Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida: The Machida Edition

May 23rd is going to be a big day of MMA action.  Not only will the best 170 pound fighter in the history of the sport be in action, in what could be his last fight, but we also have a super fight between Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida. 

In a recent post that can be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/167171-rashad-evans-vs-lyoto-machida-the-evans-edition, I put together a winning game plan that the champ would have to use to get a win and retain the title.

This time around it is The Dragon's turn.  During his UFC career, Machida has become an Internet sensation.  Not in the sense that Kimbo did, but in the way of generating an abnormal amount of hype.  In a way that no other fighter in the UFC had ever done, the back-peddling counter puncher became a fan favorite almost over night.  He is a one of a kind Karate ace that will be ready to show the champ that he is ready for UFC gold.

If Lyoto is going to be victorious at UFC 98, he will have to stay in control of this fight.  He will need to stay true to the game plan that got him to this point.  That is to use his quickness creating angles and openings to attack Rashad.  Force Rashad to get aggravated.  Make him drop his hands and make bad shot attempts.  We all know that Evans likes to dance, what will he do once he gets mad because he can't hit his target?  If Machida keeps this fight standing and has great head movement, he will win this fight.

Greg Jackson is one of the best in the world at helping his fighters prepare for a fight.  You can bet that he will do it again in this one, but if Rashad can't follow a strict game plan then he will lose.  Although Machida is either loved or hated, and has a rep as being yet another boring and unmarketbale fighter, he very well be known as champ later this month.