Shinzo Machida expects "The Dragon" to knockout Shogun Rua

I have to agree... Shogun won the last fight because of a great strategy that worked. Lyoto was not prepared for those leg-kicks. He's too disciplined though, he will have adapted for the rematch, and I expect that he'll change his strategy from the norm and be the aggressor instead of the counter-puncher (he was winning the few punching exchanges last time).

Yeah, the few times they did exchange it looked very similar to the swarms of punches that put Rashad to sleep. Against Shogun, however, he was less aggressive and really didn't seem to be trying to finish with those flurries. I see him going in for the kill for obvious reasons in this one.

shogun will have a deferent strategy 4 this fight knowing the one from last time it will definitely will be exciting to watch

If Lyoto becomes more agressive he isn't using his one of a kind stlye that makes him un hittable. I Think if he attacks more he is not fighting his style and will leave opening that he normally dosent give his oppenents. I think Rua will capitalize on those openings I'm picking Shogun in this one.

machida isnt the only 1 that can change strategy though...i can see shogun doing his best to play counter puncher...we have never seen machida do anything other then counter-punch so if shogun got machida to attach him....what would happen???

I think though, that leg-kicks were the only hole in Machida's game. And, it's so extremely unlikely that Lyoto has not been working on it, every day since the day after their fight probably.



Rua can switch his strategy... But Lyoto's weakness was his stance versus leg-kicks. He'll have fixed that, I don't know what else Rua could try.

what are you talking about? that is the same strategy that shogun used in the last fight, go look up what he said his game plan was. shogun had said that he was going to force Machida to be the aggresive fighter and counter strike him.



which is how the entire fight pretty much went Machida throws a body/head shot Rua counters with a kick.

I think shogun did that well because machida was actually more aggressive and his defensive technique was sloppier. Machida was spooked from people saying he was too defensive and "boring" and got out of character by attacking alot more which opened him up to things he doesn't normally get hit by.



There's no way you can fight a muay thai fighter and NOT expect leg kicks? I think that was just an excuse, but i actually think the decision was right

shogun's gonna slay this so called DRAGON...

shogun's gonna be champ, i know he doesn't want it goin to the judges this time. In this fight, someone is gonna get finished..

im so fed up of people acting like machida is like this bruce lee movie character, just cause his name is the dragon doesnt mean he's entering one....... go watch the friggin fights he's had, with rashad there were several wild punches thrown from both machida connected, yes he leaps in and out and attacks, but that wont work on shogun, if shogun of old is there that night, forget it, he's taking the belt home I guarantee it. he wont be trying to outpoint him either tihs time, i hope anyway, and TITO ORTIZ almost triangled machida, do you not think shogun can work it if he takes him down? and dont say it'll never happen... good luck shogun, i want a FIGHTER to be champion, not a KARATE FIGHTER to be champion. shogun finishes fights, by attacking, machida finishes fights by defending.

Well that is not how I saw it, when Machida came in with his flurries he missed most of the shots and only landed a few light punches then Shogun would counter hard forcing Machida to step back. The way I saw it Shogun won almost every striking exchange.



Personally I think you are right that Machida will come in very aggressive this time as his pride was hurt by everyone saying he lost etc, but I believe that is also the reason Shogun will knock him out.

i really want to see machida lose because i know it will hurt his pride and he will probably turn on the spider to prove hes the best. lol

if machida loses i see silva challenging shogun straight away for the lhw belt and winning!!!

lol yea, i'm so glad there are no more anonymous names right now so we can see if MAchida has been undefeatd this long while being THAT dumb.



So many people were hugging machida nuts before that fight and now he has so many haters. Machida got basically all the headshots with his punches and a couple of times it looked like he had shogun in trouble, shogun scored legkicks as everyone knows

machida cant knock out shogun, as machida will change his strategy shogun will..........i think shogun will enter with more aggression and try to take machida to the ground cz machida cant be knocked out either.

I agree, I think both fighters will come in more aggressive and I just don't think its a good idea for Machida to stand toe to toe with Shogun.

Its obvious there is only one strategy that works against Machida and Shogun tried it before. If shogun comes up more aggressive he will get knocked out. Machida is waiting for it.

Being aggressive would be the surest way for Shogun to get put to sleep. If you can say that about any fighter in MMA, it's gotta be Lyoto. Lyoto's style, his karate (he's a big Bruce Lee), just destroys people who try to push the fight. Rua won last time because he didn't press the action, he staid outside landing leg-kicks.



If Lyoto has adapted, and can check those kicks, I don't know what Rua is going to do.

