UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida
- Thread starter DGAF
- Start date
i agree. he's already "changed" anderson silva. at least i'm guessin. dont both, silva and machida train under the noguera brothers? looks like anderson's been evasive his last couple fights. to be honest tho, i don't think dana's gonna stand for that. if anyones gonna be the "epitome" and still keep mma fighting interesting, they need to evolve into a gsp typa fighter, IMO. don't get me wrong, i like machida ALOT. i jus think dana don't have tha patience for that typa fighting. fold.
Lyoto Machida and the Revenge of Karate
Saturday, Lyoto Machida may well wind up finishing what Minoki Ichihara started.
Ichihara, if not the pioneering karateka to step into a mixed-rules ring, was certainly the first to do it for the benefit of a television satellite truck. An elite daido juku fighter in Japan -- a hybrid of judo and kyokushin karate -- Ichihara admitted himself in the 16-man draw of the second Ultimate Fighting Championship in March 1994.
Stout, serious and possessed of Bluto-like forearms, he was eager to meet Royce Gracie, whom he had watched and admired during the first tournament. Like Gracie, Ichihara sported a gi. Unlike Gracie, he was unaware it did him more harm than good: Gracie used it to choke him into submission after five minutes of protracted struggling.
Because UFC II’s success on VHS made it the viral video of its time, karate’s combat impotence was not an easy thing to keep a tarp over. As events wore on, the idea that someone who spent a portion of the day in kata or in stilted, mechanical fight posture would be an effective antidote to the Gracies -- or later, the wrestlers, kickboxers and now wrestler-kickboxer hybrids -- became laughable. Traditional arts were relics, sneered at by fight fans who knew better. Fights were won or lost based on the time spent gathering mat burn, not perfecting cinderblock parlor tricks.
But everything comes back in style eventually. (Possible exception: Zubaz.) Ichihara had fought blindfolded: His karate had no prior knowledge of what waited for him in the ring. Like all styles, it learned. The wrestlers used to beat up the kickboxers until the kickboxers learned to defend themselves on the ground; the wrestlers started getting beat up by the kickboxers until their striking caught up. Now everyone can wrestle and kick, and the better athlete usually wins.
The advent of the athlete -- as opposed to the stylist -- in the past 10 years created narrow opportunity for karate to make cameo appearances in fights, but only under the control of cross-trained competitors. Shonie Carter whipping a spinning back fist out of his pocket against Matt Serra in 2001 was a condition of his kickboxing and wrestling proficiency. He was in control of the fight, so he could get cute. You have to know the rules before you can start breaking them.
No traditionalist has validated that to greater effect than Lyoto Machida, who is taking his 14-0 record into a Saturday title bout with Rashad Evans, also undefeated at 9-0-1.
Machida is not a “karate fighter” in the sense Ichihara was; he’s trained extensively in jiu-jitsu, muay Thai and other styles to help complete his library of martial arts. What makes Machida a story is his footwork and defensive posturing, which is classically old-fashioned. And that’s frustrating, because the sledgehammer-swinging combat hybrid fighter of 2009 doesn’t go into a gym and practice mounting or defending attacks with hands low and chins up. For them, Machida’s style might as well be pluto-fu.
It’s a blend of technique that’s had answers for everyone from Rich Franklin (good striker with Western sensibilities) to Thiago Silva (jiu-jitsu, aggression) to Tito Ortiz (power, power, power). The only question left is the one Evans is more than capable of asking: What happens when an explosive wrestler decides he doesn’t want to keep swinging at air -- he wants to plant you on your ass and pummel until you sneeze bone fragments?
It’s a great question -- Evans/Machida holds more interest for me than any fight so far this year -- and the answer is going to have real influence on how aspiring fighters choose to train. When Royce Gracie proved his style’s efficacy in a real fight, schools began painting “and jiu-jitsu” in their front windows. Ichihara might find considerable irony in MMA franchises forced to add “and karate” to their yellow page ads.
