Lyoto Machida: I'm not underestimating Rampage Jackson
Posted on November 1, 2010, 08:25 PM by Jamie KennedyIn a recent interview with TATAME magazine, former UFC light heavyweight Champion Lyoto 'The Dragon' Machida said that he is refusing to underestimate Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, who starred as B.A Barracus in the latest A-Team movie, and is also a former UFC light heavyweight Champion. Machida had this to say ahead of their UFC 123 main event showdown:
"Well, I always think for a MMA fight, despite the specialities of each fighter, and you have to be prepared for anything; because we can never know what the guy is up to. A guy who doesn't know how to kick may be kicking in the following fight, you can't tell for sure. The need leads a frog to a jump. We have many examples of people who are good on areas that aren't their specialities: Georges St. Pierre has improved a lot of wrestling, people that didn't kick are now kicking and so it goes.
I don't underestimate any fighter. I think that, just as I'm prepared for anything during the fight, so are they: the stand up game, the takedowns and ground game. Of course we have our game plan set, our strong point is Karate and the exchanges, but if we need to use other skills, we will do the takedowns and the ground game that I train here with Valter Broca, who's a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, graduated by De La Riva, who always helps me in this area.
I think that Quinton Jackson always comes for the striking, independently of his opponent, he always tries to impose his game, so it'll be up to me, because he'll try yo use his boxing and I have to try and block his game and impose mine."
Machida was then asked, what he thought of Rampage's comments about him saying that he runs away from his opponents, Lyoto said:
"No, I think that each one has their own way of thinking; I think Quinton is a great fighter, I respect him he always does his game and I try to do mine and keep improving so I can please the audience and the fans all around the world because it's part of MMA. We have to win and please the public and the fans that cheer for you, you can't do things on your own."
Machida was then asked about what he seen for himself in the future, and whether he believes a victory over Rampage will lead him to another title shot and went on to say:
"I think one step at a time. People talk about Shogun and I don't keep thinking about Shogun, he's long gone now. Now I have to think about my next challenge because sometimes we keep thinking about the future, but we can't even think about the next step, so I think I have to be prepared and I can't underestimate anyone. Now I'll have to face Quinton Jackson and there are many factors to consider before I have a title shot. I think it's best for me to focus on this fight and I'll welcome whatever comes in the future."
Evidently The Dragon isn't looking past Rampage Jackson and is taking this fight very seriously, as he tries to bounce back from his only MMA career loss that came at the hands of current light heavyweight Champion Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, and with a win could potentially set up the inevitable rubber match between himself and Shogun; who is sidelined with a knee injury and is scheduled to fight Rashad Evans at sometime in 2011, only time will tell.
Comments
its funny he didnt adress the running away from his opponents part
Because he does lol. He gets a couple hits in and backs up and if you chase him it's like a trap he counters. Then he just ends up outpointing you unless you have no chin in which case you get tkoed
r u saying rashard has no chin :O ? lol
Machida is not an out-pointer. An out-pointer is someone like Gray Maynard or Jon Fitch. Machida finishes more often than not in his past 5-6 fights.
Dude besides rashad and sokasdju in the Ufc all he did was outpoint
Jizzle
Didnt he KO the undefeated (at the time) Thiago Silva?
Okay he him too. Either way his game plan is to hit you back up and do it over and over and that's outpointing
His game plan is to hit and not be hit. Not always successful with it as we saw against Rua, but it is the best form of martial arts if you can apply it. I never understand how idiots talk about it as outpointing, as if it's easy to do. Any MMA fighter would love the ability that the likes of Edgar and Machida have of doing damage whilst remaining elusive. It is an extremely skillful ability which few fighters have mastery of. Outpointing is one of the most ignorant descriptions of it I can imagine.
I'm hoping Rampage wins but from the interviews I have seen of his, he doesn't seem interested in fighting, he keeps saying he wants an exciting opponent and that if he has too he will make the fight exciting, which doesn't seem like the brightest idea, it all depends on what Rampage comes to fight, I think he has the ability to beat Machida if he really wants to
I'm excited to see Machida fight, its been so long since the Shogun fight, even though i'm supporting Rampage I still want to see him fight, his style of fighting is just so different and it is really exciting to watch, ppl mite call his style boring but who else has KO'd Evans and Silva??
I do too. Unless... Machida throws all leg kicks. I think Rampages chin will be the biggest difference in this fight. He can take a beating to the head so it shouldn't bother him to keep coming forward. I'm just worried about those legs.
Rampage is not known for being very bright when it comes to adapting to a fight... I'm going for Lyoto.
Hey you still gotta respect him for being the first fighter to effectively use that strategy. fighting is an art, its more than just forward attack
Who noes, it might be part of an answer that eventually beats the latest epidemic of wrestling in mma.
i think machida will have no problem with rampage probably winning by decision unless rampage catches him.
