Not insulting just want to understand, honestly...

[farrella]

A lot of people on here are big Machida fans, which I don't understand. I agree he seems like a nice guy but two things I can't get over and don't understand.
1. His fights were generally very boring (he seemed to always be evading his opponent looking for a counter, I understand it is a fighting style, just boring for the most part)
2. He was always backing up waving his hands in the air when his opponent was attacking. Always retreating isn't something that is appealing to me.

I am sick of getting annoyed every time I see a Machida thread so I honestly would like to see what others like about him.

 

[chitoortiz]

 

[Peteyandjia]

You want to know why the son of a Japanese Karate master who moved to Brazil and had half-Karate half-Juijitsu warrior babies, whom he raised to be Samurai, one of whom went into the UFC, and single-handedly brought Karate back from being a written-off joke in the early 90s, to being a respected effective Martial Art again in the 2000's, by rising all the way to win the UFC LHW Championship as an undefeated fighter, has fans?

Is this really your question?

 

[screaminleeman]

Not a Machida fan either. I do enjoy watching a fighter employ a style outside of the generic expected MMA norm if for no other reason to see the sport evolve.

 

[Peteyandjia]

 

[yalp]

well Machida has a unique style, so it helps to grab people's attention. I remember when he wasn't able to finish any fight, people were getting impatient.

 

[Gorilllla]

At his best Machida was probably the purest martial artist in the sport. He was a master of counter striking (see vs Bader) and was incredibly intelligent in how he fought with beautiful timing and reflexes. He's past his best now but if OP can't appreciate that skill set, that's OP's problem.

 

[HHJ]

You want to know why the son of a Japanese Karate master who moved to Brazil and had half-Karate half-Jujitsu warrior babies, whom he raised to be Samurai, one of whom went into the UFC, and single-handedly brought Karate back from being a written-off joke in the early 90s, to being a respected effective Martial Art again in the 2000's, by rising all the way to win the UFC LHW Championship as an undefeated fighter, has fans?

Is this really your question?

this dude just went Lucius Fox on the TS.

 

[KantoTerror]

Here's a solid trivia...
Who is responsible for the infamous shadface?

 

[Jesus Freak]

A lot of people on here are big Machida fans, which I don't understand. I agree he seems like a nice guy but two things I can't get over and don't understand.
1. His fights were generally very boring (he seemed to always be evading his opponent looking for a counter, I understand it is a fighting style, just boring for the most part)
2. He was always backing up waving his hands in the air when his opponent was attacking. Always retreating isn't something that is appealing to me.

I am sick of getting annoyed every time I see a Machida thread so I honestly would like to see what others like about him.

 

[FenoxSky]

You want to know why the son of a Japanese Karate master who moved to Brazil and had half-Karate half-Jujitsu warrior babies, whom he raised to be Samurai, one of whom went into the UFC, and single-handedly brought Karate back from being a written-off joke in the early 90s, to being a respected effective Martial Art again in the 2000's, by rising all the way to win the UFC LHW Championship as an undefeated fighter, has fans?

Is this really your question?

 

[HHJ]

Machida by merely existing,proved the entire MMA community wrong,and not only made karate work as a viable style within the UFC,but he made fighters look like utter buffoons trying to figure out how to fight against it.

 

[mmaelitefan000]

people like to watch him fight because he's not the strongest or most athletic fighter but uitlizes traditional karate and makes it work in the cage. his trips were crafty and fun to watch. his striking and stance looks unorthodox but very effective at times. his style is not meant for the cage, it's meant for real self defense. if machida went full defensive mode i don't think anyone can lay a hand or foot on him.

 

[dickcheney]

Well, first you have to understand that people only knew him as a guy on fight finder who had wins over penn at a time when that meant something and UFC champ rich Franklin.., every month someone would innevitably make the thread "who is ryoto machida?!"

Then he came into the UFC and obliterated soku who was coming off amazing kos

Then he made titos wrestling a no factor when all people wanted to see how his karate would hold up against a wrestler

By this time he was a fan favorite and rightfully so and a generally nice guy

Then we find out about the peepee and that was the icing on the cake, a few boring fights can't stop you from being a fan if you've been on the ryoto journey

Plus there was an awesome highlight video back in the early days iirc

 

[MMAAAM]

and single-handedly brought Karate back from being a written-off joke in the early 90s, to being a respected effective Martial Art again in the 2000's

Hmm, no.

This is such a joke.

Karate has never been effective and it never will. Just because GSP and Machida use wide stances, doesn't mean Karate is effective. Look at the actual striking techniques being used, it's not karate.

 

[HHJ]

Before he was in the ufc his name was popping up all the time,and the footage of him koing rich franklin

 

[HHJ]

Hmm, no.

This is such a joke.

Karate has never been effective and it never will. Just because GSP and Machida use wide stances, doesn't mean Karate is effective. Look at the actual striking techniques being used, it's not karate.

 

[Milgrim]

You want to know why the son of a Japanese Karate master who moved to Brazil and had half-Karate half-Juijitsu warrior babies, whom he raised to be Samurai, one of whom went into the UFC, and single-handedly brought Karate back from being a written-off joke in the early 90s, to being a respected effective Martial Art again in the 2000's, by rising all the way to win the UFC LHW Championship as an undefeated fighter, has fans?

Is this really your question?

When a regular like just isn't enough ...

 

[nac386]

I prefer martial artists who do not look like roid heads, and are able to have success based on skill and not brute strength. It is just a personal preference. Clean striking is more appealing to me than wrestling.

 

[mjmj]

I think a part of it is a lot of people like to be “different” and stand out. When he first started getting noticed, he was different from other fighters people were used to watching, and not only that but he was winning decisively. No one could touch him. At that point, people either loved him or hated his boring style. Those that loved him were constantly defending him, so they became even more “personally vested” as fans. Machida fans, to me, are very similar to Penn fans. Very, very, loyal and vocal.