UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

It didn't take Franklin longer than that, and he got beat about as bad as a fighter can get beat.

Since I think we keep going off on tangents, I'm gonna try and be clear:

I don't doubt that it's possible, or even probable, that Machida will get another title shot sometime in the future if he loses. But my contention is the UFC obviously treats different fighters differently for a number of various reasons, including popularity and marketability. And since Machida is so poorly marketable compared to nearly the entirety of the top tiers of the light heavyweight division, it could be years before he sees another title shot, even if he performs as well as could be hoped for.

Do you agree or disagree with that?

**DTX3** · 05-11-2009, 05:26 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson

They fighting each other in August at UFC 102. Also on that card:

Heavyweight bout:

Randy Couture vs.

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Middleweight bout:

Nate Marquardt vs.

Demian Maia
Light Heavyweight bout:

Keith Jardine vs.

Thiago Silva
Light Heavyweight bout:

Matt Hamill vs.

Brandon Vera
Middleweight bout:

Chris Leben vs.

Jake Rosholt
Heavyweight bout:

Junior dos Santos vs.

Justin McCully
Heavyweight bout:

Gabriel Gonzaga vs

Chris Tuchscherer
Middleweight bout:

James Irvin vs.

Wilson Gouveia
Middleweight bout:

Mark Munoz vs.

Nick Catone
Lightweight bout:

Evan Dunham vs.

Matt Veach

Pretty solid card even though I have ZERO interest in a Randy Couture fight. What's up with Brazil vs US??

**Gotmadskillzson** · 05-11-2009, 05:39 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Hmmm I don't know......I mean they fighting in Portland, Ore.....so I don't know what is up with that. Unless the next season of TUF going to be Brazil vs USA.

**aholbert32** · 05-11-2009, 06:22 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Wet Bandit

It didn't take Franklin longer than that, and he got beat about as bad as a fighter can get beat.

Since I think we keep going off on tangents, I'm gonna try and be clear:

I don't doubt that it's possible, or even probable, that Machida will get another title shot sometime in the future if he loses. But my contention is the UFC obviously treats different fighters differently for a number of various reasons, including popularity and marketability. And since Machida is so poorly marketable compared to nearly the entirety of the top tiers of the light heavyweight division, it could be years before he sees another title shot, even if he performs as well as could be hoped for.

Do you agree or disagree with that?

I agree but Marketability is all about how you finish. No matter what Machida was going to be the #2 contender for the belt no matter what as long as he beat Silva. The fact that he blew him out in the first made him way more marketable than if he had a 3 rnd boring UD. If he KO's Evans, his marketability grows. If he beats Ramp, he's a killer just like Silva and they will market him that way.

Leites can win 5 more fights and he will never get another title shot at Silva because he stunk out the joint. If Machida looks good against Evans he will get the same treatment as Franklin did.

**Wet Bandit** · 05-11-2009, 06:33 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by aholbert32

I agree but Marketability is all about how you finish.

Disagree with this. Anderson Silva was destroying guys, but he's consistently one of the lowest PPV draws. Being an exciting fighter is just one small part of a fighter's marketability. There are a number of other more important factors, like being American, speaking English, having a distinct personality, etc. And unfortunately for Machida, he's got all that working against him. In fact, until he destroyed Thiago Silva, he was probably the least marketable fighter in the UFC.

If he gets some exciting fights to his name, which isn't incredibly likely, that'll help, but it unfortunately won't come close to offsetting all the other stuff he's got working against him.

**Gotmadskillzson** · 05-11-2009, 07:04 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

like being American, speaking English

That way of thinking is why it took USA so long to get MMA. Take out all the Brazailians out of the UFC and you won't have anybody left but brawlers and lay n pray wrestlers and might as well call it Boxing part duex.

I mean that is like trying to take all of the hispanics from baseball. Won't have an MLB then.

Yeah being able to understand what they are saying would be nice, but I am more interested in how good of a fighter they are. Which is why I loved Pride. Couldn't understand none of the fighters, but damn it if they couldn't kick a$$ and was very entertaining to watch.

**Wet Bandit** · 05-11-2009, 07:10 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Gotmadskillzson

That way of thinking...

You're not talking about me, right?

**aholbert32** · 05-11-2009, 07:16 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Wet Bandit

Disagree with this. Anderson Silva was destroying guys, but he's consistently one of the lowest PPV draws. Being an exciting fighter is just one small part of a fighter's marketability. There are a number of other more important factors, like being American, speaking English, having a distinct personality, etc. And unfortunately for Machida, he's got all that working against him. In fact, until he destroyed Thiago Silva, he was probably the least marketable fighter in the UFC.

If he gets some exciting fights to his name, which isn't incredibly likely, that'll help, but it unfortunately won't come close to offsetting all the other stuff he's got working against him.

Silva needs named opponents to bring in PPV buys but so does everyone else. Think about it. All the big selling PPVs were headlined by big matches not just one big fighter. GSP's PPVs have sold well but he's fought well known fightes in his last 3 fights (Serra beacuse of the UF, Hughes and Penn). With fighters like that...he should sell. Same goes with Rampage (Chuck, Silva, Forrest) Same for Forrest. The only people in the UFc that I think can sell PPV's alone is Chuck and Lesnar (Brock only because he had the WWE thing going for him)

Silva isnt helping though by not learning english and by two straight poor performances. You just watch if he crushes Forrest...the PPV buys for his next fight will jump some.

**MC Fatigue** · 05-11-2009, 07:18 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Just so you know - the link to Irvin is to some weirdo

I wasn't aware he was moving to MW, should be interesting. I like Gouveia, though - so I hope he wins.

**sven** · 05-12-2009, 01:15 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Originally posted by Scoop_Brady

Marquardt lost a split decision to Leites after being deducted a point for kneeing him while he was downed. I'm not 100% sure but for some reason I think he was also deducted another point in the fight too. He clearly beat Leites without the deduction IMO.

Lost a bull**** point for striking to the back of the head when he hit Thales in the ear. It was Herb Dean of course. The moron who seems to have no clue where the back of the head is.

**goh** · 05-14-2009, 12:36 AM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

According to the new trailer for the game Evans won already: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/49215.html

**goh** · 05-14-2009, 03:23 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Machida comments:

"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.""

http://sherdog.com/news/articles/1/m...-my-game-17459

If it comes to it,I wonder if he'd fight Anderson or if it'd be a Jardine/Evans type thing.

**SHO** · 05-14-2009, 03:51 PM

Re: UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

Anderson and Machida both train together at Black House. They won't be fighting each other.

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida

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