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How do you solve a problem like Machida?
Monday, May 26, 2008
With a perfect 13-0 record and victories over Rich Franklin, Stephan Bonnar and some of the sport's other biggest starts, Lyoto Machida wouldn't appear to be a problem fighter.
However, after Saturday's May 24 UFC 84 victory over mixed martial arts superstar Tito Ortiz, Machida is just that.
Extras
With his eighth career decision victory, and with his fourth somewhat conservative and lackluster win in five career UFC fights, Machida has the résumé of a contender — but a reputation as a boring fighter that the casual fan just doesn't want to watch.
Worse yet, he does have the skills to defeat UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and any of the UFC's other top 205-pound fighters. But would the UFC dare the risk of allowing such an unmarketable fighter become one of its title-holders? After all, aside from a dominant second-round TKO of highly touted Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou back in December, Machida has shown nothing that would translate well to those coveted pay-per-view buys.
Sure, Machida is winning fights, and to the trained eye, he has remarkable skills. So, in many ways, it's hard to fault the Brazilian for implementing successful game plans. However, UFC officials also have been on a recent purge of talent, telling fighters to make it exciting — win or lose — or risk getting walking papers.
Is it fair to make an exception for Machida?
Perhaps it's time to give the 29-year-old an ultimatum. Rather than scheduling him against a top-five light heavyweight, give him a lower-level 205-pounder — even bring in a sacrificial lamb from outside the organization. Tell him to ditch the conservative style and win big — as he did against Sokoudjou — or tell him he'll keeping fighting nobodies until he does.
While it may seem unfair, the UFC is — above all else — an entertainment company. And as it stands, there's been nothing entertaining about most of Machida's victories to the average UFC fan.
'TUF' report
During last Wednesday's episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest" (10 p.m. on Spike TV), former Ohio high school wrestling champ C.B. Dollaway defeated Nick Klein in the show's final preliminary bout.
Dollaway and Cincinnati/Columbus fighter Matt Brown are among the show's eight quarterfinalists.
They'll be whittled down to two who compete at the show's live finale June 21.
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content partner site of Yahoo! Sports. Check out www.mmajunkie.com for the latest MMA news and rumors.