Agreed. I don't see it any other way. Either Machida by decision or Rampage by TKO/KO
rampage will ktfo him
Yup. Sharp those 2.
I don't think Rampage will win this at all. Rampage isn't the smartest fighter and Machida is a LOT smarter and will probably counter rampage and KO him.
You're crazy if you think Machida has enough power to KO Rampage. Wanderlei and Shogun are the only people to stop him by KO/TKO.
With those little gloves anybody can KO anyone.
Look at Condit who the hell has he KO'd with a punch in the past?
Especially a guy like Hardy who can take a good punch.
Rampages chin is too good to be koed by anyone was my point
I know he has a great chin, he took over 20+ knees right on the button from Wand back in the day.
But im just saying that anything can happen in MMA; from a flying scissor heel hook or whatever that Silva got caught with, from the TKO win Serra got over GSP; its just a lot harder of a sport to predict than say Boxing or Football.
Agreed. And they KO'd Rampage with knees and soccer kicks, not punches.
Rampage needs to be aggressive again, he has a strong Chin so the counters from Machida should not be a problem compare to his own Power on his fists .
Its either Rampage KO if he really wants it
or Machida by Decision if Rampage do the same he did vs Rashad
Whoever the champion is, Lyoto or Shogun, they are great champions. awsome sportsmanship, heart, and respect for all fighters. I am proud of both these fighters.
I don't think Rampage has much of a chance. He has somehow devolved into a 1 dimensional fighter. All he does is cover and throw a counter hook. Machida will not be in range of that and will pick him apart with kicks and probably even take him down a few times with throws and leg sweeps. Rampage doesn't even seem like he cares anymore.
i agree that we might see machida take him down a few times. he has very underated wrestling skills
although I believe technically machida should win the fight, rampage has equal amount of chance. Shogun used his leg kicks to stay out of the mid range of machida and although rampage doesn't have that on his side, shogun ko'd machida running in with a series of punches. Given that Rampage has a reliable chin, he may have a chance if he can pick and choose which times to run in and let his hands go.
I see Rampage getting frustrated by Machida's movement & making a mistake.
Machida is a newer breed of mixed martial artists - expect Rampage to get destroyed. Rampage is a great fighter, but Machida is a great mixed martial artist. I wouldn't critique Rampage's boxing, but as for an overall game and dedication, Machida is going to be a tough nut to crack for him.
lyoto this is ur fight to win and get the tittle of rua.... war lyoto WAR
in Rampages recent interviews he seems like he doesnt even wanna fight anymore, so i gotta go with Lyoto via decision
Personally as much as i am a Rampage, Griffin, and Couture fan (and i am) i wish these guys would just leave the UFC and quit fighting. If you don't want to be a fighter and your not going to train to win .. then move on down the road and make room for hungry new talent.
Im hoping someone gets finished decisively in this fight, I dont want another one of those fights where two top guys who are to scared to do anything cause of there fear of losing
Running away? If every fighter could be as illusive as Machida they would. He has the best game plan. (I hit you, you don't hit me)
I think Machida will take this by decision. Stylistically the fight does not favour Rampage. Though i would like to see Rampage win in impressive fashion, maybe by repeated body slams like in Pride days, hope that isnt asking too much.
Think Machida will win will be alot faster than rampage and his game plan will be to frustrate rampage. Can see a decision Rampage is a tough guy can take a punch
I got this feeling that this fight is gonna blow lol. Rampage is gonna try to stalk Machida and Machida is just gonna counter and keep the distant with kicks...unless by some miracle Machida pulls a Wanderlei/shogun out his ass, but i doubt it. Machida isn't fearless (and crazy) like Wand or shogun to stand up and bang.
AND The reason i'm so skeptical about rampage is because before his Rashad fight he was talkin all this smack about how he was more motivated than ever and how he was at the peak of his training and conditioning.....and we all saw him fail miserably. The sport is evolving and becoming more technical....pretty soon all the brawlers like Rampage are gonna b a thing of the past
I say Machida by unanimous. ...i hope i'm wrong though
I think Rampage has all the gifts to beat Lyoto but I'm not sure if he has the dedication that he once did. I feel if he loses it will because he didn't put enough heart into training. Lyoto should by no means underestimate him, and no fighter should ever underestimate their opponent
Shogun's kicking both of their asses either way,and Evans is being added to the list eventually,lol,...what a circus !!
People keep bringing up how Rampage has an amazing chin and Machida doesn't have the power to KO him. THIS IS IGNORANT! Machida is a Black Belt in a martial art primarily based around striking and he is a 205lbs man. I'm pretty sure he has the power to KO/TKO anyone in the business. I promise you, if Machida catches Rampage coming forward with a straight left it could very easily be lights out.
I agree, I am also one of the few who believes Machida possess the power to stop Rampage via strikes. he put away Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans.
Lets hope Machida wont do the remake of Karate Kid 2