The Doggy Bag: One Special Rematch
The Doggy Bag
May 4, 2010
Everyone answers to somebody, so we, the staff at Sherdog.com, have
decided to defer to our readers.
“The Doggy Bag” gives you the opportunity to speak about what’s on your mind from time to time.
Our reporters, columnists, radio hosts, and editors will chime in
with our answers and thoughts, so keep the emails coming.
This week, readers weigh in on next weekend’s Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua rematch at UFC 113, Sherdog.com’s updated rankings, the brawl on CBS and the upcoming UFC Undisputed 2010 video game title.
Who do you have in the Machida-Shogun rematch? Normally in MMA, rematches are pretty obvious: the first fight was a fluke, or by the time the second fight happens, one guy has really improved and is obviously better than the other one. I don't think either of those situations describe this fight. I had the first for Shogun, and favor him again here. You?
-- Jason from Tempe
Jordan Breen, FightFinder Czar: First, let me say that I think you articulate the fundamental failure with most MMA rematches. In the idiom of boxing, most immediate rematches tend to happen because a fight was fantastic, and promoters want to squeeze it for every cent. In MMA, rematches tend to either happen because someone tipped over the apple cart and promoter wants to correct it (St. Pierre-Serra 2, or now Penn-Edgar 2) or because the obvious direction for a fighter is unclear and their fight history makes it palatable (Liddell-Ortiz 3 before it fell apart, and the general public being hip to Nogueira-Cro Cop 2). This is neither of those. This was simply two elite, well-matched fighters whose controversial and entertaining first bout necessitated a rematch, which is infinitely more interesting.
Partly for this reason, I find it hard to size up. On top of that, I don't know that Rua can fight any better than he did in the first fight. The gameplan crafted by he and Andre Amado -- to limit Lyoto's counter opportunities by not using his hands, focusing instead on kicks, and capitalizing on Machida slowing down -- was a master stroke of strategy. However, if Rua goes out, and does the exact same thing, will it be as successful? It's difficult to say.
Furthermore, we've yet to see Machida go back to the drawing board. Since Machida really perfected his style around, say 2007, he hasn't had to fight in any different way. Everything he has done has worked and led him to success. If Shogun tries to limit good countering opportunities, stalls Lyoto out, and kicks his legs, can he show us a new look -- whether it means being more aggressive with his hands or otherwise -- that will make him look more effective in the second fight? Again, we've got no precedent with Machida to forecast that.
At this point, I am most interested -- and frankly, wishing -- in whether we get to see the ground game. I think with underrated clinch takedowns, and great punches and elbows on top, Machida could really do damage and tire Shogun out instead of fighting a more measured pace on the feet which doesn't exploit Rua's historically iffy cardio. At the same time, though everyone loves him for his striking, Shogun's best asset is what a slick sweep-and-submit threat he is on the ground. I think a ground battle offers both guys interesting chances for offense, and would be able to produce more direct action than we saw out of the first fight.
For what it's worth, I had the first fight a 48-47 Rua win on my first watch, and a 48-48 draw on multiple rewatches, with a 10-10 second round. I do favor Machida slightly, because of the fact that Shogun perhaps has little way to change his attack in the second bout. However, it's my favorite rematch I can recall in quite some time, and we can only hope that future rematches in MMA adhere to such a standard.
“The Doggy Bag” gives you the opportunity to speak about what’s on your mind from time to time.
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This week, readers weigh in on next weekend’s Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua rematch at UFC 113, Sherdog.com’s updated rankings, the brawl on CBS and the upcoming UFC Undisputed 2010 video game title.
Who do you have in the Machida-Shogun rematch? Normally in MMA, rematches are pretty obvious: the first fight was a fluke, or by the time the second fight happens, one guy has really improved and is obviously better than the other one. I don't think either of those situations describe this fight. I had the first for Shogun, and favor him again here. You?
-- Jason from Tempe
Jordan Breen, FightFinder Czar: First, let me say that I think you articulate the fundamental failure with most MMA rematches. In the idiom of boxing, most immediate rematches tend to happen because a fight was fantastic, and promoters want to squeeze it for every cent. In MMA, rematches tend to either happen because someone tipped over the apple cart and promoter wants to correct it (St. Pierre-Serra 2, or now Penn-Edgar 2) or because the obvious direction for a fighter is unclear and their fight history makes it palatable (Liddell-Ortiz 3 before it fell apart, and the general public being hip to Nogueira-Cro Cop 2). This is neither of those. This was simply two elite, well-matched fighters whose controversial and entertaining first bout necessitated a rematch, which is infinitely more interesting.
Partly for this reason, I find it hard to size up. On top of that, I don't know that Rua can fight any better than he did in the first fight. The gameplan crafted by he and Andre Amado -- to limit Lyoto's counter opportunities by not using his hands, focusing instead on kicks, and capitalizing on Machida slowing down -- was a master stroke of strategy. However, if Rua goes out, and does the exact same thing, will it be as successful? It's difficult to say.
Furthermore, we've yet to see Machida go back to the drawing board. Since Machida really perfected his style around, say 2007, he hasn't had to fight in any different way. Everything he has done has worked and led him to success. If Shogun tries to limit good countering opportunities, stalls Lyoto out, and kicks his legs, can he show us a new look -- whether it means being more aggressive with his hands or otherwise -- that will make him look more effective in the second fight? Again, we've got no precedent with Machida to forecast that.
At this point, I am most interested -- and frankly, wishing -- in whether we get to see the ground game. I think with underrated clinch takedowns, and great punches and elbows on top, Machida could really do damage and tire Shogun out instead of fighting a more measured pace on the feet which doesn't exploit Rua's historically iffy cardio. At the same time, though everyone loves him for his striking, Shogun's best asset is what a slick sweep-and-submit threat he is on the ground. I think a ground battle offers both guys interesting chances for offense, and would be able to produce more direct action than we saw out of the first fight.
For what it's worth, I had the first fight a 48-47 Rua win on my first watch, and a 48-48 draw on multiple rewatches, with a 10-10 second round. I do favor Machida slightly, because of the fact that Shogun perhaps has little way to change his attack in the second bout. However, it's my favorite rematch I can recall in quite some time, and we can only hope that future rematches in MMA adhere to such a standard.
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