Toiling in some putrid gym somewhere right now is a guy building a base of wrestling and kickboxing who’s going to start ending fights with some bizarre krav maga or kung fu mysticism. And it’ll work only because being eccentric in the ring comes with having a contemporary base.
When you can meet someone at his own game and not be disassembled by your own ignorance, you can begin to impart your own. Machida has figured this out. Now it’s up for everyone else to figure him out.
Saturday, Lyoto Machida may well wind up finishing what Minoki Ichihara started.
Ichihara, if not the pioneering karateka to step into a mixed-rules ring, was certainly the first to do it for the benefit of a television satellite truck. An elite daido juku fighter in Japan -- a hybrid of judo and kyokushin karate -- Ichihara admitted himself in the 16-man draw of the second Ultimate Fighting Championship in March 1994.
Stout, serious and possessed of Bluto-like forearms, he was eager to meet Royce Gracie, whom he had watched and admired during the first tournament. Like Gracie, Ichihara sported a gi. Unlike Gracie, he was unaware it did him more harm than good: Gracie used it to choke him into submission after five minutes of protracted struggling.
Because UFC II’s success on VHS made it the viral video of its time, karate’s combat impotence was not an easy thing to keep a tarp over. As events wore on, the idea that someone who spent a portion of the day in kata or in stilted, mechanical fight posture would be an effective antidote to the Gracies -- or later, the wrestlers, kickboxers and now wrestler-kickboxer hybrids -- became laughable. Traditional arts were relics, sneered at by fight fans who knew better. Fights were won or lost based on the time spent gathering mat burn, not perfecting cinderblock parlor tricks.
But everything comes back in style eventually. (Possible exception: Zubaz.) Ichihara had fought blindfolded: His karate had no prior knowledge of what waited for him in the ring. Like all styles, it learned. The wrestlers used to beat up the kickboxers until the kickboxers learned to defend themselves on the ground; the wrestlers started getting beat up by the kickboxers until their striking caught up. Now everyone can wrestle and kick, and the better athlete usually wins.
The advent of the athlete -- as opposed to the stylist -- in the past 10 years created narrow opportunity for karate to make cameo appearances in fights, but only under the control of cross-trained competitors. Shonie Carter whipping a spinning back fist out of his pocket against Matt Serra in 2001 was a condition of his kickboxing and wrestling proficiency. He was in control of the fight, so he could get cute. You have to know the rules before you can start breaking them.
No traditionalist has validated that to greater effect than Lyoto Machida, who is taking his 14-0 record into a Saturday title bout with Rashad Evans, also undefeated at 9-0-1.
Machida is not a “karate fighter” in the sense Ichihara was; he’s trained extensively in jiu-jitsu, muay Thai and other styles to help complete his library of martial arts. What makes Machida a story is his footwork and defensive posturing, which is classically old-fashioned. And that’s frustrating, because the sledgehammer-swinging combat hybrid fighter of 2009 doesn’t go into a gym and practice mounting or defending attacks with hands low and chins up. For them, Machida’s style might as well be pluto-fu.
It’s a blend of technique that’s had answers for everyone from Rich Franklin (good striker with Western sensibilities) to Thiago Silva (jiu-jitsu, aggression) to Tito Ortiz (power, power, power). The only question left is the one Evans is more than capable of asking: What happens when an explosive wrestler decides he doesn’t want to keep swinging at air -- he wants to plant you on your ass and pummel until you sneeze bone fragments?
It’s a great question -- Evans/Machida holds more interest for me than any fight so far this year -- and the answer is going to have real influence on how aspiring fighters choose to train. When Royce Gracie proved his style’s efficacy in a real fight, schools began painting “and jiu-jitsu” in their front windows. Ichihara might find considerable irony in MMA franchises forced to add “and karate” to their yellow page ads.
Toiling in some putrid gym somewhere right now is a guy building a base of wrestling and kickboxing who’s going to start ending fights with some bizarre krav maga or kung fu mysticism. And it’ll work only because being eccentric in the ring comes with having a contemporary base.
When you can meet someone at his own game and not be disassembled by your own ignorance, you can begin to impart your own. Machida has figured this out. Now it’s up for everyone else to figure him out.
