Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Carvalho Machida (born May 30, 1978) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial arts fighter. Son of a Japanese-Brazilian Shotokan Karate master Yoshizo Machida (町田 嘉三, Machida Yoshizō), Lyoto is a rising star in MMA, having secured victories over former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, Stephan Bonnar, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and current UFC lightweight chamption BJ Penn. He is currently ranked as the #4 light heavyweight fighter in the world by Sherdog.[1]
Machida is noted for his semi-orthodox fighting style. As a karate practitioner, Machida uses an unorthodox stance.[2]
Machida formerly fought out of Black House with such fighters as UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, and former PRIDE FC and former UFC Interim Heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Machida had a victory against Tito Ortiz at UFC 84 on May 24th, 2008.
Machida's last fight was a KO victory against Thiago Silva at UFC 94 on January 31st, 2009.
Biography
Lyoto Machida was born in the city of Salvador but soon moved to Belém which is his hometown. He is the third son of the Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida. Machida began training in karate at the age of three, earning his black-belt at the age of 13. He began training in Sumo at 12 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 15. He won a number of amateur karate tournaments, including 2001 Pan American Karate tournament.[3] He was also runner up in the 2000 Brazilian Sumo Championships in the 115 kg division. In addition to his Sumo and Karate achievements, he has a college degree in Physical Education. Lyoto's brother, Chinzo, is a Shotokan vice-champion (Australia 2006), losing only to #1 ranked Shotokan master Koji Ogata. Lyoto and Chinzo fought in a Karate Final 10 years ago in which Lyoto gave Chinzo a cheek scar that still exists today. His other brother, Kenzo Machida, is a TV journalist for one of Brazil's biggest TV stations.
In college he was introduced to Japanese pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki who took Machida to groom as a protégé. He would continue training, taking up Muay Thai in Thailand and wrestling at the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in Tokyo.
Wrestling legend Antonio Inoki noticed Machida early and took him under his wing, soon given the nickname "The Second Inoki" by the Japanese media. Inoki entered Machida in several of his promotions, including New Japan Pro Wrestling's Ultimate Crush card on May 2, 2003, where he defeated journeyman Pancrase fighter Kengo Watanabe. He made several appearances at other Inoki shows, including Jungle Fight 1 in Brazil, where he defeated eventual The Ultimate Fighter 1 runner-up Stephan Bonnar on September 13, 2003, and Inoki Bom-ba-ye 2003, where he defeated eventual UFC Middleweight champion Rich Franklin on New Year's Eve.
At 3-0, he began to fight in K-1's early MMA efforts, with wins against two high-ranked K-1 kickboxers, Michael McDonald and Sam Greco. His last match with the K-1 organization, at K-1 HERO'S 1, he defeated former UFC Welterweight champion and light weight champion B. J. Penn in a unanimous decision. In Karate, he was Brazilian Champion twice, and 2nd in South American Championship. He also defeated American black belt Jiu-Jitsu fighter, Rafael Lovato Jr. at the L.A. Sub X [4]
After splitting with Inoki early 2006 as Inoki's management business fell apart, Machida signed with a newly revitalized World Fighting Alliance and began to compete in the United States. In his American debut, Machida defeated Vernon White via unanimous decision at the at WFA: King of the Streets event in Inglewood, California on July 22, 2006. After the WFA went out of business for the second time, the UFC acquired Machida's contract.
UFC career
His first two fights in the UFC were against Sam Hoger at UFC 67 and David Heath at UFC 70. Both were victories by unanimous decision. His next fight was at UFC 76: Knockout against PRIDE veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura. He defeated Nakamura by unanimous decision.[5] He fought at UFC 79: Nemesis against former PRIDE FC fighter Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, winning via arm triangle choke.
He fought Tito Ortiz at UFC 84 on May 24, 2008.[6] Ortiz came painfully close to submitting Machida in the third round with a triangle choke before transitioning to an armbar.[7] However, Machida managed to escape and survived the round, winning a unanimous judge's decision.With all three judges scoring the fight 30-27 to Machida.[8]
He was originally scheduled to fight Thiago Silva at UFC 89 in Birmingham England, however a back injury sustained by Silva prevented this fight from taking place. [9]. The fight bout was rescheduled for UFC 94[10] He knocked out Silva at the last second in the first round, after dominating the entire fight. One of the two strikes delivered by Machida that knocked out Silva broke his right orbital and fractured his Maxilla.
