Machida

On Saturday, one of my favourite UFC fighters had a match. It's funny how few people understand his fighting method.

I've included some quoted material from the an article posted on MMAJUNKIE on December 21 that was written by Mike Bohn

That fighter's name is Lyoto Machida. He originated in the world of Karate, and fights that way. Watching him is like watching any good, Karate-tournament fighter in action. Of course, he has modified what he does in order to adapt to the realities of mma fighting, but he's still clearly a Karate guy.

Take his kicks. He launches them with a highly bent knee, snaps the kick out, and snaps it back. This makes Karate kicks about the fastest around, admittedly with the loss of some power compared to kickboxing style. People think Machida's kicks must be weak as a result. They are totally missing the advantage that speed gives. If you kick faster, you will hit more as your opponent will have less time to react.

On Saturday, “Machida became the fifth fighter in UFC history to earn three or more knockout victories stemming from a kick.”

Somehow, while kicking without any power he knocks a lot of people out.

Machida also punches like a Karate guy, and not boxer-style like almost everybody else. I've heard people claim that he cannot possibly be generating any power using what look like totally relaxed straight punches.

Saturday, “Machida landed the 13th knockdown of his UFC career and moved in to a tie with Melvin Guillard for the third most knockdowns in UFC history behind Anderson Silva (17) and Chuck Liddell (14).”

Somehow, for somebody who doesn't know how to punch, he seems to hurt a lot of people.

And what about the way he moves. He refuses to cover up and take shots boxer-style like everybody else. He stays just out of range until he decides to engage. This drives purists crazy. They seem to want him to trade shots.

On Saturday, “Machida became the first fighter in UFC history to absorb zero strikes in two main event fights.” Get that? He's been only fighter ever avoid taking any shots at all in a main event.

Strangely, there are still people insist he fights wrong. I'd think more fighters would try to copy what he does.