Champ Rashad Evans makes "simple" changes for Lyoto Machida at UFC 98
Despite defeating Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell and Michael Bisping in a span of 13 months, UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (13-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) will once again enter the cage as the underdog.
Challenger Lyoto Machida (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is too elusive, they say. His style is too evolved.
"Sugar" has heard the doubters before.
"I don't take it personal," Evans said on a recent media call. "Whether they believe I can win or don't believe I can win it, I mean it really doesn't matter because it's not the first time I've been the underdog going into a fight.
"And I haven't lost yet. So it really don't matter."
Of course, Evans isn't the only one who hasn't lost yet. Both champion and challenger bring an undefeated record to Saturday night's "UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida" main event in Las Vegas.
And while Evans has shown a penchant for devastatingly powerful striking, it is Machida's unique application of karate that has many MMA observers – and Las Vegas oddsmakers – identifying "The Dragon" as the one to beat. Evans respectfully disagrees.
"You know [Machida] has got an interesting style," Evans said. "It's pretty tricky at times, but I think that anybody going against him is going to have their own way of doing things, and they're going to have their own style.
"So it's just making simple adjustments and it should be alright."
Like six UFC opponents before him – and like B.J. Penn, Rich Franklin and Stephan Bonnar before Machida's entrance into the UFC – Evans will try to make the "simple" adjustments necessary to defeat the Brazilian challenger.
Unlike that impressive list of previous victims, Evans will rely on master gameplanner Greg Jackson to craft that strategy.
"There's just certain aspects that [Machida] does," Evans explained. "His movement may mask it a little bit, but it's simple – the simple principles that he's trying to do that you look for.
"Watching Machida's tapes I've definitely seen enough that I can do myself in areas that fit into what I do well. So I'm not worried about it."
Never one to lack in confidence, Evans has openly said he wanted to take this fight. While many fans clamored for Evans to face former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, the current champ identified Machida as "more deserving" and the "better fighter."
And while often branded as "cocky" or "arrogant" during his rise to the top, it's an attitude practically necessary for any fighter hoping to remain champion.
"I enjoy training," Evans said. "I enjoy getting better. But the ultimate test is when you get to go out there and fight. And as much as I can go out there and fight then, the better.
"I've been successful so far, and I've been enjoying this whole learning experience. So keep them coming."
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, despite recent criticisms of his counter-attacking style, has certainly made waves with nine-straight wins in the octagon. Evans has yet to receive that type of praise, despite putting together a nine-fight unbeaten streak of his own in the UFC.
But despite a seeming lack of respect for the "TUF"-winner-turned-UFC-champion, Evans is just focused on the task at hand – and becoming the first fighter to make the "simple" adjustments necessary to slay "The Dragon."
"Accomplishing what me and Lyoto have accomplished, it wasn't an easy task," Evans said. "So I guess there's some small sort of accomplishment as far as being a big deal.
"But when I go in there and fight Lyoto, I mean it don't matter if I'm undefeated or not, you know? I'm just trying to win that one fight."
Simple enough.
Despite defeating Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell and Michael Bisping in a span of 13 months, UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans (13-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) will once again enter the cage as the underdog.
Challenger Lyoto Machida (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is too elusive, they say. His style is too evolved.
"Sugar" has heard the doubters before.
"I don't take it personal," Evans said on a recent media call. "Whether they believe I can win or don't believe I can win it, I mean it really doesn't matter because it's not the first time I've been the underdog going into a fight.
"And I haven't lost yet. So it really don't matter."
Of course, Evans isn't the only one who hasn't lost yet. Both champion and challenger bring an undefeated record to Saturday night's "UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida" main event in Las Vegas.
And while Evans has shown a penchant for devastatingly powerful striking, it is Machida's unique application of karate that has many MMA observers – and Las Vegas oddsmakers – identifying "The Dragon" as the one to beat. Evans respectfully disagrees.
"You know [Machida] has got an interesting style," Evans said. "It's pretty tricky at times, but I think that anybody going against him is going to have their own way of doing things, and they're going to have their own style.
