Tito Ortiz Versus Lyoto Machida
Our very first pick for UFC 84 is the Tito Ortiz, Lyoto Machida fight. Tito, the bad boy who burst on the scene with ground and pound like few before him is to face Lyoto Machida, a fighter with tons of heart and skill to match.
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Tito Ortiz is where ‘Ground and Pound’ began. When he came onto the scene about 6 years ago, he was a machine. He was defeating names like Evan Tanner, Wanderlei Silva, and many other greats. His cardio was supreme and he seemed never to tire. His defense was awesome and once he got a fighter to the ground, the fight was soon over.
Lyoto Machida is undefeated. He has taken on and beat big names like Rich Franklin, Stephan Bonnar, BJ Penn, and Rameau Sokoudjo with an array of methods (TKO, TKO, Decision, Submission, respectively). Machida has excellent, strong striking with both his hands and feet and can round that out with solid jiu-jitsu.
FIGHT ANALYSIS: Tito Ortiz has lost 3 of his last few fights and leaves many UFC fans a bit underwhelmed. However, he lost only to quality fighters such as Chuck Liddell (2 times) and Randy Couture (once). Machida has dominated fights many expected him to lose and has become a fighter that many love to watch. He has a lot of heart and a wide skillset. This fight will see Machida taking an active role in striking and Tito looking to find a way in to take down the undefeated Machida. Machida, though, will squash those attempts by Tito and get him continuously back on his feet. Machida has good takedown defense and better than average jui-jitsu, look for him to use his defense to keep the fight standing where Tito will eventually lose. In the end… MACHIDA BY TKO.
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tony (May 14, 2008 @ 6:18 am)
Have you heard how Tito is pissed off at the UFC now? He says that Dana White is only out for the money now (yeah, no shit Sherlock) and the UFC cares nothing for it’s fighters. This is his last fight… Will he do what Kalib Starnes did in his last fight, making UFC fighting look like a damn joke?? Or will he explode and make his last fight one to remember?
Well, a lot of people say that Tito is Hollywood-afide with his role on The Apprentice.. But he is still a fighter. He is a tough son-of-a-bitch when he wants to be, but that is just it - does he want to be?
I don’t quite know yet, but I am rooting for TITO to ground and pound UFC’s next big fighter in this weight class to show Dana White ‘what’s up’!
admin (May 15, 2008 @ 6:03 am)
I heard all about that. I think Tito will actually be out to knock Machida’s head off (figuratively, because he will really be out to ground and pound him).
He has something to prove and has tried very hard to get high profile trainers to get him prepared for the matchup (some have declined even though he has offered some good money to be trained).
I think Tito will definitely put up a good fight, but Machida just has too much skill and will not allow himself to be taken to the ground that easily. It remains to be seen, but it will be a hell of a fight, regardless.
UFCMan (May 16, 2008 @ 10:18 am)
I am really on the fence about this one guys. Tito is training very hard from what I hear and he was one hell of a fighter in his prime. I think he is going to be in the best shape of his life and I am not sure Machida is quite ready for the Tito of old. I got Tito winning but partially because of the line on this
Frank (May 19, 2008 @ 12:09 pm)
I don’t know, man. Tito can be tough. I think he kicks Machida’s ass this time around - he’s one pissed off dude lately.
UFCRocks! (May 23, 2008 @ 1:25 pm)
Tito is going to whoop Machidas butt for sure. Count on it. The odds are in your favor if you bet that way too.
admin (May 24, 2008 @ 9:48 pm)
Well, we won money off this fight, but it wasn’t exactly as predicted. Tito looked pretty good, but Machida was just too much for him. Machida by unanimous decision.
Dylan (May 28, 2008 @ 2:53 pm)
OK.. tito has heavy hands, but he plans on striking the whole fight. Lyoto has been trained in an art of speed, thought and discipline. lyoto will be able to avoid most of titos punches and slip the quick ones through the cracks. ever seen a lyoto fight.. most of the time confusion sets in on the opponent and they are unable to do much.
markstraining.com (June 3, 2008 @ 7:01 am)
I think if we had seen Tito from a few years ago he would have won against Lyoto. He didnt seem to attack as much as he used to. When he nearly got the triangle at the end I thouyght the fight was over. Well done to Lyoto for getting out of that one.