dragon” gave fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva a taste of his own medicine when he knocked him out on the main card of “St. Pierre vs. Penn 2″ this past January.
It was an exclamation point on the evolution of his career, which at times was criticized for being a bit too elusive — even boring at times.
That same style was also believed to be the reason Machida was being denied, what many considered, a long overdue title shot. Unfazed, Machida remained loyal to himself and to his craft, and in the process changed the way fans and fighters view the effectiveness of Karate inside the Octagon.
Now Machida has been given one final test: A UFC 98 light heavyweight title fight against undefeated champion “Sugar” Rashad Evans. Like Machida, Evans faced early criticism for his ability to finish — until he knocked out former 205-pound kingpin Chuck Liddell.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Machida a day before he flew out of Brazil for his trip to “Sin City.” He touched on everything from his relationship with Anderson Silva, his respect of Fedor Emelianenko, the upcoming title fight with Rashad Evans and a whole lot more.
Check it out:
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Your father is Shotokan Karate Master Yoshizo Machida. What was your relationship like with your father growing up?
Lyoto Machida: My father was a very tough guy with me and my brothers. He wanted to teach us a lot of discipline and life philosophy. As I became more interested in martial arts, he started teaching a lot of fighting philosophy and karate philosophy. While he was a tough father, he also knew when to be sweet and show a softer side.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You were born the third son. What is your relationship like with your two older brothers and what do they do for a career?
Lyoto Machida: We had a close relationship and spend a lot of time together growing up talking about everything that went on. One of my brothers teaches karate at our gym and also handles the administrative side of the gym. My other brother is a fighter like me and teaches a class at the gym. So my brothers are always at the gym together training.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You began training in karate at the age of three and earned a black belt at the age of 13. You began training in sumo at 12 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 15. Can you tell us about those three different art forms and how each one helps you as a mixed martial artist?
Lyoto Machida: Karate is my main martial art; that is what I train in every day. It has always been in my life. Sumo is another Japanese martial art that I got into at an early age. It is something that has helped and added to my overall stance and is a good base. It is not something I necessarily use in all my fights though.
I have been practicing Jiu-Jitsu ever since I started watching the UFC. I knew it was something I had to learn to be a full rounded fighter. I wanted to be prepared for when BJJ guys would come to my karate gym and challenge us to a fight.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): In your fight with Thiago Silva you appeared to be more aggressive and looked to finish the fight early on. Did you change your style for that fight because MMA fans thought your style was too elusive and unorthodox?
Lyoto Machida: A lot of it has to do with wanting to please my fans; that is something I feel I need to do. It is also me training and growing more mature. Seeing the mistakes that I have made has allowed me to evolve into a different fighter; being more aggressive out there.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Your unorthodox southpaw stance is what really frustrates your opponents. Do you consider that your greatest advantage in the cage?
Lyoto Machida: The way I stand and my posture really complicates my opponents; they don’t understand it and don’t know what to do about. The way I stand there in front of them really throws them off. Karate is certainly my greatest advantage; being able to adapt it to MMA makes me stand out.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Tito Ortiz said you were very elusive and it was tough to chase you down. He called you a great fighter. What did you learn about yourself as a warrior in your fight with Ortiz?
Lyoto Machida: I grew a lot as a fighter in that fight. First of all, Tito is a big name and people were cheering for Tito. He is one of the most famous out there still and a lot of my learning involved fighting such a big name in the States. Also, when Tito had me in the triangle I learned a lot about myself, how to calm down, come to my senses, and get out of it.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Anderson Silva has said he would never fight for the light heavyweight belt because he feels you are the rightful heir to the crown. How do you feel about Anderson Silva and his statement?
Lyoto Machida: I am great friends with Anderson and it makes me happy to hear him say that. I think Anderson if the type of fighter that could win the belt at any weight class. It all depends on his weight and how he cuts it. Anderson is so multi–talented he can do well wherever he wants. I am happy that Anderson has his own weight class to fight in; I believe I can win the belt in my weight class so the situation makes me happy.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): The two MMA fighters who have been hit the least in the cage are you and Fedor Emelianenko. What are your thoughts on Fedor as a fighter and what are your thoughts on his primary discipline, Sambo?
Lyoto Machida: Fedor is a well deserving champion; he is a very determined guy. Fedor has adapted his Sambo to great lengths for MMA. Fedor knows exactly what he wants and determined to get what he wants. He prepares himself both physically and mentally. He is so well conditioned and such a well rounded fighter.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You recently said that you have developed a game plan around Rashad Evans style of fighting. What is Rashad’s greatest strength and what is his greatest weakness?
