Lyoto Machida Future UFC Champion
UFC 94 Could Decide the Number One Light Heavyweight Contender
UFC 94 is advertised as BJ Penn vs. George St. Pierre, but anybody who enjoys the thoroughbred light heavyweight division will be watching the fight between Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva.
Both Silva and Machida are the last top light heavyweights with undefeated records (both 13-0), which could place the winner next in line to fight Rashad Evans – UFC light heavyweight champ. Most critics of MMA favor Machida in the fight.
Road to Becoming a Top Contender
It has been a long and hard fought road for Lyoto Machida. The Japanese Brazilian with a karate background – to which many attribute his elusive style – has defeated some of the best names in mixed martial arts including:
- Tito Ortiz – by unanimous decision.
- Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou – by triangle choke in the second round.
- B.J. Penn – by unanimous decision.
- Rich Franklin – TKO by punches in the second round.
- Stephan Bonner – TKO cut stoppage in the first round.
Not the #1 Contender Yet
According to Bloody Elbow’s January MMA Light Heavyweight Meta-Rankings, “a compilation of the rankings of over twenty leading MMA web sites,” Machida is ranked fourth…the other fighters include, from first to fifth:
- Rashad Evans
- Quinton Jackson
- Forest Griffin
- Lyoto Machida
- Chuck Liddell
The Light Heavyweight Division is Murky
According to those Meta-Rankings, Quinton Jackson should be the top contender. Unfortunately, the Light Heavyweight Division is a tangled mess, with a myriad of superstar fighters who have fought and lost to each other. Furthermore, it is far from clear who Dana White (President of the UFC) will ordain as the number one contender for Rashad Evans – even if Machida wins against Thiago Silva.
Unfortunately, ratings and money play a large factor in the methods Dana White uses to choose the pecking order in the UFC. Brock Lesnar stands as a testament to that fact with his recent ascension to Heavyweight Champion with a record of 3-1. White could easily choose a more exciting, popular, or recognizable fighter than Machida; Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson fits the bill in that category.
Who Is Likely to Fight Rashad Evans Besides Machida?
Obviously Forest Griffin, Quintoin Jackson, and Chuck Liddell have shots, but could realistically be Evans next opponent. Forest Griffin recently broke his hand and Chuck Liddell has lost three of his last four fights; therefore, Quinton Jackson seems to be the only viable fighter likely to fight Rashad Evans at the moment.
Grudge matches, like boxing, play a huge roll in the UFC. The prospect of a rematch between Quinton Jackson and Forest Griffin has been floated, this could pull Quinton from an immediate title shot.
Machida Must Beat Thiago Silva
Of course, all speculations about Machida’s placement and prospect as the number one contender are moot if he cannot defeat Thiago Silva at UFC 94. Win or lose, the tale of the tape between Machida and Silva is an intriguing one.
Where Machida prefers to float like a butterfly, Silva would rather sting like a bee. In this fight Silva’s furious, ultra-aggressive style should play to Machida’s advantage as an evasive and surgical striker. Machida is known for leaving furious strikers such as Silva baffled and exasperated by the end of the fight.
Add exhaustion to exasperation and Silva is fighting an uphill battle. Eight of Silva’s last nine fights have ended in the first round – he is known for poor stamina – and he has only gone the distance once in his entire career. How will this translate against Machida, who has gone the distance in six of his last eight fights?
Despite Machida’s advantages on paper, Silva’s raw power could end the fight at any giving moment. Nevertheless, Dana White did not call Machida, in a Tatame interview, “Anderson Silva’s successor” for no reason.
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