For all on-going and post-fight reactions to the UFC 123: Rampage-Machida card. Keep everything in this thread.

Jack

Administrator

I'd like to see Rampage win...but I doubt it...

Unless Machida's not over that Shogun beating and is off his game...because Rampage still has the power to knock him out.

Same here.

If the UFC version of Rampage shows up tonight, he will lose to Machida by boring-ass decision. And I am using the first conditional intentionally here, because I fully believe this is what will happen. Rampage has been a plodding, one dimensional fighter for the most part since his arrival to the UFC, and I don't see that changing here.

If the Pride version of Rampage were fighting Machida tonight, he would win the fight. I'm using the second conditional here, as, again, I believe this to be an unlikely scenario.

Machida is a tactical fighter, a counter puncher who likes to react to his opponent. Fighters looking to play his game will get finished or get outpointed. The key to these types of fighters are to blitz them with hyper aggression. Don't give them a chance to think, but force them to simply react instead. More times than not, they won't react well. See Shogun/Machida II for example.

The Pride version of Rampage was tailor-made for Machida. If he comes in swinging to set up takedown slams, and I mean vintage Rampage slams, he'd hurt Machida to the body and finish him within two. But I don't see that happening.


The real question mark tonight is Penn/Hughes III. I can't wait to see that one, as I don't have a clue as to what will happen. Though, talent-wise, Penn should pull it off. But its Penn, and you never know.

Just read that Rampage's ring entrance music tonight will be the Pride theme. Hmm... should I change my pick now?

Brian Foster just choked out Matt "The Immortal" Brown. Why would an immortal feel the need to tap to a choke?

Well, Rampage claims he's bringing back Rampage from the Pride days. But I'm not buying it. I certainly hope so though. I like Rampage and can't stand Machida, and would love nothing better than to see Lyoto get power-bombed to hell.

We'll see though.

George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon coming up.

Very entertaining first round. Impossible to call. Lauzon looked good early and very late, Sotiropoulos looked good in between.

Lauzon shot his load in the first. Sotiropoulos finishes him with a Kimura in the second.

Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch up next.

Wow. That GSP-Koscheck promo was officially the gayest thing I've ever seen. Ever.

I miss Pride.

Man, Phil Davis coming out in pink tights every goddamn fight is starting to look really suspect.

Davis wins by 2nd round kimura. What a gay fight up until that point.

You are not the only one who misses PRIDE. I was lucky enough to have experienced the Golden Years and nothing the UFC has done so far can equal the magnitude of a PRIDE event. They still put on the best fights out there but there's something about the crowds, the commentators and their ads that just doesn't sit well with me.

By the way, do you think Hughes tries to take the fight to the ground or does he make it a stand-up fight against Penn?

Rip Hamilton in the audience tonight. Didn't recognize him without his predator face guard he usually wears.

Exactly. I got hooked on Pride when I was living in Japan. There just hasn't been anything like it since.


I actually think Hughes will keep it standing early on, but eventually he'll look to get it on the ground. He can't out-strike BJ.

Are you going to watch the Martinez-Williams fight or are you going to stay here covering the UFC event?

Gerald Harris vs. Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves coming up.

Guess I'll stay here with this. What about you?

Man, you're choosing MMA over a potential FOTY? What are they giving you to drink over in China?

Since there's no one to discuss the boxing bout in chat tonight, then I will be dropping by here to check your RBR.

Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves being set up to look spectacular tonight in his UFC debut. Can he pull it off?

Haha, yeah. Sorry, I love boxing, but I'm an MMA junkie. I'll check Martinez-Williams out on replay.

2 minutes in, no punches landed.

One's as good as the other.

Is Goncalves the master grappler?

Wow. Shades of Haye/Harrison here.

Finally Goncalves explodes.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW! Harris was SAVED by the bell!!!! Goncalves had a DEEP choke.



Naa, Goncalves trains with Chute Boxe, so you know he loves the striking game. 21 wins by KO/TKO.

Harris getting WORKED in round 2.

Both fighters sucking wind. Goncalves takes the first 2 rounds, but he's slowing down.

3rd round looking like the 1st. 0 punches landed through 3 minutes.

I wanna heat up some pizza in the microwave, but I'm afraid someone will throw a punch while I'm gone. Guess I'll wait the final excruciating 2 minutes.

I'll give Harris the 3rd due to his failed takedown attempt. 0 punches landed in this round. Fans booing louder than I remember in a long time.

Goncalves should take the decision.

Goncalves takes it.

Penn/Hughes III up next!

Hope Penn doesn't just stand there trying to counter punch, waiting for the perfect punch.

BJ looking much more intense for this fight than the Edgar fight, where he looked like he was about to cry.

Hughes looking like his same old goofy self, clapping as his own name is called.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All done!

BJ finishes Hughes in the 1st minute!

Crowd chanting "BJ!"

Both guys classy.

This is the BJ Penn conundrum. When he's on, he is ON, and you think, wow, who can beat this guy? And when he's off, he's OFF! Today he was on. And the conundrum lives on.

Well...

He didn't. He went right after Hughes, right from the beginning. He was head hunting, landed some good shots early (early!) and then finished Hughes in 21 seconds. Brilliant performance by Penn.

Rampage/Machida up next! Can they live up to Penn/Hughes III? I some cats hate quick finishes. I love it. Long wars, quick finishes, whatever, it doesn't matter. As long as the fighters are fighting I'm a happy camper.

Can Jackson take Machida down? Jackson seemed very listless against Evans and Forrest owned him with leg kicks, so I shudder to think what will happen if he shows up out of shape against Machida.

He's doing it ! Rampage coming out to the PRIDE theme!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good round for both fighters. Machida landed some leg kicks and good knees. Rampage was aggressive, landing some good punches, foot stomps, and punches to the leg. Close first round. Rampage needs to be more aggressive, and go for a goddamn slam.

Another good round, another close one. Rampage landed some good punches, an uppercut, and got the takedown. Machida more technical with the knees. I would hate to be a judge in this fight.

Rampage got hurt, fired back, they're on the ground now. Rampage has to get back up or this is it.

Machida went for the arm-bar, Rampage picked up to slam him, Machida jumped out, and the round ended. Machida takes round 3. Who took the first 2?

The 3rd was the only definitive round. Damn, I wish this had been 5 rounds.

Rampage wins the split decision. Not a robbery, by any stretch. First 2 rounds were close, and Rampage was the aggressor.

Machida has no room to cry, after the 1st Shogun fight.

Rampage pretty classy in victory, says he got his ass whooped, and wants to give Lyoto a rematch.