Lyoto Machida: Rashad is definitely a well rounded fighter. He has got really fast hands and really good takedowns. I don’t want to get into his weaknesses here; I will leave that for the fans to see May 23. What I can say; the weakness Rashad has is where I will catch him.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): If Rashad is able to take you to the ground and get in your guard will you be comfortable fighting off your back and work for submissions?
Lyoto Machida: I have trained for that a lot so if Rashad happens to end up in my guard…he will become very bothered because I will not stop attacking from that position.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): If you beat Rashad Evans at your UFC 98 title fight, you will face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson next. What are your thoughts on him as a fighter?
Lyoto Machida: Quinton is definitely a tough fighter and his strengths are obvious. I am not thinking about Quinton though. I will focus on Rashad and see what happens after the fight.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You have an undefeated record in MMA. Is your undefeated record important to you or something you think about?
Lyoto Machida: My perfect record, for sure, it is something that is important to me. It is not something I think about too much though or else you become stuck on the thought of keeping a perfect record and that is where the pressure begins.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): It seems important for a fighter from another country to speak good English to be more marketable. You gave a great speech after your UFC 94 fight. Are you improving your English so you can speak to those fans more?
Lyoto Machida: I have been studying a lot of English, reading a lot. I am learning my English. I am looking forward to fighting in the States; I am going to be speaking English a lot more this time.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You have said ever since you saw Royce Gracie fight in the UFC you wanted to do no-rules fighting. What do you think about the current rules in MMA and would you change any of the current rules?
Lyoto Machida: I like the rules because it adds to the show. If it were not for the rules it would not be such a big spectacle; so the rules make sense for the sport.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Thank you Lyoto. We look forward to seeing you use your ‘body as a sword’ at UFC 98.
Lyoto Machida: Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to being out there for the fans May 23.
Elusive. Methodical. Unbeaten.
There are plenty of adjectives available to describe Lyoto Machida’s style inside the Octagon. One not frequently heard, however, was “aggressive.”
That all changed at UFC 94.
“The Dragon” gave fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva a taste of his own medicine when he knocked him out on the main card of “St. Pierre vs. Penn 2″ this past January.
It was an exclamation point on the evolution of his career, which at times was criticized for being a bit too elusive — even boring at times.
That same style was also believed to be the reason Machida was being denied, what many considered, a long overdue title shot. Unfazed, Machida remained loyal to himself and to his craft, and in the process changed the way fans and fighters view the effectiveness of Karate inside the Octagon.
Now Machida has been given one final test: A UFC 98 light heavyweight title fight against undefeated champion “Sugar” Rashad Evans. Like Machida, Evans faced early criticism for his ability to finish — until he knocked out former 205-pound kingpin Chuck Liddell.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Machida a day before he flew out of Brazil for his trip to “Sin City.” He touched on everything from his relationship with Anderson Silva, his respect of Fedor Emelianenko, the upcoming title fight with Rashad Evans and a whole lot more.
Check it out:
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Your father is Shotokan Karate Master Yoshizo Machida. What was your relationship like with your father growing up?
Lyoto Machida: My father was a very tough guy with me and my brothers. He wanted to teach us a lot of discipline and life philosophy. As I became more interested in martial arts, he started teaching a lot of fighting philosophy and karate philosophy. While he was a tough father, he also knew when to be sweet and show a softer side.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You were born the third son. What is your relationship like with your two older brothers and what do they do for a career?
Lyoto Machida: We had a close relationship and spend a lot of time together growing up talking about everything that went on. One of my brothers teaches karate at our gym and also handles the administrative side of the gym. My other brother is a fighter like me and teaches a class at the gym. So my brothers are always at the gym together training.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You began training in karate at the age of three and earned a black belt at the age of 13. You began training in sumo at 12 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 15. Can you tell us about those three different art forms and how each one helps you as a mixed martial artist?
Lyoto Machida: Karate is my main martial art; that is what I train in every day. It has always been in my life. Sumo is another Japanese martial art that I got into at an early age. It is something that has helped and added to my overall stance and is a good base. It is not something I necessarily use in all my fights though.
I have been practicing Jiu-Jitsu ever since I started watching the UFC. I knew it was something I had to learn to be a full rounded fighter. I wanted to be prepared for when BJJ guys would come to my karate gym and challenge us to a fight.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): In your fight with Thiago Silva you appeared to be more aggressive and looked to finish the fight early on. Did you change your style for that fight because MMA fans thought your style was too elusive and unorthodox?
