UFC 129 Fight Card: Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida Head To Toe Breakdown

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture will make what is expected to be his final bout of his UFC career against former UFC light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida at UFC 129. 

It is an intriguing matchup that has more implications for Machida than for Couture, one could potentially put the Brazilian on a three-fight losing skid, the first time in his mixed martial arts career. More specifically, a third loss could see Machida be given his pink slip. 

Regardless, this fight looks to be one of the more intriguing, competitive bouts on the main card.

Randy Couture is a multiple UFC champion, competing in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight division. Implementing a great strategy and an accomplished wrestling background, Couture is one of the most competitive fighters to grace the UFC. Lyoto Machida presents one of the most interesting and unorthodox styles to fight against, utilizing speed and footwork and is an excellent counter striker. 

Both fighters are strategic and intelligent and it might just take one mental error for one of them to finish the bout.

Here is a Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida Head To Toe Breakdown. 

1.) Striking

Lyoto Machida presents one of the more unique styles of fighting in all of mixed martial arts.

His karate-based style is difficult to prepare for and his movements tend to throw a lot of opponents off their game. Machida likes to lure his opponents in, as they move closer inside his range, and attack with a variety of strikes from different angles. He is constantly aware and always a moving target as he leaps in and out of the pocket, ultimately forcing his opponents to commit to attacking him. From there he uses his footwork to move laterally, frustrating his opponents, and counter attacking. 

Randy Couture has never been known for his striking but he has always proved to use his striking effectively. He possess good head movement and positions his hands at a good height in order to protect himself, establishing a traditional boxing stance. Couture does not necessarily display knockout power in his strikes, but he is a technical striker, and uses his striking more effectively inside the clinch. 

Machida's style and accurate striking are difficult to prepare for, let alone try to emulate. For a strategist like Couture, even he won't find much success on the feet against the Brazilian. 

Advantage: Machida

2.) Wrestling

Given both fighters success with wrestling, it is hard to give an advantage to either man. 

Randy Couture uses his Greco-Roman background to get inside of his opponents, establish a clinch and wear them down. Couture is good at maintaining pressure on his opponent and finds enough space to establish a clinch and look to either utilize his dirty boxing, or impose his will by using the cage, putting all of his weight onto his opponent and look to physically wear them down. From there, Couture will continue to grind upon his opponent and land effective shots to the body and head, or he will look to take them down and get into a dominant position and ground-and pound his way to victory. 

Lyoto Machida holds some of the most underrated grappling ability in the light heavyweight division, and perhaps, maybe in all of the UFC. Machida is a little different than Couture because he uses a variety of trips, sweeps, and throws when he is inside of an opponent. It was evident in his bout at UFC 84, when Machida squared off against Tito Ortiz. Machida clinched with Ortiz and established a body lock, then he put his left leg behind Ortiz's right leg.

He began to move forward, using all his opponent's weight, and turned his body counter clockwise. From there, he drove forward and planted his opponent to the canvas. The main idea in this situation for Machida, was to eliminate distance, and he did it effectively by establishing a tight bodylock of Ortiz's upper body. Any distance or space that was left open, might of allowed his opponent to break the clinch or defend the takedown. 

Along with wrestling, Machida also implements Sumo and Judo into his grappling department, making him much more dangerous and unpredictable in the clinch. 

Advantage: Even. 

3.) Submissions

Couture has recently been sharpening his skills in all areas, but in two of his past three fights, he has picked up submission victories. After witnessing Couture submit boxer James Toney at UFC 116, he received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by his BJJ instructor Neil Melanson. It isn't that surprising to see Couture become more well-versed in jiu-jitsu because of how imposing and dominant he is in his opponent's guard. His wrestling background assists him in controllling his opponent and transitioning in their guard. However, he still holds a lot of inexperience in BJJ. 

Machida, on the other hand, holds more experience in BJJ and has shown to be quite more versatile on the ground. When he first entered the UFC, Machida would show effective ground game, successful transitions and attempt submissions from different positions inside the guard. It wasn't until noticing in his later fights with Thierry Rameau Sokoudjou and Rampage Jackson, that he is as well rounded on the ground as he is on the feet, thus proving to be a difficult opponent to prepare for and defend against in all aspects.

In his most recent bout with Jackson at UFC 123, after controlling Jackson's balance he easily took him down and got into half guard instantly, controlling Jackson for about thirty seconds before attempting to transition to a more dominant position. He used good posture, control and technique of his opponent's legs and arm while he was in side control, then as he attempted for a kimura, while still in control of Jackson's legs, Machida faked the attempt and let go of his opponent's arm and brought his leg over to obtain full mount. Using good posture and technique, Machida also spreads his arms out to prevent his opponent of escaping from either side. 

Partially due to his prior knowledge and experience in BJJ, Machida holds a significant advantage over Couture on the ground. Not to mention, it doesn't earn much praise for Couture to submit an inexperienced fighter in James Toney. 

Advantage: Machida. 

4.) Intangibles

Both fighters come from renowned camps that have contributed to their successes inside the octagon.

Randy Couture trains out of Xtreme Couture, a camp originally based out of Las Vegas, and prior to that, he was apart of Team Quest. Couture has primarily worked with wrestlers from Dan Henderson to Gray Maynard, as well fighters such as Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin. Couture has plenty to work with. 

Lyoto Machida comes from one of the most talented camps in MMA. Team Blackhouse consists of Anderson Silva, Junior dos Santos, Jose Aldo and the Nogueira brothers, Antonio Rodrigo and Antonio Rogerio. Machida also trains with his family in Belem, Brazil. While Couture's camp mainly consists of wrestling-based fighters, Machida has a variety of styles and fighters to learn and improve from. 

Not to discredit Couture, but Machida has more options to choose from and trains in a camp with a superior group of fighters.

Advantage: Machida. 

Conclusion

The win might not raise much stock for Couture, however it will be a more satisfying victory for Machida, and it is a victory he will desperately need. 

That being said, Machida will not necessarily show aggression and desperation in the bout, as he'll stick to his strategy and utilize his strengths, but he'll want to look for a finish. And Couture is an opponent that could provide the Brazilian with that opportunity. 

While Couture will look to impose his will and pressure Machida, it is doubtful he'll be able to inflict as much damage from inside of Machida's range, likely taking a few shots along the way in. Couture's stand up skills should be competitive to Machida's unorthodox karate style, but not necessarily pose as a threat. Like most of Machida's opponents, Couture will likely be caught off guard from his speed and elusive footwork. 

The pressure that Couture looks to impose on his opponent will be costly for him, as Machida possesses great vision and precise counter-striking ability. And considering Couture's age it is questionable as to how much punishment his body can absorb, especially from the UFC's second most accurate striker. 

Machida via TKO second round.