Shogun Intends to be Patient with Lyoto Machida at UFC 104

Published on: 17th July, 2009

Shogun Intends to be Patient with Lyoto Machida at UFC 104 | read this item

Lyoto Machida is currently on top of the UFC Light Heavyweight division as the champion and will have his first defense of his title against former PRIDE superstar Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 104 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on October 24. However, Rua has given his insight on what might be the key factor to facing ‘The Dragon’ which is patience which for some reason fighters have not used in Machida’s last couple of fights inside the Octagon.

While backstage at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for UFC 100, Shogun spoke with MMAWeekly.com and he was asked about the differences of now being in five minute rounds in the UFC then being apart of a ten minute round while he was with PRIDE.

“I get very happy with that, because when you get to the first five-rounder of your career, it means you’re fighting for the belt,” he told MMAWeekly.com backstage at UFC 100. “I take it as a great thing. I always wanted to train for five rounds.”

Shogun was granted the opportunity to compete for the Light Heavyweight title when he defeated longtime former champ Chuck Liddell at UFC 97 in April with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson passing up the title fight to settle the score with Rashad Evans via The Ultimate Fighter season 10, but Rua also mentions that other competitors have forgotten to be patient when being in the cage with Lyoto Machida.

That and also the right timing to make a move to fight back in the process.

“Most of the guys that fought Lyoto… found a problem with patience, with finding the right moment to attack, or to counter-strike him,” he said. “Some guys try to rush it too much; some guys try to stay too patient, (and) they start to get nervous because of that.”

“I think the key is the timing of the fight, to get the feeling of when to engage and when to counter-strike him. This is likely the key, to find the pace and the rhythm, mostly the timing of the strikes to be able to connect and to make it a fight. For sure, I’m going to concentrate on that and develop a good strategy.”

While there is likely nobody giving Shogun a chance against Machida I for one am giving him a slight possibility that he can pull off the upset only because he has trained with Machida at one point and will definitely be looking at where others have failed in order for him to succeed as he was also the underdog coming in to face Liddell at UFC 97 and began to show some signs of his old form where he was at one point the top 205 pound fighter in the world. Thoughts?

Nelson Rodriguez AKA: Nelo2.0 is the Co - Owner of URDirt.com who is also an Editor and Author on the site. Read more from this author

Readers Comments

Narcisist says:

July 17, 2009 at 8:38 am Narcisist(Quote)

“Most of the guys that fought Lyoto… found a problem with patience, with finding the right moment to attack, or to counter-strike him,” he said. “Some guys try to rush it too much; some guys try to stay too patient, (and) they start to get nervous because of that.”

I read an article from one of the guys over at BloodyElbow.com right after Machida beat Rashad at UFC 98. The article was about how the person who will beat Machida needs to be a excellents Striker with good head movement and the ability to make Machida miss.

I don’t agree that a fighter needs to be patient with Machida and stay on the outside, I also agree that who ever wants to take his title needs to be someone fast and athletic. They need good Boxing skills and a way to get in close to actually hit him.

Thiago Silva tried to beat Machida by rushing in with his hands down and big defensive holes in his game. As we have seen that strategy ended bad. Rashad Evans possesed all the tools to beat Machida, but never attempted a takedown to keep him honest or to make him worry about the possiblity of being taken down.

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- Harry sack says:
  
  July 17, 2009 at 9:22 am Harry sack(Quote)
  
  @Narcisist, IMO he hasn’t shown a single strategy that works Tito tried takedowns and got Pwned, Thiago ran in got KTFO and Rashad tried stating on the outside and got KTFO
  
  No one knows how to beat this guy Shogun is good, but he’s not the guy to finish Machidas run
  
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Gogo-13 says:

July 17, 2009 at 9:14 am Gogo-13(Quote)

Shoguns fighting a up hill battle he’s gonna need more the patience to beat Machida he’s gonna need a prayer

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Hellbow says:

July 17, 2009 at 9:15 am Hellbow(Quote)

I know Shogun can pull this one off he got the skills to finish Machida but it’s gonna be hard to hit him WAR SHOGUN!!!!

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Vascular says:

July 17, 2009 at 11:58 am Vascular(Quote)

I agree with narcisist, You have be quick on your feet and be able to smother machida on the inside.
Take the first punch to get inside and then take him down.

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- Marcus says:
  
  July 17, 2009 at 8:08 pm Marcus(Quote)
  
  @Vascular, only a Karate guy or really good Boxer can pull that one off or a wrestler with really good hands and he has to be fast and on the point or he is gonna see Machida step back and hit him hard
  
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c.z says:

July 17, 2009 at 2:46 pm c.z(Quote)

gonna be really awesome fight, or really boring!

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