Weidman was a smart guy and has the best IQ fighter in the UFC rosters combine. He know too well about machida skills and style. I highly doubt Weidman will make a mistake like rushing in like Bader and got KO counter by Machida. Weidman will fight with range like how he did against Silva. Weidman even said the same thing as Cain said against JDS. "When he think I going to take him down, I'm going to strike him, when he think I am going to strike him, I am going to take him down." Machida best chance too beat Weidman is probably by front kick KO like he didn't to Couture. If he like AS, Weidman will check and break Machida shin too. And I think Silva taught Machida not o kick like he kick Weidman. I could see Machida either win by decision or TKO/KO only. Weidman won't get sub by Machida. Weidman on the other hand can likely TKO/KO Machida, sub Machida, and also decision Machida by having a few take down
Good question. I believe in order for Machida to beat Weidman, he's going to have to do a few things. First, he's going to have to punch and kick Weidman. Second, he will have to avoid Weidman's takedowns, and takedown Weidman. Third, he will have to attempt to submit Weidman and defend Weidman's subs. That is what he has to do.
People are gonna freak when Machida beats Chris, they shouldn't, but they will. Machida can and imo will beat Chris come fight night.
Weidmans fight iq is not better then the UFC roster, don't believe the hype around that. He's a smart fighter and has shown us some very good fight iq, but he's only had a few fights. Someone like Jones, Aldo, Barao has shown exceptional fight IQ between 15 to 20 fights. How can he win?? By doing what he does in every fight, movement, defend the TD and attack.
Machida is VERY quick on his feet, in terms of avoiding take-downs, and springing in and out to strike and avoid being hit in return. His style is almost kind of an anomaly-there aren't too many who can even emulate it to train to prepare for it. If he can keep it standing, I believe Machida's speed may be too much for Weidman. He may well TKO him. If it goes to the ground, Weidman will win.
He can knock him out, submit him, decision him, get a doctor stoppage, etc. idk you seem so sure weidman will win. Point is we won't know till it happens. And as for your argument about weidman being smart, machida is just as if not smarter. We all know what machida will do and if weidman is smart he won't fight at range. The way you beat machida is if you move forward on him. I favor machida here, not by much though. Machida does what he does best and gets a ud
There is almost zero chance the is a leg injury like the silva fight at most he will break his foot like in the Mousasi fight he doesn't kick with his shin he's a karate fighter
Chris lost his composure in the second round of the first Silva fight and started headhunting. It worked out for him, but still it may be a factor. He knew coming in that he shouldn't let Silva get in his head.
First Of All, Machida's kicks are hard to check because he does not throw them MT style. he does them from Karate's stance. Less powerful but hard to see coming. Second, Machida's takedown defense is retarded good. A LOT of LHWs had trouble trying to take him down and I'd love to see how Weidman does against his footwork. As far as checking the kick. the way Silva threw the kick and the power behind it is what caused the break. It wasn't a magical check that Weidman invented.. it was a freak accident. I think Weidman has a better chance of winning, but I will never bet against Machida.
In a Machida win he coasts to a decision by outstriking his opponent or he finishes in spectacular fashion. Hilarious that odds are 2 to 1 against him, he's a slight underdog at worst.
He has to be busy if he doesn't land the KO strike. Machida has a tendency to fight very passive and that doesn't curry favor with the judges. He can't coast at any point vs Weidman. He needs to hold his ground and commit to his strikes. He can't constantly circle away as Chris pushes forward. He will lose if he does (unless he lands the huge counter KO strike of course).
