UFC 129 Fight Card Prediction: Lyoto Machida Beats Randy Couture by KO

With 10 more days remaining until UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields, there are still many questions that will only be answered come fight night.

As the Canadian MMA superstar, Georges St-Pierre prepares to defend his title in Toronto against top contender, Jake Shields, another MMA superstar suits up once again to take on the former champion, now desperate, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.

Randy Couture, also known as, “Captain America” at 47 years of age is showing once again that he has at least one more fight left in him. Will it be enough to stop a very hungry Machida from proving to the world that he too has at least one more fight?

After accomplishing all that a mixed martial artist could possibly hope to achieve and more, Couture is a living legend of the sport and always comes to win.

Lyoto Machida went undefeated in his career until his rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in 2010, then lost a very close split decision to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

With the UFC’s unofficial “three-loss rule”, there is no doubt that Machida must win this fight to stay in the UFC and he must win in a dominant fashion to keep his fans and get back in the mix for a future title shot.

Couture’s style in the cage is no secret; then again, neither is Machida’s. Both fighters know what the other wants to do to them. So, the game now becomes a matter of who can execute their strategy first.

Couture will look to take Machida down or tire him in the clinch, putting him up against the Octagon cage. He will try to work his slick game of “dirty boxing” in an attempt to soften Machida up. When he feels Machida weakening or when he sees an opening, Couture will attempt to capitalize and end the fight by submission or TKO by way of GnP.

Machida will want to keep the fight standing for as long as possible and will try not to engage the decorated wrestler in a game of grappling; either on the ground or up against the cage. We will see “The Dragon” as cautious as ever and at the same time, as aggressive as ever.

I won’t be surprised if Couture attempts to stand and strike with Machida in the early part of the fight and if he does, it will make for a quick KO win for the Brazilian.

Machida’s bread and butter is counter striking. He also utilizes tricky trips and throws that are not seen by many, if any other fighters in MMA. The worst possible thing that Couture can do is come directly at Machida and yet, that is exactly what I expect him to do.

Randy leads with his head more often than not and is not afraid to take a few on the chin to “get inside”. While this has worked against many of his past opponents, it will fail horribly against Machida.

This fight is riding completely on Machida’s performance. Randy has nothing to lose. Machida has everything to lose.

I’m predicting a 1^st round KO by Machida.

So long “Captain America”…you’ve served the sport well!