Lyoto Machida will study to find the "best way" to stop Jon Jones
Posted on October 11, 2011, 03:15 PM by Joey Santosus
"It's hard to say what the perfect style is to stop Jones. I have a lot of trust in my skills against any fighter. I won't change what people have seen, and I'd rather show them in the Octagon instead of talking about it beforehand. Jones wasn't my problem until the UFC booked the fight. I'll spend a lot of time studying him and find the best way to stop him. I know he's versatile, but I have my own talents and know what it takes to win. ... I can get Jones to the fifth round. I believe in myself, in what I'm doing and in my teammates." - For more from Lyoto Machida, visit Sherdog.com
Set to return to action for the first time since his dramatic front-kick knockout victory over Randy Couture in April, Lyoto Machida will challenge reigning Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones at UFC 140. Yet to be beaten, Jones has managed to escape each of his nine octagon appearances unscathed, becoming the first fighter to stop Mauricio Rua in March and only the second to submit Quinton Jackson, who he defeated in his first title defense last month.
Despite the champ's ability to leave each of his previous opponents perplexed, Machida tells Sherdog that he is confident that he will be the one to succeed where others have failed - in solving the puzzle that is Jonny "Bones." So what do you think LowKick'ers? Will "The Dragon's" crash course pay off in gold or will he leave Toronto empty handed?
Photo: UFC fighter Lyoto Machida at the Black House gym in Gardena, California on October 20, 2009. Francis Specker
Comments
Got faith in you my old friend,its time for you to get back in the game
Jones will be to strong, long, & quick for Machida. I doubt if it goes to the fourth round.
Bones beat the shit out of Shogun who dogged walked Machida twice & I get 17 weaks for my comment?? You dudes is faker than a four dollar bill
you gotta remember, Shogun looked like shit during that entire fight with Jones. I think Machida fought a completely different Shogun than Jones did.
Best way for Lyoto to stop Jones = regain 5 lost years of hand speed, add a foot of reach and become an Olympic level wrestler between now and the fight.
Good luck with that.
I thought Jones would beat Shogun, but I did not think Jones would be that dominant. Rampage avoided a lot of Jones' spinning elbows and other strikes--which shows Jones is not so unpredictable...but I still thought Rampage would lose, barring a puncher's chance strike.
I think Machida has the best chance in the LHW division to defeat Jones. Machida has a 81% TDD lifetime stat, and has an elusive style. Lyoto uses point Karate technique which keeps him on the outside until an opportunity presents itself, then he explodes in and gets out again. This will go some way to answering the long reach of Jones.
Machida is a counter-puncher--so Jones will have to bring the fight to Machida--otherwise we will have a dance contest. Machida is very good on the ground, though you rarely see him there.
Think about it. How many times to you remember seeing Machida on his back and for how long? (except when he got KTFO'd by Shogun)
The way I see it, it is going to be very hard for Jones to take Machida down--so this should be mostly a striking match. If it turns into a striking match--Machida is a very good striker and should be able to hold his own against Jones standing.
Don't get me wrong,I think Machida is an excellent fighter. His unorthodox style makes him one of the more difficult puzzles to solve in the 205 division.
The thing is, as difficult puzzles go, Jones is off the scale.
When you try and gauge a fighters ability, there are several factors. Machida has more experience than Jones, but you could say that about every opponent Jones has ever faced.
And while Lyoto is has unconventional striking with his hands, Jones is just as unpredictable, and more so with his his elbows, feet, submissions and GnP.
Once or twice in a decade an athlete comes along who will rewrite the record book on his their way to redefining the sport they play. Jones could be that good.
Youngest champ in UFC history. Also the longest reach. First fighter to defend the 205 belt since Rampage did it in 2007. NEVER taken down in his professional career.
He took his first fight after only training in MMA for 4 months. I haven't seen all his early fights, but I'm pretty sure the guy has never lost a round. If he takes out the Dragon, he will have beaten 3 UFC champs/former champs in less than a year. Has that ever been done?
His only loss was a DQ for illegal elbows against Matt Hamill, who couldn't fight anymore because Jones dislocated his shoulder. A DQ is a DQ, but Jones could easily still be undefeated.
Does this make Bones invincible? No. Lyoto got that much right. Any one can be beaten on any given night. Potential does not always translate into success. But so far, no fighter has even come close to finding a weakness in Jon's armor.
He's the defending champ, having beaten two Pride legends, and still hasn't really been tested. That is, in a word, unprecedented.
And at 24, and only 3 years into his MMA career, I think he's just getting started....
Cranestyle,
I think you make an excellent argument. Whoever has weaked this, doesn't have a clue about mma.
machida technically defended his belt agaisnt shogun... remember?
According to FightMetric--Machida is almost as hard to take down as GSP. GSP has a 86% TDD lifetime vs. Machida's 81%.
No big analysis, kicks to the legs is what it will take.
I completely agree HoustonsOwn. Jones really doesn't have a long history of Muay Thai training and so I don't believe that he has yet developed the experience and timing to defend against aggressive leg kicking very well. His legs seem to be the weakest part of his physique.
Maybe Machida with his skill and speed will be able to really test Jones in this possible area of weakness but I'm sure if that is something that he really commits to in his fighting style. His style of Karate fighting is effective but not the same as a serious Muay Thai fighter looking to damage and cripple an opponents legs and mobility. Maybe Shogun in top form with a smarter game plan to aggressively attack the legs will be the one best able to test Jones.
wtf, these topics are full of pointless mma math.
let´s get pumped and simply enjoy the fight....
I think if anyone can find/ test Jones' chin it will be Machida.
Whats up with the novels guys? I cant believe over 10 people actually read to the point where they posted a comment. Machida's game plan will be the same as it always is. He will back up and counter then he will run. Jones will use the same strategy Shogun did both times he beat Machida. Unfortunately for Machida he's not fighting Shogun. Jones TKO 4th round
Simple and ONLY formula for Machida to stop Jones.
1. Sneak gun into cage.
2. Shoot both Jone's arms and legs, so he falls to the mat.
3. Hammerfists to head until ref stops it.
4. Win by TKO
Otherwise Machida is screwed.