"So it's just making simple adjustments and it should be alright."
Like six UFC opponents before him – and like B.J. Penn, Rich Franklin and Stephan Bonnar before Machida's entrance into the UFC – Evans will try to make the "simple" adjustments necessary to defeat the Brazilian challenger.
Unlike that impressive list of previous victims, Evans will rely on master gameplanner Greg Jackson to craft that strategy.
"There's just certain aspects that [Machida] does," Evans explained. "His movement may mask it a little bit, but it's simple – the simple principles that he's trying to do that you look for.
"Watching Machida's tapes I've definitely seen enough that I can do myself in areas that fit into what I do well. So I'm not worried about it."
Never one to lack in confidence, Evans has openly said he wanted to take this fight. While many fans clamored for Evans to face former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, the current champ identified Machida as "more deserving" and the "better fighter."
And while often branded as "cocky" or "arrogant" during his rise to the top, it's an attitude practically necessary for any fighter hoping to remain champion.
"I enjoy training," Evans said. "I enjoy getting better. But the ultimate test is when you get to go out there and fight. And as much as I can go out there and fight then, the better.
"I've been successful so far, and I've been enjoying this whole learning experience. So keep them coming."
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, despite recent criticisms of his counter-attacking style, has certainly made waves with nine-straight wins in the octagon. Evans has yet to receive that type of praise, despite putting together a nine-fight unbeaten streak of his own in the UFC.
But despite a seeming lack of respect for the "TUF"-winner-turned-UFC-champion, Evans is just focused on the task at hand – and becoming the first fighter to make the "simple" adjustments necessary to slay "The Dragon."
"Accomplishing what me and Lyoto have accomplished, it wasn't an easy task," Evans said. "So I guess there's some small sort of accomplishment as far as being a big deal.
"But when I go in there and fight Lyoto, I mean it don't matter if I'm undefeated or not, you know? I'm just trying to win that one fight."
Simple enough.
lmao it's official machida is winning for sure!! after I saw this on sherdog I couldn't stop laughing.
Lyoto Machida's dad is the same guy who trained Frank Dux in Bloodsport
Lyoto Machida's dad is the same guy who trained Frank Dux in Bloodsport
Lyoto Machida Interview
Undefeated after 14 fights, Lyoto Machida is getting closer to the belt of the UFC. Accepting the TATAME challenge, the fighter went through the interview of the most critical reporters: his fans, subscribers of TATAME. In the exclusive chat, Lyoto talked about his training in Belém, the fight with Thiago Silva, the chance for the belt, the best in the world, his history in MMA and much more.
You have already proven to be worth of fighting for the belt of your category. Do you think there is a fear by the UFC to have a Brazilian domain in the categories?
I don’t think so. I think this is all a matter of promotion, because the event wants to promote me more, and this is even good for me. If I make a fight and go to the belt, the promotion is small, I don’t appear too much. I want to be tested and, when I get there, already has many fans, even because the event is professional and has to deal with that. If I have a big promotion of course they’ll put me, and this is happening now.
There is much talk of the importance of a team in the development of the athlete, but, although you train with many great names, such training is done individually, in other words, you’re not all together as a team. What is your differential to remain always at a high level?
My differential is that the training is hard, I have my physical preparer, my father and brothers, we are very focused on my improvement, so we film the trainings and fixe them. Some people say that has to be in the United States to train, but I can be in Belém and make a good training. Just need to have a good head and a minimum structure, the emotional and physical side of training. Here is good for sparring. I have regional fighters that are tough, but don’t have the opportunity to appear. I believe much in my fellow workers, because they give me difficulty in training, know my game. This will strengthen me more. I already rotated the world, went to different countries and came to this conclusion.
Your fight with Thiago Silva has created a huge expectation among the fans. What was your expectation and the fight was as you planned?
I felt well, the blow was fast and strong, I knew that, if connected, it would finish the fight, but I wasn’t expecting to end it so fast.
You’re fighting in the biggest event in the world. Do you think is possible to have a UFC in Brazil?
