"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair was dead on with this legendary quote. The UFC fight between the light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and Maricio Rua last night was one that the average, blood-and-guts MMA didn't want to see. It was a tactical fight of karate versus muy thai kickboxing, in the truest sense of the terms. Rua felt that he had found a weakness in Machida's defense and set out to change EVERYTHING he would normally do in a fight, save this one.
Rua is an aggressive fighter, to say the very least, he made his reputation on being the aggressor in Pride winning 9 fights overall; 3rd behind only Mirko Cro Cop and Wanderlai Silva. He IS NOT a counter-puncher. Lyoto Machida IS a counter-puncher. So Rua's game plan, while looking good on paper, didn't materialize in the Octagon. Counter-punching, by definition can't be used aggressively. Yes, Rua absolutely gave Machida the toughest fight of his life last night. Some Machida skeptics even have him winning the fight outright. I disagree completely.
Rue didn't fight to WIN; he fought to not get embarrassed in the same jelly-legged fashion that Rashad Evans did. He fought too tentatively for his own good. Yes, there were points where he attacked Machida and did some real damage. (Machida's ribs were a glowing fuchsia color by the end of the fight) And while some might disagree with the notion, the have to TAKE the belt from the champion, and clearly Rua didn't do enough to sway the judges to even a split decision, much less a draw!
There will certainly be a rematch between these two; Dana White has said as much in his post-fight presser. Who wants to take the over-under that "Shogun" reverts back into his old (and very successful) self? You can't beat a counter-puncher like Machida trying to be a counter-puncher yourself!
TO BE THE MAN, YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE MAN!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
