Lyoto Machida defeats Rashad Evans for UFC light-heavyweight title

LA Times ^ | 5/23/09 | Eric Jamison

[pissant]

Reporting from Las Vegas -- Lyoto Machida's fights may lack continual action, but as he proved in a powerful display of punches that made him the Ultimate Fighting Championship's light-heavyweight champion Saturday night, a sudden flurry is his trademark.

Machida (15-0) unleashed a barrage of second-round blows set up by a devastating left-handed punch that backed up Rashad Evans in his first title defense. The Brazilian challenger further hurt Evans with a powerful right, then a crushing left that caused Evans to crash to the mat. Evans' head circled on the way to mat impact and he was left prone with his head turned to the right side of his body, eyes closed.

[pissant]

The Karate Kid lays waste to the undefeated Evans.

[randomhero97]

After that whole comment about "No white man will ever beat me" from Evans, I'm glad Machida rocked him. Machida is one bad dude. I really think he has the potential to reach Fedor status in the LHW division.

I disagreed with the decision on the Hughes/Serra fight. I think Hughes won but not unanimously.

[pissant]

I missed the evans “no white man” nonsense. Rampage probably thought the same thing. Of course, Machida is technically an asian, isn’t he?

[randomhero97]

Half Japanese/Half Brazilian.

[pissant]

I’ll bet he’s darn near as popular in Japan now as he is in his home country of Brazil.

[Two Kids' Dad]

Rampage lives about ten minutes from me. I haven’t heard of him making any blanket racial commetns and I hope he hasn’t made any like Evans supposedly has. I like him as a fighter and as a personality.

Who would you take in a Rampage vs. Machida fight?

[randomhero97]

A couple of guys I know told me about the Evans comment from an interview. They wouldn't really lie about that so I took their word for it.

Machida is one fighter that can't be duplicated in training so it's going to be tough. The guy has never lost a round in the UFC. I don't think stand up brawlers like Evans or Rampage match up well with Machida. Maybe someone like Hendo would be a better matchup.

[cydcharisse]

Rampage was most upset when his “best friend” lost in the Ultimate Fighter try outs when he was a coach.

The friend was a white guy. Rampage is no racist.

[Two Kids' Dad]

So Rampage would have the standard “puncher’s chance” but the advantage would be with Machida? I think I’d have to agree with that assessment.

[randomhero97]

The friend was a white guy. Rampage is no racist.

Yeah, Rampage is a good guy. He's friends with roided up Marc Coleman and Phil Baroni. His truck is absolutely huge. I have to say that I'm glad he KO'ed Chuck Liddell way back.

[Manic_Episode]

Except for about the first 90 seconds this was a very exciting fight. Machida was so impressive I can't see anyone touching him for a very long time.

Rampage is one of my favorite fighters but I think he is in BIG big trouble here. Machida reminds me of a larger version of Bruce Lee.

[cydcharisse]

I’ve looked all over the internet for that comment. I can’t find it anywhere.

Call out these guys and ask them who the interview was with, when, and where did they see it?

I don’t believe he said this.

[Two Kids' Dad]

Good to hear. My favorite MMA fighters are Rampage and Fedor and I’d be saddened to learn something negative about either of them.

[randomhero97]

Call out these guys and ask them who the interview was with, when, and where did they see it?

Good idea. After the whole deal with Evans and Keith Jardine supposedly being good friends I started to have doubts myself. Evans doesn't seem like that type. Actually, I really shouldn't of posted that without something to back it up. So if Rashad is reading this I apologize. lol

[randomhero97]

The only thing I can say about Fedor is he needs to get over to the UFC and work the HW division out. That's more on Dana White, though. Fedor's easily won his last fight with Arlovski so he's still got it.

I do think Brock Lesnar is going to be a beast the more and more he adapts and learns MMA. He is the quickest 265lb man I have ever seen.

[pissant]

The funny thing about the MMA is that the better overall fighter may not always win. Could be a lack of proper strategy against the opponent, or one lucky kick/punch that rocks you so you are momentarily defenseless.

But I’d take Machida over rampage, or anyone else at the moment.

[Callahan]

Ever since UFC 1 killed the illusion of “movie” martial arts, I think alot of kids who grew up on “Enter the Dragon” have been secretly wishing for a Chuck Norris/Bruce Lee type to come along and give these wrestling/BJJ/Ground & Pound spoil sports a Saturday morning kung fu ass kicking. Guys like Cung Le and Machida show their style can be effective and even dominant — if you have awesome speed, fluid footwork, takedown defense, etc. Machida is an MMA version of Pretty Boy Floyd (Of course, Lyoto has a blackbelt in BJJ himself though he hasn’t had to use it much).

I like Rampage too. In MMA there is always a pretty big puncher’s chance, and Jackson has a pretty big punch, not to mention a granite chin. But Machida is so damn slick I have a feeling it will look like a bull versus a matador.

[Callahan]

Have you seen Bobby Lashley? Talk about a beast. YouTube his last MMA fight where he front guillotines some guy into a fish flop inside 30 seconds. Love to see him take on Lesnar after they both get a few more fights on the books.

[ovrtaxt]

Is there a link to the video of the fight? I can’t find one.