I think it's just a matter of time for the UFC. It looks like in the end of the year they’ll make an event in Japan and, the next year, in Brazil. They know that not only is the largest storehouse of talent, but that the event has a big popularity. I heard many conversations that really has a great chance to do an event in Brazil.
As a MMA fighter that came from the karate, have you thought about testing yourself in a Grappling event, such as ADCC? How do you think you would do?
Sure. I think it would be interesting. Although the karate that I have today, I try to be complete. I’ve already participated in competitions of Sumo and I would like to test myself in a Grappling competition. Of course it wouldn’t be a main thing, a priority, this would happen away from fighting, without risk of hurting me. I would like to get the best, it would be a test for me. I’ve already fought once in the United States, in a competition against Lovato.
Quinton Jackson criticized your fight style, as well as others have done before, although it is a style that keep winning. How do you face this situation?
I respect the opinions of the fighters. If they think that, okay, no problem. If every day I can prove the efficiency of the fight, that isn’t just to put the blow and give a show to the public... I only punch when I see that I’ll connect, it all comes from my style and people haven’t understood yet. Coming from a fighter it may be a little suspect, he must want to provoke me... I would like to fight him to show and prove this. If is that what they’re saying, I can prove it... It would be a great pleasure to fight him.
Your division is certainly one of the most difficult of the UFC. In case of winning the belt, what would you do to remain champion?
Before becoming the champion, you must keep the focus. When the fight ends, I try something new, add to my game and I think that is where is my differential, it confuses my opponents. I stand as a champion every day more, I try to study, learn more. People only talk about train and train, but must have the humility to see more things that are going through.
In what moment of your life you realized that the MMA would be a good way to live?
I always liked the sport, so I knew that, if I had a chance to win some money... The money wasn’t my focus, I wanted to test myself, but obviously the result - the money - would appear. I always took my career very seriously, professionally, and this was a natural tendency. I didn’t saw at the beginning that the MMA would be good for me, things were happening.
What is your greatest inspiration to MMA?
It was the Gracie family. They very motivated us very much to enter. We saw it was the pure martial art, the weaker being able to win the strongest, and that motivated us.
Besides Rashad. who is with the belt, who would be the other fighter that you would like to face in your category?
Quinton Jackson. He is a tough fighter, aggressive. He has been champion and won a lot of people, I would like to face him.
Do you consider yourself the best pound for pound? If not, what fighter would you consider?
No. I think there are a lot of good people around, such as Anderson Silva. He has shown that, a lot more than me. I’m very young comparising to what he already done.
Who was the hardest fighter you've faced so far?
It is difficult to say, but I think it was Sam Greco. Despite he isn’t fighting anymore, he was very tough.
What fighter do you consider the most complete in the MMA world?
It has many, not just one. Anderson and St. Pierre are guys who have shown many qualities in many different fields, such as standing, putting down and on the ground.
Do you prefer to fight on the ring or octagon?
In the octagon. I feel much more comfortable fighting there.
What are the values that you’ve received from the martial arts beyond the discipline?
I live of the discipline of the martial arts. All values that I have today, on the moral side, respect to the next, humility to learn more each day was the martial art that brought me. I have lots of boys who arrives at the academy a little arrogant, than we put a guy stronger than him and he stays calm, more humble. My father does this to us all the time. It doesn’t work to be with the cram nose. If you want to fight, it must be with the strongest, it doesn’t work to beat the weaker. I bring this to my life.
After you become light heavyweight champion, do you plan fighting at the heavyweight division?
I don’t think about fight at heavyweight division, but I think about a challenge, maybe against the heavyweight champion, but it’s time for it now. My focus, for sure, is on my division now, later is later. Maybe a fight against Brock Lesnar. He’s a huge guy, showed himself very aggressive and strong, who knows if one day we can fight… I respect him as a fighter, he’s very strong, but I’m professional and I’d like to test myself.
Undefeated after 14 fights, Lyoto Machida is getting closer to the belt of the UFC. Accepting the TATAME challenge, the fighter went through the interview of the most critical reporters: his fans, subscribers of TATAME. In the exclusive chat, Lyoto talked about his training in Belém, the fight with Thiago Silva, the chance for the belt, the best in the world, his history in MMA and much more.