Fighting style and reactions
Lyoto is well-known for using a variety of Shotokan Karate techniques in his fights. Lyoto used a karate leg sweep on B.J. Penn in the 2nd round of their fight. He uses a back kick in many fights (they can be seen in his bouts against Sam Greco and Sam Hoger). Frank Trigg once said that he got dropped twice in row by Lyoto's back kick in a sparring session they had.
Machida’s fight style has been described as “deliberate” and “methodical”—both as a compliment and out of disapproval.[11] Following his victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 84, he received admiration and criticism for his unconventional ways, widening the so-called “Machida Divide” among MMA fans. [12] Supporters defend his “elusive” ways as the genius of a sound technical fighter: “I think when Machida fights you really get to see which fans appreciate MMA as a sport, and which just like to watch for random violence.”[12]Detractors view his defensive approach as boring, which diminishes from the entertaining aspect of the sport: "Machida isn’t elusive, or impressive. Retreating literally the entire circumference of the ring isn’t a style it’s called running away.”[12]
Personal life
Machida is married to Fabyola.[13]The couple are expecting their first child.[14]
Mixed martial arts record
| 14 matches | 14 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| No contests | 0 | |
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Method | Round | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2009 | Win |  Thiago Silva
|
UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2 | KO (Punch) | 1 | 4:59 |  Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
|
| May 24, 2008 | Win | Tito Ortiz
|
UFC 84: Ill Will | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
|
| December 29, 2007 | Win |  Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
|
UFC 79: Nemesis | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | 2 | 4:18 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
|
| September 22, 2007 | Win |  Kazuhiro Nakamura
|
UFC 76: Knockout | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, USA
|
| April 21, 2007 | Win | David Heath
|
UFC 70: Nations Collide | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |  Manchester, England
|
| February 3, 2007 | Win | Sam Hoger
|
UFC 67: All or Nothing | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
|
| July 22, 2006 | Win | Vernon White
|
WFA: King of the Streets | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, USA
|
| April 29, 2006 | Win | Dimitri Wanderley
|
Jungle Fight 6 | TKO (Forfeit) | 3 | 0:40 | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
|
| March 26, 2005 | Win | B.J. Penn
|
K-1 HERO's 1 | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan
|
| May 22, 2004 | Win |  Sam Greco
|
K-1 MMA ROMANEX | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan
|
| March 14, 2004 | Win |  Michael McDonald
|
K-1 Beast 2004 | Submission (Forearm Choke) | 1 | 2:30 | Saitama, Japan
|
| December 31, 2003 | Win | Rich Franklin
|
Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003-Inoki Festival | TKO (Strikes) | 2 | 1:03 | Kobe, Japan
|
| September 13, 2003 | Win | Stephan Bonnar
|
Jungle Fight 1 | TKO (Cut) | 1 | 4:21 | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
|
| May 2, 2003 | Win | Kengo Watanabe
|
New Japan Pro Wrestling: Ultimate Crush | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan
|
References
- ^ Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
- ^ WFA - 07/21/2006
- ^ NJPW.com >> Fighters >> Lyoto Machida
- ^ UFC : Ultimate Fighting Championship
- ^ Bolduc, Justin (2007-08-03). "Nakamura to Make UFC Debut at UFC 76". Nokaut. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ "UFC 84 Results and live play-by-play". MmaWeekly.com. 2008-05-24. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ Sherdog.com (May 24, 2008). "UFC 84 'Ill Will' Play-by-Play". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ DeLorenzo, Brandt (2008-05-27). "Are Judges Favoring the Lyoto Machida Style?". MMAOpinion.com. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ http://intheguard.tv/site/1/newsNews.php?id=257
- ^ UFC® 94: ST-PIERRE VS. PENN 2
- ^ Machida ready to let his fists and feet do the talking
- ^ a b c The Machida Divide—Which Side Are You On?
- ^ And my wife, Fabyola, who cares for me everyday.
- ^ Now, as he and his wife expect their own child, he understands what his father was doing for him as he prepared him for competition and for life, with lessons which have been seared into his mind, body, and soul.