You guys have to realize that if shogun gets more aggressive he'll be playing into Machidas comfort zone. and will end up being cought with something.

exactly

i beleive shogun has more k.o power than machida,so i don't see that happening.

i wonder why hes not training muay thai

this time i agree with your coment bro Shogun won last fight.Some still saying watch the fight without sound.This got nothing to do with sound is all been countted after the figt Shogun scored dublle more punches and leg kicks

Look at how scoring works, then you'll understand why Machida won. I'm not saying that the scoring system is perfect cuz its def not, but according to scoring system MAchida won the fight. And I hate to say it but, when you fight a champion, you cant leave the fight that close becuz all eyes are on the champion and judges seem to lean towards them.

honestly people need to realize that machida had done more damage to shogun. yes shogun delivered more hits mostly, leg kicks, but machida actually rocked shogun once or twice. thats why he won he did more overall damage to shogun. im sorry but leg kicks dont knock out opponents.

Unless you're rampage.

i love these little articles....where people just say ya he is right (shinzo machida)...





do you honestly think he would said otherwise even if he believed that lyoto has no chance?

Thats what i was thinking what would you expect Machida's brother to say "Oh yeah Lyoto is going to KTFO go Shogun".

this might be true but he did rock shogun a couple of times in his last fight.

which fight were you watching? neither fighter ever got rocked

Personally I'de be pissed if my dad said I was going to lose lmao.

oops meant brother dohh!

Shogun gonna knock Machida out, if Machida comes out too aggresive hes gonna leave himself for Shogun to beat him

Shogun... new LHW Champion!!! I cant wait to see Machida get beat!

I seriously doubt it! I think it will be Rua KOing MAchida!

This fight is probaly going to be the most debated fight on Lowkick all year leading up to the fight. The only Fight i could see be debated more is who will win the Ruber match between Lesnar v Mir.

I read a few of the above comments. Some good and fair points made and people who say Machida won the last fight under the scoring system, I respect your opinion. There must be some reasoning aspects of the game and system that not all of us see. In my opinion though I can't see how Shogun lost the first fight and that decision really tarnished what was a fight at a level of skill I'd never seen from 2 fighters in the same fight before, a fight I truly enjoyed.

I was gutted but I thought 'well I could be wrong, I was supporting Shogun, maybe I was biased'. So I watched the fight again and again , the last time making myself biased toward Machida giving him maximum credit for every strike landed. Even then I still had Shogun a comfortable 3 rounds to 2. The main things Machida had were those crushing body knees and a few good head shots but I disagree that he had Shogun in trouble at all. Shogun showed very little reaction to the knees, backpedalled a bit from a couple of Machida's flurries but was hardly in trouble and in one exchange he countered with the better shots of the exchange.

Some of you have written off the low kicks saying they don't count for much and even that they don't affect a fighter like Machida much. Well when they are clearly causing pain for Machida, he was fearing the thigh kick and was hurting as they set in and his corner we're worried too.

Few of you mentioned the Vicious many body kicks that landed which also clearly caused damage and discomfort to Machida. Machida neither ever looked in danger of losing the fight but when the fight is so technical it comes down to points such as these written to determine the winner. Shogun landed strikes more in number and in effectiveness. Machida was more hurt. Big factor.

So I felt so bad for Shogun when they announced the verdict. He was a real man about it in what must've been a soul destroying moment.

As for the rematch. I really want Shogun to get what I believe is his but we're discussing fighters who bring skills and strategy beyond my knowledge and understanding. I know Machida will be different and Shogun will alter his strategy based on how they expect Machida to fight. What those strategies are are anyone's guess. I don't claim to have any idea, as is the outcome of the fight. So I'm gonna say what not many can ever admit on this website and that's I don't know. I haven't a f'kin clue.

dude, shogun was crying when the camera's went back to his lockeroom after the fight dat shit hurt him for sure, he knew he won that machida knew he won it,dana white knew hw won it. after cheating the man like that he's gonna be looking for a k'o or sub. i can bet u that this fight ain't going to the judges

RUA FOUND THE WEAKNESS, AND WILL START WHERE HE LEFT OFF.

KICK, KICK AND KICK, PAIN, PAIN AND MORE PAIN.

HOW CAN MACHIDA DEFEND AGAINST IT?

WITHOUT HIS BOUNCING ABOUT IN AND OUT STYLE HE IS AN EASY TARGET, HIS ATTACK CANT HAPPEN, THIS TIME RUA WILL KO MACHIDA.