You have already proven to be worth of fighting for the belt of your category. Do you think there is a fear by the UFC to have a Brazilian domain in the categories?
I don’t think so. I think this is all a matter of promotion, because the event wants to promote me more, and this is even good for me. If I make a fight and go to the belt, the promotion is small, I don’t appear too much. I want to be tested and, when I get there, already has many fans, even because the event is professional and has to deal with that. If I have a big promotion of course they’ll put me, and this is happening now.
There is much talk of the importance of a team in the development of the athlete, but, although you train with many great names, such training is done individually, in other words, you’re not all together as a team. What is your differential to remain always at a high level?
My differential is that the training is hard, I have my physical preparer, my father and brothers, we are very focused on my improvement, so we film the trainings and fixe them. Some people say that has to be in the United States to train, but I can be in Belém and make a good training. Just need to have a good head and a minimum structure, the emotional and physical side of training. Here is good for sparring. I have regional fighters that are tough, but don’t have the opportunity to appear. I believe much in my fellow workers, because they give me difficulty in training, know my game. This will strengthen me more. I already rotated the world, went to different countries and came to this conclusion.
Your fight with Thiago Silva has created a huge expectation among the fans. What was your expectation and the fight was as you planned?
I felt well, the blow was fast and strong, I knew that, if connected, it would finish the fight, but I wasn’t expecting to end it so fast.
You’re fighting in the biggest event in the world. Do you think is possible to have a UFC in Brazil?
I think it's just a matter of time for the UFC. It looks like in the end of the year they’ll make an event in Japan and, the next year, in Brazil. They know that not only is the largest storehouse of talent, but that the event has a big popularity. I heard many conversations that really has a great chance to do an event in Brazil.
As a MMA fighter that came from the karate, have you thought about testing yourself in a Grappling event, such as ADCC? How do you think you would do?
Sure. I think it would be interesting. Although the karate that I have today, I try to be complete. I’ve already participated in competitions of Sumo and I would like to test myself in a Grappling competition. Of course it wouldn’t be a main thing, a priority, this would happen away from fighting, without risk of hurting me. I would like to get the best, it would be a test for me. I’ve already fought once in the United States, in a competition against Lovato.
Quinton Jackson criticized your fight style, as well as others have done before, although it is a style that keep winning. How do you face this situation?
I respect the opinions of the fighters. If they think that, okay, no problem. If every day I can prove the efficiency of the fight, that isn’t just to put the blow and give a show to the public... I only punch when I see that I’ll connect, it all comes from my style and people haven’t understood yet. Coming from a fighter it may be a little suspect, he must want to provoke me... I would like to fight him to show and prove this. If is that what they’re saying, I can prove it... It would be a great pleasure to fight him.
Your division is certainly one of the most difficult of the UFC. In case of winning the belt, what would you do to remain champion?
Before becoming the champion, you must keep the focus. When the fight ends, I try something new, add to my game and I think that is where is my differential, it confuses my opponents. I stand as a champion every day more, I try to study, learn more. People only talk about train and train, but must have the humility to see more things that are going through.
In what moment of your life you realized that the MMA would be a good way to live?
I always liked the sport, so I knew that, if I had a chance to win some money... The money wasn’t my focus, I wanted to test myself, but obviously the result - the money - would appear. I always took my career very seriously, professionally, and this was a natural tendency. I didn’t saw at the beginning that the MMA would be good for me, things were happening.
What is your greatest inspiration to MMA?
It was the Gracie family. They very motivated us very much to enter. We saw it was the pure martial art, the weaker being able to win the strongest, and that motivated us.
Besides Rashad. who is with the belt, who would be the other fighter that you would like to face in your category?
Quinton Jackson. He is a tough fighter, aggressive. He has been champion and won a lot of people, I would like to face him.
Do you consider yourself the best pound for pound? If not, what fighter would you consider?
