UFC 129: Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida, an Early Breakdown

With a stacked card for UFC 129 next month, some fans might overlook the big bout between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture in the undercard.

As the two fighters meet for the first time in Toronto, they are on two different paths when you look over their recent fights.

For Couture, the former two-time champion is definitely on a hot streak. He's riding a three-bout winning streak after dropping two straight to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102 and Brock Lesnar at UFC 91, respectively.

Since defending his Light Heavyweight title against Mauricio Rua at UFC 104, Machida has lost two straight. He lost the title to current champion Rua and followed that up with a split-decision loss to Quinton Jackson at UFC 123 last November.

With the fighters ready to make a statement in the upcoming fight, let's get to the breakdown of the two light heavyweights who will attempt to steal the show on April 30th at Rogers Centre.

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Background of Randy Couture

Birthdate: June 22, 1963

Nationality: American

MMA Career: 1997-Present

Nickname(s): The Natural

Fighting Out Of: Las Vegas, Nevada

Team(s): Xtreme Couture

Background of Lyoto Machida

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL- MAY 8: Lyoto Machida (R) fights Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua in their light heavyweight bout at UFC 113 at Bell Centre on May 8, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Birthdate: May 30, 1978

Nationality: Brazilian

MMA Career: 2003-Present

Nickname(s): The Dragon

Fighting Out Of: Belém, Brazil

Team(s): Black House

Height

Couture: 6'1

Machida: 6'1

Edge: Push. With both fighters coming in at the same height, this category will not give either person an edge during the fight at UFC 129.

Reach

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

PHOENIX - AUGUST 13: Randy Couture watches the Strikeforce Challengers Main Card bout at Dodge Theater on August 13, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Couture: 75 Inches

Machida: 74 Inches

Edge: Couture. With a single inch of reach advantage, Couture will have the edge in this category, but it might not be something that would sway the fight toward the Natural over the Dragon.

Fighting Style

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida (R) battles with UFC Light Heavyweight challenger Mauricio Rua (L) during their title fight at UFC 104 at Staples Center on October 24, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by

Couture: 

• Greco-Roman Wrestling
• Boxing
• Submission wrestling
• Catch Wrestling

Machida: 

• Machida Karate
• Shotokan Karate
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Overall Record

Couture: 19-10

Results via Knockout: Seven Wins, Five Loss

Results via Submission: Four Wins, Four Loss

Results via Decision: Eight Wins, One Loss
 

Machida: 16-2

Results via Knockout: Five Wins, One Loss

Results via Submission: Two Wins

Results via Decision: Nine Wins, One Loss

Last Five Fights

Couture: 3-2

Machida: 3-2

Career Accomplishments

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 28: UFC heavyweight fighter Randy Couture weighs in at the UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira Weigh-In at the Rose Garden Arena on August 28, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Couture

UFC Hall of Famer

Three Time UFC Heavyweight Champion

Two Time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament Winner

First Fighter to Win Championships in Two Separate Weight Classes
 

Machida

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Prediction

With the two fighters being at a near stalemate when you look at the tale of the tape, the intelligence and experience of Couture has to give him the edge in the fight, with Machida including the ground game that has made a legend of the former multiple-time Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion.

When it's all over, Randy Couture will defeat Lyoto Machida via unanimous decision at UFC 129.