Lyoto Machida: A lot of it has to do with wanting to please my fans; that is something I feel I need to do. It is also me training and growing more mature. Seeing the mistakes that I have made has allowed me to evolve into a different fighter; being more aggressive out there.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Your unorthodox southpaw stance is what really frustrates your opponents. Do you consider that your greatest advantage in the cage?
Lyoto Machida: The way I stand and my posture really complicates my opponents; they don’t understand it and don’t know what to do about. The way I stand there in front of them really throws them off. Karate is certainly my greatest advantage; being able to adapt it to MMA makes me stand out.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Tito Ortiz said you were very elusive and it was tough to chase you down. He called you a great fighter. What did you learn about yourself as a warrior in your fight with Ortiz?
Lyoto Machida: I grew a lot as a fighter in that fight. First of all, Tito is a big name and people were cheering for Tito. He is one of the most famous out there still and a lot of my learning involved fighting such a big name in the States. Also, when Tito had me in the triangle I learned a lot about myself, how to calm down, come to my senses, and get out of it.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Anderson Silva has said he would never fight for the light heavyweight belt because he feels you are the rightful heir to the crown. How do you feel about Anderson Silva and his statement?
Lyoto Machida: I am great friends with Anderson and it makes me happy to hear him say that. I think Anderson if the type of fighter that could win the belt at any weight class. It all depends on his weight and how he cuts it. Anderson is so multi–talented he can do well wherever he wants. I am happy that Anderson has his own weight class to fight in; I believe I can win the belt in my weight class so the situation makes me happy.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): The two MMA fighters who have been hit the least in the cage are you and Fedor Emelianenko. What are your thoughts on Fedor as a fighter and what are your thoughts on his primary discipline, Sambo?
Lyoto Machida: Fedor is a well deserving champion; he is a very determined guy. Fedor has adapted his Sambo to great lengths for MMA. Fedor knows exactly what he wants and determined to get what he wants. He prepares himself both physically and mentally. He is so well conditioned and such a well rounded fighter.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You recently said that you have developed a game plan around Rashad Evans style of fighting. What is Rashad’s greatest strength and what is his greatest weakness?
Lyoto Machida: Rashad is definitely a well rounded fighter. He has got really fast hands and really good takedowns. I don’t want to get into his weaknesses here; I will leave that for the fans to see May 23. What I can say; the weakness Rashad has is where I will catch him.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): If Rashad is able to take you to the ground and get in your guard will you be comfortable fighting off your back and work for submissions?
Lyoto Machida: I have trained for that a lot so if Rashad happens to end up in my guard…he will become very bothered because I will not stop attacking from that position.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): If you beat Rashad Evans at your UFC 98 title fight, you will face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson next. What are your thoughts on him as a fighter?
Lyoto Machida: Quinton is definitely a tough fighter and his strengths are obvious. I am not thinking about Quinton though. I will focus on Rashad and see what happens after the fight.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You have an undefeated record in MMA. Is your undefeated record important to you or something you think about?
Lyoto Machida: My perfect record, for sure, it is something that is important to me. It is not something I think about too much though or else you become stuck on the thought of keeping a perfect record and that is where the pressure begins.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): It seems important for a fighter from another country to speak good English to be more marketable. You gave a great speech after your UFC 94 fight. Are you improving your English so you can speak to those fans more?
Lyoto Machida: I have been studying a lot of English, reading a lot. I am learning my English. I am looking forward to fighting in the States; I am going to be speaking English a lot more this time.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You have said ever since you saw Royce Gracie fight in the UFC you wanted to do no-rules fighting. What do you think about the current rules in MMA and would you change any of the current rules?
Lyoto Machida: I like the rules because it adds to the show. If it were not for the rules it would not be such a big spectacle; so the rules make sense for the sport.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Thank you Lyoto. We look forward to seeing you use your ‘body as a sword’ at UFC 98.
Lyoto Machida: Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to being out there for the fans May 23.
Rashad Evans: Gunning for Respect at UFC 98
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Rashad-Evans-Gunning-for-Respect-at-UFC-98-1997
UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans sat down with Greg Savage to discuss his public image following wins over Michael Bisping, Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin.
Also, trainer Greg Jackson and sparring partner Georges St. Pierre weigh-in on Evans’ clash with Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 in Las Vegas.
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Rashad-Evans-Gunning-for-Respect-at-UFC-98-1997
UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans sat down with Greg Savage to discuss his public image following wins over Michael Bisping, Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin.
Also, trainer Greg Jackson and sparring partner Georges St. Pierre weigh-in on Evans’ clash with Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 in Las Vegas.