No. I think there are a lot of good people around, such as Anderson Silva. He has shown that, a lot more than me. I’m very young comparising to what he already done.
Who was the hardest fighter you've faced so far?
It is difficult to say, but I think it was Sam Greco. Despite he isn’t fighting anymore, he was very tough.
What fighter do you consider the most complete in the MMA world?
It has many, not just one. Anderson and St. Pierre are guys who have shown many qualities in many different fields, such as standing, putting down and on the ground.
Do you prefer to fight on the ring or octagon?
In the octagon. I feel much more comfortable fighting there.
What are the values that you’ve received from the martial arts beyond the discipline?
I live of the discipline of the martial arts. All values that I have today, on the moral side, respect to the next, humility to learn more each day was the martial art that brought me. I have lots of boys who arrives at the academy a little arrogant, than we put a guy stronger than him and he stays calm, more humble. My father does this to us all the time. It doesn’t work to be with the cram nose. If you want to fight, it must be with the strongest, it doesn’t work to beat the weaker. I bring this to my life.
After you become light heavyweight champion, do you plan fighting at the heavyweight division?
I don’t think about fight at heavyweight division, but I think about a challenge, maybe against the heavyweight champion, but it’s time for it now. My focus, for sure, is on my division now, later is later. Maybe a fight against Brock Lesnar. He’s a huge guy, showed himself very aggressive and strong, who knows if one day we can fight… I respect him as a fighter, he’s very strong, but I’m professional and I’d like to test myself.
"UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida" live weigh-ins and official results
LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com is on scene at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for today's "UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida" weigh-ins.
Live, fighter-by-fighter results commence at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) beginning with the preliminary card and concluding with headliners Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida.
You can also watch a live video stream of the weigh-ins at our partner site, Yahoo! Sports, or at the UFC's official site, UFC.com.
In addition to Evans and Machida, who meet in a UFC light-heavyweight title fight, the weigh-ins feature rivals Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, who meet in Saturday's co-main event. The two bouts head Saturday's 11-fight card, which also takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Full weigh-in results include:
(Note: The first fighter hits the scale at approximately 7 p.m. ET.)
MAIN CARD
* Champion Rashad Evans (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (204)
* Matt Hughes (170) vs. Matt Serra (171)
* Dan Miller (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (186)
* Frank Edgar (155) vs. Sean Sherk (156)
* Xavier Foupa-Pokam (186) vs. Drew McFedries (185)
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Brock Larson (171) vs. Mike Pyle ()*
* Pat Barry (237) vs. Tim Hague (263)
* Kyle Bradley (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (156)
* Andre Gusmao (206) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (206)
* Brandon Wolff (170) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171)
* George Roop (154) vs. David Kaplan (156)
* - Pyle did not weigh-in during the official activities. The last-minute replacement has been given additional time to make weight.
LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com is on scene at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for today's "UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida" weigh-ins.
Live, fighter-by-fighter results commence at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) beginning with the preliminary card and concluding with headliners Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida.
You can also watch a live video stream of the weigh-ins at our partner site, Yahoo! Sports, or at the UFC's official site, UFC.com.
In addition to Evans and Machida, who meet in a UFC light-heavyweight title fight, the weigh-ins feature rivals Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, who meet in Saturday's co-main event. The two bouts head Saturday's 11-fight card, which also takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Full weigh-in results include:
(Note: The first fighter hits the scale at approximately 7 p.m. ET.)
MAIN CARD
* Champion Rashad Evans (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (204)
* Matt Hughes (170) vs. Matt Serra (171)
* Dan Miller (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (186)
* Frank Edgar (155) vs. Sean Sherk (156)
* Xavier Foupa-Pokam (186) vs. Drew McFedries (185)
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Brock Larson (171) vs. Mike Pyle ()*
* Pat Barry (237) vs. Tim Hague (263)
* Kyle Bradley (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (156)
* Andre Gusmao (206) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (206)
* Brandon Wolff (170) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171)
* George Roop (154) vs. David Kaplan (156)
* - Pyle did not weigh-in during the official activities. The last-minute replacement has been given additional time to make weight.
